"The Truth about Free Association"
"Ron Walker asserts that
free associated state status is not possible under the U.S. Constitution
(STAR, August 16). To the contrary, in U.S. Public Law 99-239 and several
subsequent federal statutes, the U.S. Congress has recognized free association
as entirely compatible with the U.S. Constitution. Whether it is the right
status solution for Puerto Rico is a decision only the voters can make once
they have accurate and complete information." Herbert W. Brown III,
Esq., President, Citizens Educational Foundation |
"There was a great deal of irony
in the PIP activity at Guánica. It was dedicated to deceased Dominican
leader José Francisco Peña Gómez. At the precise moment
when the orators were praising independence for Puerto Rico, hundreds of
citizens from the sovereign and independent Dominican Republic were in their
country, boarding fragile boats, risking their lives, to sneak across the
Mona Channel, hoping to find a better life in this American territory."
Neftali Fuster, The San Juan Star
"The Senate must recognize and
re-affirm in its legislation that the essential pre-condition to mutual
self-determination resides in the truthful and accurate definition of the
present condition in political, territorial and individual terms. It is
imperative that all legislative initiatives include in clear terms the exact
nature of the current status of Puerto Rico as well as the exact nature
of the current status of Puerto Ricans. In essence, the nature of our relationship
and the nature of our U.S. citizenship." Arturo Guzman
There is no more American an issue
that that of allowing a group of American citizens - yes, Puerto Ricans
are U.S. citizens - the right of self-determination to pursue statehood
or whatever they may wish. Puerto Rico has earned the precious right. -The
Clarion-Ledger, Editorial, 9/7/98
[Senate Majority Leader Trent] Lott
has shown little interest in bringing the bill to the Senate floor. He seems
to think Americans have little interest in it. But 3.8 million American
citizens are vitally interested. After 100 years, they deserve to have their
voices heard. The Sun Herald, Editorial, 9/8/98
"This measure intends to formalize
the procedure through which the People of Puerto Rico shall express its
will on the reaches of United States sovereignty over Puerto Rico and its
political status."
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Recent Commentary from Puerto
Rico
Miriam Ramírez de Ferrer, Neftali Fuster, Guillermo
Moscoso, Robert Becker
– HERALD WHITE PAPERS –
The record before Congress is now
clear that permanent union and irrevocable U.S. citizenship cannot be obtained
through commonwealth, even if it is reformed as proposed in the 1993 commonwealth
definition. Since only statehood provides the constitutionally guaranteed
status and citizenship included in the commonwealth definition, the real
question arising from the 1993 referendum results is how those who voted
for commonwealth with permanent union and irrevocable U.S. citizenship intend
to achieve that result if not through statehood.
"We will be repeating the mistakes
of 1952 if we do not inform the people of Puerto Rico that individual U.S.
citizenship is protected under commonwealth for the individual to whom it
is already granted against arbitrary loss, regulation or restriction, but
that the conferral of U.S. citizenship in the future is discretionary and
could be withdrawn."
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