One of the major reasons a lot of the deep south is eating crawfish and gumbo, as opposed to tea and crumpets, is because of brave Puerto Ricans. Although not officially U.S citizens until 1917 Puerto Rico has proven its loyalty to America in every war since World War I.
A lot has been made of the failure by President Trump to immediately suspend the maritime law called the ‘Jones Act’ that restricts goods being shipped from one American port to another, unless by American vessels. The other Jones Act, known as, The Jones-Shafroth Act, went into effect March of 1917 and made the natives of Puerto Rico, officially American. That same year conscription for Puerto Rico was enacted and since that point the, once Spanish owned, Caribbean Island has been fighting in every war for THEIR country.
Why is the President treating these brave Americans like second-class citizens?
I stopped at a local convenience store yesterday, you know the one that sounds like an emergency phone number, and heard two young men discussing the devastation in Puerto Rico. Not since Hurricane Katrina had I heard the term “refugees” used to discuss displaced American citizens. The conversation was as inane as the logic. The first guy says, “I guess Florida will be stuck with more Mexicans, or whatever they are when they start leaving the PR.” The second guy nodded his approval opened the bottle of Coke, he was waiting to pay for, took a gulp and said, “yeah that f-ing earthquake they had will double the amount.” The lack of decorum and respect of person has flourished under the Trump Administration, hooded in the phrase, no more political correctness.
Besides being geographically illiterate, the saddest part was, they both appeared under twenty-five years old. The blatant and open xenophobia that has permeated this country coupled with the loss of celebrating difference is staggering. I am often reminded when I go into a Korean owned shop, or Latin-owned market or shop in my neighborhood, the proprietors are conversing in two languages, sometimes three, and most Americans only speak one. But we make fun of “those people.”
Right now, there is a gargantuan humanitarian crisis going on in the U.S Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The President of the United States, which includes Puerto Rico, has been giving elementary school geography and logistics lessons while patting himself on the back. He reminds us the island is in the Atlantic Ocean and that you cannot drive trucks there. The United States has the capability of delivering supplies, transportation and logistical setup under emergency situations in a matter of hours (see US TRANSCOM). This unit consisting of nine military readiness detachments is commissioned for times of war and peace.
The President is going to make or is at least scheduled to finally make, a trip to Puerto Rico on Tuesday. Maybe he can bring some hope to a group of people literally crying out for help. I pray that he does. Meanwhile, his attention to a horrendous self-serving tax plan and hand slapping to Cabinet Members who have wasted millions of dollars on private jets will occupy his reality TV show minions. Maybe this NFL Sunday instead of waiting for the President to tweet while Rome burns, we can all take a knee for Puerto Rico and The U.S Virgin Islands as well as Texas and Florida.
United for Puerto Rico.