House approves bill to let Puerto Ricans vote to become 51st state

[epchick]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

Slight hijack: What does gringo mean? Does it mean simply "outsider" or does it mean specifically white anglo?

More of the white anglo part than the outsider.

Usually when someone says 'gringo' they mean it in a more derogatory way. And we use it for people who *usually* are non-Spanish speaking white people.

A more affectionate term that could be used is 'guero' which doesn't always necessarily mean "blonde."

[Boodleboy322]

Very interesting - I would speculate that this won't get passed the Senate. I had the pleasure in visiting the "El Conquistador" Resort about a year ago in Fajardo and had a really good time. Everything was a little bit on the pricey side but worth it. They have a really good light beer there that you can't get in the US. If this thing does pass the Senate I wonder if any of these types of goods will be better facilitated to get over to the US. Anyway, the beer is called "Medalla Light". It is sort of like a Corona or Land Shark beer but better. It definitely tastes great in that Tropical heat by the Caribbean. If you're ever down there and want more Medalla for your buck I would highly suggest taking a rental car and head out to "El Yunque" for a day. El Yunque is a natural Tropical Rain forest out there. You'll have a blast and if you take your spouse or significant other there is a natural waterfall at the foot of the mountain that you can hike to and get that "Token" snapshot. Anyway, on the way you'll come across a little Puerto Rican convenient store near a little neighborhood. There's no AC in there but they do keep their beers refrigerated. You'll be able to get a 12 pack for the price of 1 back at your resort or hotel. Of course there is a plethora of Rums in PR. That should be obvious for any fan of the Captain or Bacardi. We'll see what happens here. I imagine that accepting Spanish as a second official language would stir up some folks opinions and legacies. As long as they are getting Federally taxed like the rest of us I have no problem with it.

Cheers,

Boodleboy322

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by Boodleboy322

Very interesting - I would speculate that this won't get passed the Senate. I had the pleasure in visiting the "El Conquistador" Resort about a year ago in Fajardo and had a really good time. Everything was a little bit on the pricey side but worth it. They have a really good light beer there that you can't get in the US. If this thing does pass the Senate I wonder if any of these types of goods will be better facilitated to get over to the US. Anyway, the beer is called "Medalla Light". It is sort of like a Corona or Land Shark beer but better. It definitely tastes great in that Tropical heat by the Caribbean. If you're ever down there and want more Medalla for your buck I would highly suggest taking a rental car and head out to "El Yunque" for a day. El Yunque is a natural Tropical Rain forest out there. You'll have a blast and if you take your spouse or significant other there is a natural waterfall at the foot of the mountain that you can hike to and get that "Token" snapshot. Anyway, on the way you'll come across a little Puerto Rican convenient store near a little neighborhood. There's no AC in there but they do keep their beers refrigerated. You'll be able to get a 12 pack for the price of 1 back at your resort or hotel. Of course there is a plethora of Rums in PR. That should be obvious for any fan of the Captain or Bacardi. We'll see what happens here. I imagine that accepting Spanish as a second official language would stir up some folks opinions and legacies. As long as they are getting Federally taxed like the rest of us I have no problem with it.

Cheers,

Boodleboy322

The thing with that is the United States as a whole does not have an official language.

[Ooh La La]

Originally Posted by AnotherKD

We actually get the choice to have "Taxation Without Representation" on our license plates. It is the default, but those who are against it can choose to have "A Capital City" on their plates, and while I don't see many of them, they are around.

Aside from repealing the 23rd constitutional amendment, what others also argue is that the new state that would be created would also have to take on the responsibility of policing/guarding all of the embassies and figuring out what to do with the federal areas, such as the Capitol Building, the White House, and even places like the memorials on the Mall. DC gets about $600,000,000 per year from the federal government because it hosts a lot of these things (even though we do have the highest federal tax rate per capita). We wouldn't get that money if we were to become a state. States that border us (MD and VA) tend to not support our creation of a state because they would lose money due to commuter taxes. The federal government part of the state would be impacted by the state's interference in certain issues (simply by way of physicality) and also DC's dependence on it, as we are a town that thrives on government work. The framers of the constitution envisioned a seat of government, and DC is quite small in the scheme of other "big" cities.

So, I guess that's some of the arguments that people around here can make.

True, but it's always interesting for the proposition to become "New Columbia" to pop up in Congress every few years. These people at least have to get a representative.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by epchick

More of the white anglo part than the outsider.

Usually when someone says 'gringo' they mean it in a more derogatory way. And we use it for people who *usually* are non-Spanish speaking white people.

A more affectionate term that could be used is 'guero' which doesn't always necessarily mean "blonde."

Thanks! I've been called "gringo" but not 'guero'.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Last time, they had a school kid design the flag. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=106228362

Woooooow. That was neat.

Originally Posted by AnotherKD

It just seems kind of shitty to me that we just fought a losing battle for trying to get DC statehood, and now about a week later, the House is like, Hey, Puerto Rico! Wanna join us?

