A true hero of Puerto Rico and Latin America, and all freedom fighters the world over. A supporter of the Cuban Revolution, which has always supported the cause of Independence of Puerto Rico from the depredations of the United States. Independence for Puerto Rico is more relevant and necessary today than ever. ¡Viva Rafael Cancel Miranda!
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Still a mistreated colony after all these years.
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Give the PR’s their unqualified independence. Cut them loose from our apron strings. Eliminate a big headache for the island.
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@NOTATE REDMOND I keep reading this same thing from people almost as if repeating ad verbatim what they here in their echo chamber. Almost as if... they don’t think for themselves.
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What prevents Puerto Rico from declaring its independence ?
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They were right the agreement is a sham as Trump has so poignantly illustrated. The island suffers the effects which colonizers impose.
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"a hero to many w. . . but a terrorist to many others. .. he and three companions attacked the Capitol, spraying gunfire from the gallery into the House chamber and injuring five congressmen"
I'm shocked the Times would equivocate on this. That is the very definition of terrorism, whether you think his cause is just or not. I'm sure it is literally accurate to day that Dylan Roof is "a hero to many and a terrorist to many others" but you would never print that, and rightfully so.
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A Puerto Rican Patriot and freedom fighter, just like the Boston Tea Party, and Nelson Mandela.
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@Greg just like George Washington did. E very National has a right to govern themselves . Whoever impedes this is the real terrorist.
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Ah unrepentant, murderous and allowed to live out his life a free man. What a country. That these vile terrorists should have been released is a travesty and should be the eternal shame of Carter - why would he do that - to open fire on members of Congress should have lead to the death penalty or life in prison - but clemency, pardons, heroes welcomes?! I am stunned by that. Add these lowlifes to the likes of the Blair House attackers and the bombers of the Fraunces Tavern some of whom who I believe were also pardoned and I really dont have a lot of respect or sympathy for any Puerto Rican independence movement - Remember the victims of these acts like Leslie Coffelt and Mssrs Connor, Berger, Sherburne and Gezork - they all should have lived to 89! That is who we should write about not glorifying smug old terrorists living out their years in comfort -
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@ST You were the first to open fire on us. Read your history.
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They never should have been let out. If you shoot at the President (yes, any President), or shoot up Congress, or attack a judge you are committing the worst possible crime. You are attacking our system of governance. This is unpardonable.
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The US had just bombed Puerto Rico with B-24 bombers to crush a rebellion against the US imposition of English. Didn't know about that did ya? The real terrorists were in Congress.
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This issue has been voted on by the people of Puerto Rico several times. It is their choice and we are all proud of the fact that as a U.S. territory they have the right to choose their own government. The U.S. has never tried to influence any election there anymore than they do in any other state or territory. I don't think anyone outside of Puerto Rico cares at all whether they choose to become a U.S. state, an independent country or remain a U.S. territory. Personally I am glad that they have the same rights as all other Americans do to travel, work, attend school or live in any state that makes up the United States of America without having to apply for a visa or go through a border check. I'm sure that status makes them the envy of the people of Central America who are literally dying to work and live here.
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The political marginalization that led puertoricans like Rafael Cancel Miranda to act as they did persists. We need a political platform based on democracy to succeed. The U.S. colonial rule over Puerto Rico must end, in peace.
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@Francisco Cebollero Puerto Ricans have continually rejected independence every time it's been offered. No one is forcing Puerto Rico to maintain its status as a commonwealth today - the choice remains theirs to make and time and time again they have elected NOT to pursue independence.
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@Shane: neither independence or statehood has ever been offered to the people of Puerto Rico by Congress ever.
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@Francisco Cebollero The 2017 referendum offered exactly that. So did the 2012 referendum. Independence has the support of less than 6% of Puerto Ricans in polls. It may be your dream but it's not the dream of most Puerto Ricans, maybe because the independence movement has become a stalking horse for Cuba and Venezuela.
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How interesting. This is one piece of history I never heard about. Thanks, Times, for teaching me something new today.
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@Kb Exactly. I'm thinking how did I not know about this.
The way we treat the island makes you think that he just might be right. Not about the shooting though.
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While I don't support Miranda's turn to violence, I understood his concept of liberty and the struggle for PR's independence, until reading that he moved to... Brooklyn. That's where things took a turn for the weird.
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@JSB
Can you explain further why moving to Brooklyn is weird?
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