PuertoRicoUSA.com - Notable Quotes

Notable Quotes

There are a lot of quotes, or remarks that have a special meaning for thePuerto Rico-USA relationship and particularly for American Citizenship. We created this page to preserve these beautiful and meaningful thoughts:

Anibal Acevedo Vila, June 23, 1998; U. S. Senate, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings on sovereignty under S. 472:

"We should not be forced to give up our children's U.S. citizenship so that we can get a fuller measure of self-government."

Sila Maria Calderon, Caribbean Business, December 3, 1998:

"I have never felt like a second-class citizen. I consider myself a U.S. citizen. I appreciate and treasure my U.S. citizenship. I would never renounce or consider loosing that citizenship. I want my children and their children to always have it."

"The people from Puerto Rico already decided they want to be permanently linked to the United States. There's nothing else to be said about that matter."

Jose de Diego, 1906:

"We wish to be citizens of the United States or citizens of Puerto Rico. In either case, with all the inherent rights of a natural sovereignty."

Jose de Diego, April 9, 1910, U.S. House of Representatives:

"If the U.S. flag in Puerto Rico covers an American territory, we Puerto Rican, by natural rights, are perfect U.S. citizens. U.S. citizenship should not be imposed on a Puerto Rican if he does not want it, but if there is a law making all Puerto Ricans ipsofacto U.S. citizens, then the ideals of the people of Puerto Rico would be achieved."

Rafael Herandez Colón, 1998, "The Nation, Century to Century":

"Who are we and where are we going? We are pure and irrevocably Puerto Rican, a nation with a defined culturewe're not North Americans, although we are U.S. citizens and we're proud to be."

Luis Muñoz Rivera, May 5, 1916:

"My country unanimously requested U.S. citizenship many times. It requested it under the promises of General Miles when he disembarked in Ponce. Give us statehood and we would welcome your glorious citizenship for us and our children."

Lola Rodríguez de Tío

"America belongs to the world, the greatest of all nations! America is noble, America is great!"

"Cheers, cheers to America! Spread out your flag, let the light from your stars, illuminate the entire world."

Ralph Reed

"It is only fitting that a Republican Congress should give the people of Puerto Rico what so many Republican presidents sought to achieve a way fo determine for themselves the governmant they shoud have."

General Nelson Miles, July 25, 1898

"We ahve not come to make war against the people of a country that has been oppressed, but to bring them protection, promote prosperity, and bring them the blessings of the liberal institutions of our government."

Luis Muñoz Marin, July 17, 1951, Barranquitas

"What we have to guard against in this world we live in is not to confuse love for our patria (pueblo) with small, futile and naive concepts of nationalionalism and national state."

Luis Muñoz Marin, July 25, 1967, on the July 25th celebration

"There should be no doubt about our dedication to permanent union and our purpose of enriching the meaning of American citizenship, not only for Puerto Rico, but to all our fellow citizens of the United States, for their prestige in America and in the World."

Many more to be included. We welcome your suggestions.

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