Customer Reviews

The Disenchanted Island: Puerto Rico and the United States in the Twentieth Century, Second Edition

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This book summarizes the systematic comedy of errors that has been the United State's dominance over Puerto Rico; perhaps the least publicised of America's abuses towards some of its own (if you care to consider Puerto Ricans as Americans, many of which don't themselves). A must read for any Washington politician who dares to deal with the potentially fractitious (and sometimes fraticidal) subject of Puerto Rico's ultimate status solution.

The profuse details on how the United States' government brought the local Puerto Rican economy to its knees soon after the Spanish American War, how it dealt with the islanders as an afterthought (and still does) and how a small elite of local politicians have turned the discussion on U.S.-Puerto Rico relations into a quagmire, would be dismissed as heavily biased towards the left, if it wasn't so heavily researched. Fernandez has done an excellent job of documenting the true story of U.S.-Puerto Rico relations.

All throughout my school years up until high school, I was bombarded by statements such as, "Puerto Ricans are lazy. They are always on welfare here on the mainland and on foodstamps on the island. That is why the U.S. should not allow Puerto Rico to become a state. They're too dependent."

Little did I know about "neo-colonialism", nor the economic 'development' in Puerto Rico under the direction of the U.S. government. After reading this book, I felt enlightened and, naturally, rather enraged with history. I have read books on all aspects of my culture, while keeping an eye on the economic and political aspects.

Though more and more Puerto Ricans on the island are in favor of statehood, I feel it is important for them to know the history of the island under all the colonial powers (whether Spain or the U.S.).

I thank Ronald Fernandez for all the factual information that he gave. He has opened up my eyes.

Que viva Puerto Rico!