Who can really define patriotism? This feeling (as it’s the only way to describe it) really bursts out in certain occasions -meaning- it’s not an everyday thing. It can be felt in a national game, a certain song that somehow unites the whole country or even when talking about politics or national heroes. It can be described as the defense of our personality as a country; this is not something that can be felt individually, is a collective sense of proudness.
Puerto Rico is a country that celebrates any moment you can imagine. You name it; we make a party of it: from new-born babies, baptisms, graduation, winning local marathon or a music contest; every single birthday and a festival for every fruit grown. But where does this infinite amount of hype comes from? Maybe it’s caused by all of the different cultures that are combined in the unique formula that shape our country. This hype may also come from the history that lies on this land; the political changes it has gone through and all the people that had tried to damage it; and with more reason, the people that have sacrificed their live fighting for it.
Even with this amazing force that unites us as a country, frequently we listen to negative and pessimists thoughts by our own fellow compatriots towards “nuestra patria”. One of the saddest parts is that during the students’ academic years, this cloud of negativity is present at every institution; often we hear about how “somos un país chiquito”, “el puertorriqueño es vago” and even “este país no va pa’ ningun lao’” putting our beloved Puerto Rico in the most undignified position. When the real fact is, change and improvement begins within you. There are always certain individuals that comprehend the necessity to carry up high the name of their patria; individuals who sharing the same enthusiasm and love towards their motherland (not necessarily living in it), make the whole country remember the greatness of this beautiful island. And it’s not an exaggeration, it’s the truth; Puerto Rico truly is the “best latitude to live in” and here are some reasons to feel proud of being “Boricua” every day:
- The Puerto Rican coffee industry with its 277 years once was the 4th most important exporter of the Americas.
- Puerto Rico is lucky enough to count with 3 of the 5 bioluminescent bays worldwide.
- Antonio Paoli was selected by composer Leoncavallo to be the First Tenor in his album for the opera “Payaso”, the first opera ever recorded completely.
- Rita Moreno, the Humacao born actress is one of the 11 people that has won all 4 major entertainment awards: Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy.
- The Arecibo Observatory owns the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope.
Let this day serve as a memory to some of those amazing human beings that devoted their lives for the sake of this country:
- Ramon Emeterio Betances
- Eugenio Maria de Hostos
- Pedro Albizu Campos
- Lolita Lebron
- Segundo Ruiz Belvis
No matter what may be heard or said, we have many reasons to feel proud every single day and most of all to be grateful for being so fortunate to be called Puerto Ricans; as the great composer Tito Henríquez wrote on his Bello Amanecer (1955) “Agradezco al Señor que me permitiera, haber nacido en esta Tierra tan hermosa, en esta Tierra donde mis ojos vieron la luz por vez primera”.
For every Puerto Rican or “Boricua” out there remember these words from the historian Jesus Omar Rivera: “You’re part of a privileged country, son of a blessed land.”
*Pictures were taken from Ángel Franco The New York Times, Política Panorámica & Expedia.com