There are a number of ways a person can describe being patriotic and loyal to the place that they call home. Being patriotic is about standing up for the place that means the most to you. Standing up for the right of freedom and in justice, as well as serving your country. For me, the United States is where I call home. I am patriotic, for I respect all the men and woman, who have given their lives, in order that I may have my freedom and without my civil liberties being taken away. Being loyal is understanding that you may not agree with everything that happens in the United States, but fighting so that everyone may have the same rights as you. It means accepting that are nation isn’t perfect, but you as a person are willing stand proud. Being patriotic and loyal are interchangeable for any nation that a person recognizes as their home. A person doesn’t just wake up one day and forget, where they came from and the struggles that they have faced. It can be said that these ideals can affect the concept of dual nationality for Mexico and Puerto Rico’s islands future.
Puerto Rico is classified as a territory of the United States. It became a part of the United States during the Spanish-American War (LULAC, n.d., par.1). It has been given the same freedoms as any United States citizen under the “territorial” clause (LULAC, n.d., par.1). As it stands now Puerto Rico is operating under the government structure, known as the commonwealth (LULAC, n.d., par.1). This essential means that the people are basically self-governing themselves (LULAC, n.d., par.3). The future of Puerto Rico is a major cause for concern. They may be part of the United States, but they don’t hold any political power (LULAC, n.d., par.3). Since it is a territory it is unable to represent and address any state issues. All issues relating to territories are held responsible by congress (LULAC, n.d., par.3). Therefore, congress is the only one that can make any decision regarding political status (LULAC, n.d., par.3). Puerto Rico is currently undergoing a crisis of the constitution (LULAC, n.d., par.2). The results of a 1993 local referenda in Puerto Rico suggest that a majority of the U.S. citizens on the Island do not support the current status, a result that should be of serious concern nationally (LULAC, n.d., par.4). It is an American principle that government must have the consent of the people; when that consent is lost, a new consensus must be found (LULAC, n.d., par.4). The citizens want congress to decide if they will be able to become a state (LULAC, n.d., par.6). If they do become a state, they must change their way of thinking. They will no longer be able to show loyal or patriotism to their home country (Renshon,2003, par.5). The reason for this is that the United States will assume the role of the motherlands (Renshon,2005, par.5). This concept plays into Mexican dual citizenship. Mexicans that have dual citizenship essential must show loyalism to both countries they respect this includes all they policies that they represent. If Puerto Ricans become a state, they will be seen the same way as Mexicans with dual citizenship. They must swear allege to a foreign country, as well as serve in the military, become a part of social matters (Renshon,2005, par.5). People will be forced to assimilate into what the new home country sees as normal, therefore, those who don’t are seen as outcasts. They must give up apart of who they are in order to be part of something else. It’s hard and nearly impossible to hold strong attachments to both countries at the same time (Renshon,2005, par.15). Something has to give and it usually is the one that holds the stronger influence. The United States can give people better lives, but not natural born citizens still struggle.
Some policies that could strongly affect Puerto Rico future are repatriation, the bracero program, Operation Wetback. Repatriation is when a person is deported back to their country of origin, it doesn’t matter if they are a legal citizen of another country. The bracero program was brought about in the 1940’s to help the labor shortage, because of World War 2 (Bracero History archive, n.d., par.1). People of Mexico were able to cross the border and be able to work. The problem with this is that when their contracts were over they didn’t return to Mexico. Operation wetback references violation someone human rights and moving immigrants further south (Peralta,2015, par.3). These people that were moved went without food and water. It essentially deported many legal United States Citizens (Peralta,2015, par.3). The United States special forces role was to identify and deport people. Those factors essential make it hard to leave Puerto Rico. These factors make it hard not to alienate people, as well challenge national identity. Patriotism and loyal are often being put to the test.