Editor’s Note: After we published a bilingual essay from four authors about Nelson A. Denis’ visit to Puerto Rico to promote his new book, we invited Nelson to share his own impressions from his seven-day book tour. Here is what Nelson sent us.
Last month I went to Puerto Rico to introduce my book War Against All Puerto Ricans on the island. I expected to see my family, get a little sun, attend a few book events: a much-needed break from a hectic schedule in New York. It ended up very differently.
The first clue came from El Nuevo Día. On May 17 the newspaper ran a front-page article on the book, which filled three full interior pages.
The effect of this article, and a few media appearances, was unlike anything I had ever seen. A meeting was scheduled in the Ateneo Puertorriqueño sponsored by Aleida Centeno, the president of the Nationalist Party.
They ran out of chairs. The crowd extended out two doors and down the stairs, a total of over 300 people. After the event, over 100 of them stepped forward to get their book signed. But before that, to end the meeting, we all did this:
Over 300 voices sang “La Borinqueña.” A few of them were in tears. It was an unforgettable moment, the first of many. The bookstores were the second surprise.
At Tertulia San Juan, the book event spilled out into the street.
At The Bookmark, the owners were ready with 160 copies of War Against All Puerto Ricans. Stacked in two full bookshelves, they looked like a revolutionary wall. And then the crowd swarmed in. With no room left in the store, dozens of people stood outside, and peered in through the glass windows.
WAPA TV arrived and covered the event.
We sold all 160 books that night. The store ran out of copies. The high point though, was the people who attended and testified: including one daughter (Laura Meneses de Campos) and two granddaughters (Rosa and Cristina) of Don Pedro Albizu Campos. Two of them spoke eloquently about the book, their lives and the legacy of Don Pedro.
In another private event, Rafael Cancel Miranda (who accompanied Lolita Lebrón in the 1954 attack on the US Congress) and Don Heriberto Marín Torres (a Nationalist from Jayuya, imprisoned with Albizu Campos) arrived to discuss the book, and their own experiences as Nationalists.
Both men were gentle and polite—but extremely passionate about their experiences, and about the independence of Puerto Rico. Both of them emanated a strong moral force. They drew an overwhelming respect from everyone in the room. All their words had weight and meaning.
At another point, several key leaders of the island’s Independence Party (PIP) came to meet me: Ruben Berríos (PIP President), María de Lourdes Santiago (PIP Senator), and Juan Dalmau Ramírez (PIP Secretary General). All of them expressed their support for the book, and then extended a gracious invitation: the PIP would like to host a multi-city tour for the book in July (the week of 18-25). Would I be interested in doing this?
Yes I would. I will return to the island in July, and tour with the PIP.
Upon my return to New York, my publisher told me that over 50% of the book’s sales are happening in Puerto Rico. They also ordered an emergency reprint, because they’d run out of books on the island. The publishing house was amazed because the book was in English—and 80% of book sales in Puerto Rico are in Spanish. Sure enough, they decided to print a Spanish translation, which is due by the end of 2015.
Reflecting on all of this, it seems my book has touched a nerve—not because of what I wrote, but because the island is in trouble. There is a growing sense that Puerto Rico’s current leadership has failed Puerto Ricans, and that some fundamental changes are imminent and inescapable. My book seemed to arrive at a key historical moment: with the island looking for answers, hungry for information, searching for a sense of direction.
I had one more experience during this trip, that I will never forget. On May 19, I was scheduled to appear on a TV show called Jugando Pelota Dura. When I arrived two elected officials (one from the pro-commonwealth PPD, the other from the pro-statehood PNP) were arguing on the air. They seemed to hate each other. They appeared ready to punch each other. It was a tremendous argument, and great television—so great that Chucho Avellanet, the next scheduled guest, was bumped five minutes back so that the argument could continue.
These two elected officials seemed ready to kill each other.
After their segment finally ended, they left the studio in a big huff, but an old political instinct kicked in, and I decided to follow a hunch. I made like I was going to the bathroom and watched them walk down the hall, toward the studio exit doors.
Mr. PPD had his arm around Mr. PNP. They were laughing at some joke, as they walked through the outer doors. That’s why Puerto Rico is in trouble, and that’s why people are buying War Against All Puerto Ricans.
