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Puerto Rico Should Be an Independent Country
For the past decades, the United States and Puerto Rico have been interdependent, according to Cintron (1). Continues to state that the U.S depended on goods from the island such as coffee, sugar, and in other cases, men to work in the military. In recent years, Puerto Rico depends on America for services such as security and supply of food. Thus, leading to individuals living on the island wishing that their community could be free from colonization. According to research, this small island has been under colonization from the United States for over 90 years. Puerto Rico should no longer be a commonwealth country and, instead, be an independent nation. Puerto Ricans need to enjoy their rights to vote, enriching economy, and enjoy their culture. In this context, the paper discusses the reasons why Puerto Rico should be an independent nation and shun away from its dependence on the United States.
Democracy is the dominant theme among independent nations. One of the many rights that citizens from such countries enjoy is the right to cast their vote and elect their leaders. Being a commonwealth nation that is under the United States, Puerto Rican cannot enjoy their right to vote (Cintron 1). Thus, the island does not govern itself. Consequently, it is dependent on the American government on how to administer this small island. The majority of individuals in this island have termed this as an insult to the young generation. Young Puerto Ricans have been involved in the U.S military forces. Thus, being sent to war to protect the nation while flying the American flag high. On the contrary, these individuals are being denied the chance to choose the leaders. Therefore, the island should be allowed to be an independent nation on its own and shun away from its dependency on the American government on ruling their land.
Moreover, due to the existence of governance from the Americans, the Puerto Rican culture has been deemed to be fading. According to Paul (1), Spanish was the primary language that individuals used to communicate with on the island. The dialect was also utilized in educating students in schools. In recent years, schools on the island have been forced to incorporate lessons to teach students how to communicate, study, and write in English. The United States has also encouraged authorities in the country to integrate English as one of its national languages. Therefore, Puerto Rico is in the danger of losing their culture and incorporating American culture and heritage. As an independent nation, the island will be able to choose their national language and teach their children their cultural beliefs and practices. Thus, the island needs to be independent and avoid its dependency on the American culture and national language.
Additionally, the island of Puerto Rico was known to be rich in fertility, and produces from this land were used to enrich their economy. However, due to their nature of being a commonwealth island, many of their produces were taken over by the American government. The struggle to attain independence has also slowed down their exports, which are the leading contributors to their economy. The U.S also governs who the island trades with and also partners with in terms of business marketing and sales (Rosenberg 1). The island is entitled to dictating who to partner with and who not to trade with. They can only achieve this through independence. Therefore, the island should be independent and evade depending on the U.S on how to carry out their market business.
Despite all this, individuals on the island have enjoyed their benefits as a commonwealth nation. One of these benefits is the right to American citizenship. Puerto Ricans are American citizens by law, and they are allowed to enter the U.S mainland. Another benefit that these individuals enjoy is the tax exemption that the American government has given individuals on the island. Onwards as a commonwealth nation, Puerto Rico will be eligible to enjoy these benefits from the United States government.
In conclusion, Puerto Rico should be allowed to be an independent nation. As a commonwealth island, Puerto Ricans have been denied their right to vote and elect their leaders. These individuals also do not enjoy their culture, and their economy has been on the downfall. As a result, the island needs to be let govern itself and allow them to choose their leaders. Moreover, the island needs to shun away from its dependency on America on supporting their economy, culture, governance, and instead be independent. Lastly, despite their struggle for independence, individuals from the island receive benefits such as American citizenship upon birth and tax exemption.
Works Cited
Cintron, Hank. “Let Puerto Rico Stand on Its Own.” Orlandosentinel.com, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Dec. 2018, www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-puerto-rico-should-stand-on-it-own-20180327-story.html.
Paul, Ari. “OPINION: The Cure for Puerto Rico Is Independence.” Al Jazeera America, 13 July 2015, america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/7/the-cure-for-puerto-rico-is-independence.html.
Rosenberg, Matt. “Do You Know the Reasons Puerto Rico Doesn’t Qualify As a Country?” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 12 Sept. 2018, www.thoughtco.com/puerto-rico-is-not-a-country-1435432.