This made me laugh a little, but I totally understand. I don't think this will get past the Senate either, but it'd be interesting if it did. I still feel like Alaska and Hawaii aren't widely accepted as states in most people's minds. Like people from Colorado are more likely to be called "Americans" than people from Hawaii. They're usually called "Hawaiians." If PR is added to the mix, I think it'll be the same.

I didn't realize the term "Hispanic" offends some people until I saw a debate about it in a movie. It kinda made me realize how much in this world can offend or be "not okay" with people that I just don't realize.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I know! When I first saw, them, I SMH and laughed! Copying the Puerto Ricans! BTW, didn't know you were Puerto Rican! I love me some tostones (fresh homemade ones, not the nasty ones you get in a restaurant!) and this beef steak and onion recipe my friend's mom made for us with beans and rice. It's a Puerto Rican specialty so I know you will know what I'm talking about

Just saw this. OMG that is so freaking good.

[AnotherKD]

Originally Posted by Ooh La La

True, but it's always interesting for the proposition to become "New Columbia" to pop up in Congress every few years. These people at least have to get a representative.

I completely agree. Hell, up until the 60s, we couldn't even vote for the President! (I say "we" as if I was alive in the 60s and lived here then... haha! )

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Just saw this. OMG that is so freaking good.

Ha! I want to go back to PR now! I could also use a fresh mallorca from La Bombonera in Old San Juan (they cut them open and fill them with butter and serve them warm!) or a Brazo di gitano!

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by epchick

More of the white anglo part than the outsider.

Usually when someone says 'gringo' they mean it in a more derogatory way. And we use it for people who *usually* are non-Spanish speaking white people.

A more affectionate term that could be used is 'guero' which doesn't always necessarily mean "blonde."

I've been called guero but never a gringo, which is good because I'm sure I'd get a little hot under the collar if that happened.

And don't get me started on the practice of referring to everyone with white skin Anglo. Maybe I'm wrong but if you're not from what's now northern France and the U.K. you aren't Anglo.

[thetygerlily]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

If you want to go right to the root of these designations, Latino could describe someone Mexican, Brazilian, or even Italian and Portuguese, because it means someone who speaks a Latin-based language. I know someone will probably argue with that, but I don't see anything wrong with calling a spade a spade.

Meanwhile, I had no idea WTF to put for my husband on the census. There was a question about being "Hispanic", but then the next question was about race, and it said that Hispanic was an ethnicity not a race (you can't tell them that, though - iLa Raza!). I finally ended up settling on "Native American - Zapoteca". I looked it up later, and technically, that's not off-base, because he's a Mesoamericano - which are people indigenous to middle Mexico-Central America, and are therefore Native Americans (even if they're not Native (NORTH) Americans.

My husband is Brazilian and boy does he get riled up if he's every referred to as Hispanic or even Latino! The Hispanic objection is because they speak Portuguese and not Spanish. The Latino objection I have not gotten a clear answer on, I think it's more of colloquial usage usually assumes Spanish speaking and not the Latin-based roots.

We've had several people take the liberty of checking the Hispanic box for him on mortgage applications and the like. 1- don't assume based on looks and 2- people aren't required to provide that information, so it should be up to him. He gets even more riled up about that one!

Since there isn't a "Brazilian" box, I just check "Other" He would probably check Caucasian out of defiance but he isn't filling out the forms, so...

And back to your regularly scheduled programming... I'll be curious to see this one play out. I've always thought that (albeit a very small) part of the reason Puerto Rico, Guam, etc aren't states is because they don't want to deal with changing the flag. But that's the cynical part of me coming out.

[RU OX Alum]

Yeah, plus 50 is a nice round number. And congress is already a cluster. It's not like we really more of them running around. And besides, it kind of wreaks of a power grab. Like, if all of a sudden Puerto Rico becomes a State, those two extra senate seats could really change a lot of things.

At a time when it would be advantagous (sp?) for those already in congress who are pretty much forcing a non-issue. This is the Democratics version of the gay marriage thing. Our leaders are out their minds, and we live in a representative republic.

So, in summary, I think Washington, D.C. already has enough politicians, I don't think they any more. It's not like the ones there now are even doing their job right.

[ASUADPi]

Okay, I don't want to sound dumb here, but I remember being taught in HS (albeit back in the late 90's since I graduated in 97), that D.C. is a part of Maryland. Like it is a "city" within Maryland. Um, when did that change? When was D.C. annexed from Maryland? Or was my teacher in high school just a moron?

[PiKA2001]

I think Maryland "donated" the land to create D.C.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I think Maryland "donated" the land to create D.C.

Yeah, that's about what I was taught. Basically. I was also taught that Alexandria was once part of it, but after the Civil War we (Virginia) got it back. I don't know if that's true or not. It might be.

The City of Washington is located within (situates and occupies) the District of Columbia hence the term Washington, D.C.