***
Nelson A. Denis is a former New York State Assemblyman and author of thebook, War Against All Puerto Ricans.
u see, this is what I really do not like of people that call themselves Puerto Rican just because their parents (one or both are or were from the island) that know nothing about Puerto Rico’s (and even US politics). In the very last paragraph of his witting Mr Denis wrote . . .”Mr. PPD had his arm around Mr. PNP. They were laughing at some joke, as they walked through the outer doors. That’s why Puerto Rico is in trouble, and that’s why people are buying War Against All Puerto Ricans.”.
Mr Denis any Puerto Rican, any person no mater what political party in PR and here on the mainland will tell you THAT THAT IS HOW POLITICIANS ACT. Also that that IS NOT why PR is in trouble NOR why your book is selling. As we do say “En Puerto Rico . . .Encabulla y Vuelve y Tira”.
I will recommend you re evaluate your visit and why your book has had the acceptance on the island. It was to be expected but not for the reason you assumed.
JorgeARivera
Eres otro colonizado. Eres la clase de persona que se la pasa de rodillas rogando por la estadidad a Washington cuando ya han demostrado que no tienen interes en resolver el asunto. Amas al imperio que pisotea a tu patria y a tu gente. Que triste.
Oops ! ….this seems to be now a ” War amongst and Between all Puerto Ricans” , going on now.
You all should work together as a joined team and not Against each other.
Recuerden el dicho: “dividanse y conquistare ” .
El enemigo común es la crisis, y este es el momento de trabajar en equipo y que todos pongan algo de lo mejor de cada uno sobre la mesa y trabajar en equipo y en conjunto. No tirando se entré ustes los unos contra los otros…
Excuse my opinión !
Crodz JorgeARivera Colonizado porque quiero lo mejor para mi pueblo? Porque creo que la Esadidad es mejor para el pueblo Boricua que la República? Si por esto me llamas “colonizado” . . . . bueno con orgullo. Cuando yo te he insultado porque tu creas en la Independencia? Porque ustedes quiereen menospreciar a otros Boricuas por la sencilla razon de que no comparten sus ideales politicos? Quien yayos les dijo a ustedes que ustedes tiene la UNICA verdad en el futuro de Puerto Rico? Creo que es hora de de que aprendan a respetar otras ideologias sin bajar a la cuneta a embarrarse en KAKA.
It’s not xenophobia. I am tired of people with a tenuous connections to the island to make money of our misery. Why Mr. Expert doesn’t move here, take the AMA every day then write a book about us.
Ese imperio que “pisotea ” a nuestra gente, es el mismo que alimenta y da servicios de salud a la mayoría de la gente pobre y de bajos recursos en este país. El día que la gente de Puerto Rico le diga NO al mantego, es el día que me convierto en defensora de la independencia. Puerto Rico es mi país, pero no soy ciega. Vendimos nuestra dignidad por cupones y por la cultura popular americana. El que no ve eso está ciego.
@crodz Los movimentos independentistas estan de rodillas para que la gente vote por ellos. Tengan dignidad y reconozcan que este país no tiene ninguna.
LostPev pero que baja estima tienes de nuestro pueblo. Y despues hablas al del pueblo mietras tu te sientas a recibir ese “mantengo”. Creo que debes re estudiar nuestra historia pero esta ves estudia tambien otros historiadores que no sean independentista para que aprendas bien. Hablas del “imperio que nos psotea” de que imperio hablas y a quien pisoea? A tí porque a mi nunca me a pisoteado. Habla por ti si te consideras tan inferior a otros.
@jorgearivera. I talk about the empire quoting what other person said. It is called sarcasm. And yes I love my people but I know who and what we are. I don’t read independentistas propaganda. Not my thing. Read the thread again. You misunderstood me
LostPev . Que disparates dices.. Deberías de leer un poco, empezando con este libro para poder entender un poco más…
Both polítical parties on the island work towards the same goal, that’s what the tale about the PNP and the PPD dudes symbolizes. Representatives for each of the two political parties put on a show for all to see, but it’s all bull. And that is NOT how all politicians act ! There are politicians with something called Integrity and decency
Both main political parties in Puerto Rico work towards the same goal: to keep us colonized. And that’s the SYMBOL of that tale about the PNP and the PPD guys: How representatives for each of the two political parties put on a show for all to see, but it’s all a huge lie, how they act as if they want different things and as if they hate one another when in reality they are both working for the same thing and always LYING to our faces.
