Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Puerto Rico/Archives/2009/June

help dividing PR into 2 or more geographical chunks, for NRHP list

Hi, I and others are starting to revise National Register of Historic Places listings in Puerto Rico into a table format that will accommodate photos and short descriptions (as we've done for the District of Columbia and about 43 U.S. states, indexed from List of RHPs). However, we're going to need to divide the list of 300 or so Puerto Rican NRHP sites into two or more articles, and help is needed defining a geographical division that works. Perhaps assigning the 78 municipalities into east vs. west would suffice, but where draw the line? Please comment at Talk:National Register of Historic Places listings in Puerto Rico. Thanks! doncram (talk) 22:43, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

The National Register of Historic Places listings in Puerto Rico is being improved to encourage photographs and new articles. What is the best way to group these historic sites into easily locatable and workable subsections? Is it by municipality, or perhaps something else? Please make sugestions at the associated talk page. Jonathunder (talk) 22:45, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

I think the way we divided PR's 78 municipalities up into 6 regions worked pretty well! :)

              Munis   NRHPs
Western 	17 	53
Southern 	14 	63
Northern 	12 	35
Central 	15 	26
Eastern 	15 	52
San Juan area    5      62

Above is how we split it up, in terms of numbers of municipalities and historic sites. doncram (talk) 04:34, 15 June 2009 (UTC)

Proposed deletion of article

For those of you who may be interested in participating and in expressing yourselves, the article of Puerto Rican scientist Enectali Figueroa, a pioneer in his field has been nominated for deletion. The entery can be found here: Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Enectali Figueroa. Thank you.Tony the Marine (talk) 06:10, 3 June 2009 (UTC)

Map of ecosystems of Puerto Rico

Hi. Just a quick mention of a new map about the ecosystems of Puerto Rico. You may like it : it's File:Puerto Rico ecosystems map-en.svg for svg version (and jpg version File:Puerto Rico ecosystems map-en.jpg). This may be useful on Fauna of Puerto Rico. Cordially. Like tears in rain (talk) 21:35, 5 June 2009 (UTC)

Nice, it seems quite accurate based on my knowledge. - Caribbean~H.Q. 22:23, 10 June 2009 (UTC)

The Threat of Puerto Rican Statehood

I stumbled on an article that I would like to share with all of you. As you all know in Puerto Rico we are so concerned with the status situation and about what "we" want that we never stop to ask ourselves (some of us anyway) want is it that the average American wants and if they really want us. You all know me, I am not a politician and even though I believe that Puerto Rico should be an independent nation, I am not involved in politics. I like to consider myself as a thinker who believes that the people in Puerto Rico should learn about their true history and the contributions which we have made to the world and what we are able to accomplish before we can decide our political future. I also believe that with the anti-Hispanic sentiment that has always been present in the United States, our people should not be so naive as to believe that the citizens of the United States (non-Puerto Rican) would be willing to accept Puerto Rico as a state with open arms. We must ask ourselves, what does the average American (not politicians) really think of us becoming a state. Here is a slight glimpse as to what the average American citizen may think:The Threat of Puerto Rican Statehood. Enjoy, Tony the Marine(talk) 21:13, 13 June 2009 (UTC)

^^ You pretty much brought here a White Supremacist article, I bet more than 80% of Americans wouldn't mind if we became a state--BoricuaPR (talk) 22:40, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

• • I've read the article within the historical context that it was written over a decade ago. Since then, our nation has elected a man of color to the Oval Office and will soon have a Latina on the Supreme Court. If the article's original author is no longer alive, he's probably turning in his grave. If he's still alive and not changed his point of view, he's probably suffered a few strokes in spite of getting therapy from Rush Limbaugh et als. Thanks, for sharing this old article. Pr4ever (talk) 01:14, 15 June 2009 (UTC)

• Yes, it is true that it is a White Supremacist article from 1998, when no one in the U.S. would have dreamed of having a president of African-American descent, however the article shows precisely the negative stereotyping which Puerto Ricans have been subject to for decades and reaffirms the importance of our work here. With our work we have helped to fight against the stereotyping by letting the world know that Puerto Ricans are not all terrorists, drug addicts, carriers of the AIDs virus and welfare recipients as the article claims.

• • I agree with you fully. Our work here is ever so more important! Pr4ever (talk) 11:39, 15 June 2009 (UTC)

Still, the article should make people think and ask themselves if the people in the United States want Puerto Rico to become a state. We can't keep on thinking that this is only about ourselves. Let's "suppose" (remember I'm saying suppose), that we celebrated a definite referendum in Puerto Rico and that the majority of the Puerto Rican population picked "Statehood" as their final status. In that case, that would be considered as what the people of Puerto Rico wants, but what about the common mainland U.S. citizen, how does he/she feels about it? What I believe (and this only my opinion) is that a "poll" should be taken amongst the citizens of the United States by a respectable company, much as is often done during the elections, to find out how they feel about Puerto Rico. I mean let's face it, no one tells the United States what to do and if they wanted Puerto Rico to be a state, I think that it would have been a state along time ago. But, let's just say that the U.S. would preferrer a referendum approved by the majority of the voters in the island, would that really guarantee that Puerto Rico would become a state if the majority of the people in the U.S. were against it? A poll would be a good thing. Tony the Marine (talk) 03:06, 15 June 2009 (UTC)

