U.S. ENGLISH – WRONG ON PUERTO RICO, WRONG ON EQUALITY – AGAIN! No Precedent in American History – Language Choice, Use is Established Right of States

The organization ‘U.S. English’ is wrong on Puerto Rico. They ignore the facts. Puerto Ricans are not inferior citizens and less entitled to equal rights because they speak Spanish more than English. Puerto Rico is officially bilingual and has been since 1902. It was the first United States jurisdiction in the nation’s history to adopt English as an official language. Puerto Ricans speak English when they want to, and are not content to continue to live without their full rights as citizens. Puerto Rican elections and votes for the past 15 years show this. Puerto Rico deserves equality.

Thirty-seven territories of the United States have become states to enjoy the full representative democracy and equality they deserve. Language use or proficiency requirements were never imposed on the people of those territories. Five territories became states in the last century: Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii. Hawaii is bilingual. New Mexico protects the language rights of Hispanic-Americans in that state. The federal government publishes and provides official documents and information in Spanish and English. State and local governments provide information in literally hundreds of languages.

U.S. English uses old slogans like ‘Best of Both Worlds’ and says Puerto Rico has it good under the unequal territorial status. The fact is that, currently, Puerto Ricans have less than they are entitled to and deserve: no voting representation in Congress, no presidential vote, unequal treatment and unequal citizenship. It is striking that this is the old rhetoric the enemies of equality in Puerto Rico have historically used to maintain the unequal territorial status – that use of Spanish should be seen as a barrier to equal citizenship. Why does U.S. English care what Puerto Ricans choose to speak in Puerto Rico, or how well they speak it? Why is the Popular Democratic Party, which claims to support progress for Puerto Ricans, hosting people who attack Puerto Ricans’ use of English? Why are they trying to create the perception that the U.S. Congress will require Puerto Ricans to take an English test? It is utterly ridiculous.

English First attacked former GOP Chair Senator Mel Martinez of Florida in 2006 when he supported Puerto Ricans’ right to equality within the union if so chosen. They did not prevail. They attacked him for speaking Spanish. English First has endorsed Governor Romney in this year’s presidential election, and Governor Romney endorses Puerto Rico statehood without unprecedented preconditions. U.S. English might take a play from that book. U.S. English has attacked Spanish in Puerto Rico as strange or unusual in America. That is untrue of course. They are again attacking Puerto Ricans’ dignity and desire for equality with a smoke screen called language use. The fact is that the territorial status impedes Puerto Rico’s progress. False arguments impede Puerto Rico’s progress.

U.S. English does not speak for the American public. Congress does. No American Congress is going to ‘outlaw’ the use of Spanish in Puerto Rico or anywhere else. Not in California, not in Texas, not in Florida, New York, Connecticut or any other state. No territory of the United States has ever become a state without the people of that territory requesting it through a petition, whether by certifying a vote, or

electing its own representatives and sending them to Congress. And the people’s individual language use or proficiency had nothing to do with it.

After 114 years of political inequality, Puerto Ricans’ time has come. On November 6, Puerto Ricans have the historic opportunity to claim their rights and equality as a state! Congress and the American public will welcome Puerto Rico as equals.

The U.S. Council for Puerto Rico Statehood is an education and advocacy organization dedicated to Statehood for Puerto Rico and the education of all Americans about Puerto Rico, its current status within the union of the United States, and why Statehood is in the best interests of all Americans, in the 50 states and Puerto Rico, given the unequal effects of the current territorial status on citizenship, sovereignty and civil rights. For more information visit www.prstatehood.org