Puerto Rico’s state of mind
Former territorial governor Acevedo Vila calls statehood for Puerto Rico "insane" (The Hill, Jan. 12). What in the ex-governor's own state of mind lurks behind such brash words? As governor Acevedo-Vila and other anti-statehood leaders told disenfranchised U.S. citizens in the island territory that bias in mainland against Puerto Rico’s ethnic peoples made statehood impossible. He joined professors in teaching students when it comes to statehood, “The U.S. does not want us.” Anti-statehood leaders insist seeking equal citizenship rights through statehood or real independence is too difficult, and unnecessary besides. Instead, the ex-governor’s political party manifesto declares Puerto Rico a separate sovereign nation entitled to privileges of U.S. citizenship in perpetuity. In this bizarre ideological narrative federal benefits are understood as reparations for discrimination under undemocratic territorial rule. In the name of “commonwealth” this rogue