During my last three days in the place of my birth, I have come full circle around a couple of thoughts I have had about my Island's economic, political and social position

We as a people can no longer be ignored. So, "Ya Basta!" (enough!)

Independence is a crucial thought in the minds of some Puerto Ricans. "No Más! No, A La Junta" (No more! No to the Board!), are a constant chant for the liberation of the Borinken. At first, the chant started from the island's previous captivity from the Spaniards and then, came the so-called adoption from the United States. No Statehood, no Independence, and a new national anthem were the new badge branded on the people of Puerto Rico. Then, came the Jones Act of 1920 which stopped Puerto Rico from governing their own import and export to depending on the United States to govern what they can or cannot receive. This later brought on the U.S. Navy Testing in Vieques, which would bring up cases of contamination to the people years later and who can forget, the contraceptive testing of women in the 1950's by the United States on the people of Puerto Rico.

Yet, with all of these events that came over the Borinken, the young and old have fought for this idea of freedom from outer "White Saviour" governments ruling over their land. Many have gone to jail or even have died while fighting for this ideal. "Los Independentistas" are their names. Such name carries a cross of a fight that will not be easily won. Yet, no one said it was an impossible fight to win. For example, the Grito De Lares (The Cry of Lares) of 1868 against the Spanish Rule on the Island, The revolt led by Lolita Lebron (Independentist Leader) and Various others at the U.S. House of Representatives in 1954 to revolt against the colonial status in Puerto Rico and another well known one, the Jayuya Uprising in October 1950.

Yet, the fight still continues. Modern day uprisings are occuring across universities and neighborhoods in the island, as well as from children of the island from the United States -- in the end, some people want change, yet some are not ready for a drastic liberation of power.

La Junta es un chiste! (The Board is a Joke!) How can a group of people represent an island, they are not from? How can they know what we go through? Will they have mercy? Will they care? How will they help us? These are only five out of billions of questions that, the people of Puerto Rico are asking. Maybe, all we need is a chance at our own independence to help steer the ship in the right direction or simply, bring down the egocentric values that some of us have in order to learn to place others before ourselves.

As I have said it before, during my short 3-week trip, I have met great people yet, even amongst my own; I felt preassure as well. Some of my people, feel they don't need any help in their current situation and therefore some of them ignore your suggestions to better their situations. Yet, this is quite common -- for we are humans.

In the end, not all of us who believe in the idea of independence or at least in the believe of the betterment of the island, are radicals -- for the definition of radicalism is on the hands of the viewer. Yet, Lolita Lebron, Pedro Albizu Campos, Julia De Burgos and many others even though their actions seemed rough to some; they had in mind this idea of a Borinken free from capitalistic rule governing the people of Puerto Rico.

All in all, the "solution to Puerto Rico's limbo" is truly CRUCIAL.

So, I ask you, what are your thoughts? What can we as a people do? How can we join and leave labels aside to help restore an island that is slowly sinking in debt? That is something, that I will leave up to you!