• Here's a clip from a 2004 Cambridge poll on PR---5 yrs old but more recent than the decade-old article---which suggests Puerto Rico would be accepted as a state:

Selected Results from Puerto Rico Herald Public Opinion Survey Of 900 U.S. Mainland Registered Voters

(By Opinion Dynamics, July 9-12, 2004)

1. How familiar are you with the Island of Puerto Rico?

Very familiar 13% Somewhat familiar 41% Not very familiar 28% Not at all familiar 18% Not sure 1%

2. As far as you know, do you need a passport to visit Puerto Rico?

Yes 18% No 65% Not sure 18%

3. Do Puerto Ricans need visas to come to the U.S.?

Yes 22% No 49% Not sure 28%

4. Which of the following do you think best describes the relationship between the U.S. and Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico is a state 4% Puerto Rico is an independent nation 8% Puerto Rico is a territory owned and governed by the US 42% Puerto Rico has an association with the US that gives its people some self-government, but leaves important decisions to Congress? 29% Not sure 17%

5. As far as you know, are Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens or not?

They are 41% They are not 41% Not sure 19%

6. If a majority of the people of Puerto Rico asked to be admitted to the Union as a state, would you favor or oppose allowing them to become the 51st state?

Favor 68% Oppose 16% Not Sure 16%

7. Determining the status of Puerto Rico involves both the people of Puerto Rico and the United states. For a process for the U.S. citizens of the Island to resolve the status question, do you think:

The Federal Government and/or the U.S Congress should provide the people of Puerto Rico with clearly defined options which are valid and acceptable to the united States before the residents if the Island decide their future in an informed process. 45%

The people of Puerto Rico should hold their own internal process without knowing what are the acceptable options to the Federal Government and/or the U.S. Congress and wait for the United States to decide if it accepts the results or rejects the option chosen by voters. 32%

Not sure 23%

8. On another topic, the Puerto Rican government has asked Congress to implement a plan whereby U.S. corporations operating in Puerto Rico would not have to pay Federal Income taxes. They say this would encourage economic development and job growth on the Island. Opponents say this program encourages tax evasion, not economic growth. Would you favor or oppose Congress granting special tax benefits to companies operating in Puerto Rico?

Favor 17%

Oppose 74%

Not sure 9%

9. Puerto Rico currently receives more Federal benefits that 24 of the 50 states, yet its citizens pay no Federal Income Taxes. Knowing this, would you favor or oppose Congress imposing Federal Income Taxes on Puerto Rico?

Favor 67%

Oppose 23%

Not sure 10%

10. Since Puerto Ricans get Federal Aid, they should pay Federal Income Taxes?

Agree 79% Disagree 15% Not sure 6%

11. Puerto Ricans can't have it both ways; they canÕt have all the benefits of being American citizens without the responsibilities. It's time for them to decide between statehood and independence.

Agree 83% Disagree 9% Not sure 8%

12. Making Puerto Rico a state would entitle Puerto Rican citizens to vote and require them to pay Federal Income Taxes. It would add two U.S. Senators and five U.S. Representatives to the Congress as well as a million new American voters. Hearing the facts, do you think it would be a good or bad idea for Puerto Rico to become the 51st state of the U.S.?

Statehood is a good idea 60% Statehood is a bad idea 17% Mixed, good for some/bad for others 12% Not sure 10%

13. If Puerto Rico became a state, do you think Puerto Rican economy would be helped, hurt or unaffected?

Helped 61% Hurt 6% Unaffected 15% Not sure 17%

14. If Puerto Rico became a state, do you think the quality of life for Puerto Ricans living on the Island would:

Improve a lot 25% Improve a little 42% Stay the same 14% Get a little worse 4% Get a lot worse 2% Not sure 12%

15. If Puerto Rico became independent, do you think the Puerto Rican economy would be helped, hurt or unaffected?

Helped 20% Hurt 39% Unaffected 23% Not sure 19%

16. If Puerto Rico became independent, do you think the quality of life for Puerto Ricans living on the Island would:

Improve a lot 8% Improve a little 16% Stay the same 18% Get a little worse 31% Get a lot worse 10% Not sure 17%

17. Regardless of where you stand on statehood for Puerto Rico, do you think the U.S. Congress should offer Puerto Ricans a chance to vote a clear choice between statehood and independence-the only two long-term solutions?

Yes 75% No 14% Not sure 12%

I hope this information is of help. Pr4ever (talk) 11:39, 15 June 2009 (UTC)

Ouch Tony, I think you hurt the PNPs a little :-) - Caribbean~H.Q. 03:54, 16 June 2009 (UTC)

• I find the poll posted very interesting. The important thing here is that this in no way is a political debate, but more of a discussion of thought among us friends, regardless of political beliefs. Tony the Marine (talk) 04:26, 16 June 2009 (UTC)