|
Sobre las
presiones políticas y económicas en la UPR
|
My
first article published electronically, written in 1997 in the aftermath of a
most disagreeable incident at the University of Puerto Rico. After re-election in 1996 the
NPP government (pro-statehood, unconditionally pro-American and fascist)
decided to ‘take a swing’ at the few Puerto Rican institutions
that were not under its control. Its coercive nature was felt not only in
this state university but also the Commonwealth’s judicial branch and
the Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados).
It is essentially a narrative of the events that took place on that
day as well as a critique of the attitude of student organizations that took
the bait by responding to obvious confrontation and intimidation tactics from
the NPP’s Commissars. (In Spanish)
|
|
Una tercera
lección: reflexiones sobre el antiterrorismo
|
Written
in November 2001 in response to an article published by a columnist in a
major Puerto Rican newspaper. In this
essay I endeavor to put forth the argument that the whole U.S. strategy in the war against
terrorism is inadequate; that while it is understandable to seek retribution
for the attacks of September 11 there must be also reflection as to why it
happened. Please note: article was
updated to reflect current events. (In Spanish)
|
|
Insularismos y la
Unión Europea
|
One
of the most obvious effects of colonial isolation in Puerto Rico is ignorance, which is what the
present legislature (its tenure runs from Jan. 2001 to Jan. 2005) seems to
have plenty of. In an unexplained
drive to put the island on the map both, Senate President A. Faz Alzamora and
House of Representatives’ leader Carlos Vizcarrondo, seem to be
traveling scores lately promoting Puerto Rico’s agenda in international
forums. None of them are able to
explain the benefit of, or for that matter justify, the spending of public
funds for activities that seem to be fruitless, even deserving public
reprimands from Governor Sila Calderón.
In this article I comment at length on a PR Senatorial
delegation’s trip to the European Parliament in order to promote
– in the words of Faz Alzamora – «Puerto Rico’s participation» in this institutional
body. (October 2002 – In Spanish)
|
|
¿Globalización?
|
A
sequel to the above article; in this short essay I criticize the attitude of
Economist Milton Segarra – newly-appointed head of the Department of
Economic Development and Trade – of stating the obvious. He argued at
his appointment hearing at the Puerto Rican Senate that the ‘island
will fall behind economically’ if we do not insert ourselves in the
global economy. A bold statement from someone who hasn’t got the
slightest idea. Segarra speaks of isolation as if it occurred as a
spontaneous phenomenon, when indeed colonialism has kept us isolated for the
last century of American domination in Puerto Rico. But still, this does not mean
globalization has not arrived in the island; one only has to look at the wide
array of business interests gathered to take advantage of opportunities in
Latin America and Europe. Nevertheless, small business and tourism are just
two areas that have been affected by the narrow vision of this and previous
administrations. What is wrong is the
incompetent men and women of our legislature that cannot look beyond their
partisan myopia to work for the collective good; an ill that, apparently has
spread to the officials of the Puerto Rican Executive. (February 2003 –
In Spanish)
|