Bills address thorny issue of Puerto Rico's status

[brooklynite]

SAN JUAN-- Cristóbal Berríos looks at the American flag and can imagine a 51st star -- Puerto Rico.

''Our goal is to decolonize,'' said Berríos, president of the Civic Association for Statehood, which is organizing a lobbying campaign in the U.S. Congress to make that happen. ``We've been waiting 108 years. We're ready.''

The United States took possession of Puerto Rico after the Spanish-American War in 1898, and now politicians on the island say it's time for Congress address a permanent status for the island territory.

...snip...

Two competing bills in Congress propose sharply different routes to determining whether Puerto Rico will become a state, retain its commonwealth status or become an independent nation -- the less likely alternative. But the bills underscore how bitterly divided Puerto Rican elected officials are on the issue that most deeply shapes island politics.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/special_packages/5min/14249035.htm

[mitchtv]

1. yet another US war based on a pack of lies

"remember the Maine"

[MountainLaurel]

2. They can join the line with the District of Columbia

Which has more residents than a few states and yet no voting representation in Congress.

[Bacchus39]

3. nothing will become of this

because 50% of puertoricans are content with the status quo. they just don't like being labeled as a colony or territory.