But THAT IS NOT HOW all politicians act ! There are politicians with something called INTEGRITY, and DECENCY too! I know because I have met my share of both.
Puerto Ricans have been lied to and fooled for too long! And that is the problem with Puerto Rico. We are all sick and tired of nothing but more of the same.
Our own history has been hidden from us. And we have been fed phony politics, fakery and BS.
Puerto Ricans are hungry for TRUTH and HONESTY for a change!
AND THE BOOK BY NELSON DENIS GIVES US THE MANY TRUTHS THAT HAVE BEEN PAST DUE FOR TOO LONG.
AnikiLadora Puerto Rico’s problem is not that we have been lied bu both parties and that our history has been hidden from us. No the problem is that we as PUEBLO we do not want to read and wait until some “genio inteligente” tell us what is going on Our history has been well documented just that people are more interested in taking everything as a “Bachata” and mock everything and everyone. Mr Denis book has made Don Pedro’s history easy to read at a moment in history where similarities to our past are coming to be. In other words, we have not learned mch if anything from our past mistakes.
Yes Mr Denis has brought out many truths to the surface but before you take it as the ONLY read other books on the era an from LMM point of view so that you can make an hone conclusion.
Terrible un pueblo tan confundido, tirandole a Nelson Dennis, jaja, ayayay. No se si llorar o reirme. Ya esta la informacion en la mesa, dejen el fanatismo que esto no es lucha libre.
AnikiLadora You are mixing milk with milk of magnesia. TWO (2) different things. For your information a civilized politician, and there are many, I will say most, are NOT enemies of their political opponents. most of them turn good friends that agree to desagree. I am sure you have heard this term. You see if you turn “enemies” then there will not be any room to negotiate because then is “My way or the Highway”. For your information “POLITICS” is the art of COMPROMISING for the benefit of the people. Not the benefit of one believes or the Parties wans BU THE PEOPLE.
2) Where do you find that I have said anything bad – negative of the book? Have you read what I write or you just talk and accuse without reading what is going on or just read what other people write. PLEASE read for yourself. I HAVE WRITTEN NOTHIN ba about the book I BOUGHT IT and READ it. Have you? It is a good simple antell the trutha of what did happened to Don Pedro. NO ONE can deny that. Come on people stop been PARROTS.
El problema de PR es el bipartidismo politico y el sistema de turnos al poder. Claro que el PNP y el PPD trabajan juntos, y se turnan para robarse los chavitos del pueblo. Por eso nunca voto por ninguno de los 2. Cuando el pueblo se de cuenta que hay otros partidos y candidatos dispuestos a trabajar, quizás salgamos del hoyo
palamarie si tu crees que mas partidos es la solucion estudia bien las elecciones en toda America Latina y otros paises donde tienen miles de parttidos. Mir los Boricuas saben que ahi ms partidos. Si PR se convierte en Republica entonces veras 10 o 15 partidos peleandose por la cucarach en un baile de gallinas.
Si nos hacemos estados entonces el PPD se convertira en el Partido Democrata, el PNP desaparecera y el Parido Republicano de Puerto Rico RESUSITARA (espero NO bajo los lideres INCOMPETENTES que correna GOP en PR AHORA).
The best quote from the book store: “Mejor un patriota en Nueva York que un vende patria en la isla”. Bravo Sr. Denis!
La gente habla del PPD y el PNP como la razón de los problemas en PR. Uno de los GRANDES problemas de nuestra isla es que los políticos son abogados en su gran mayoría y viven inventado leyes y aprobando estupideces que lejos de beneficiar nuestro país contribuyen solo a su beneficio personal. ¿Qué sabe un abogado de administrar? ¿Qué sabe un abogado de planificación? Solo saben tratar de ganar casos, ellos los inventan y ellos los resuelven porque política y leyes son cosas completamente distintas. El que hace la ley, hace la trampa! Si fueran los del PIP sería la misma cosa. Hay tantas leyes absurdas en nuestra Isla que es lo que nos tiene atrapados en un roto, las leyes que cobijan intereses particulares, leyes que fueron prácticamente compradas por que donde se baña el tiburón salpica.
Solo en nuestra Isla los abogados quieren trabajar en el gobierno, solo en PR!!!
Con relación al librito, sinceramente me importa muy poco si la persona que lo escribe se quiere auto denominar puertorriqueño, solo con leer el titulo es un libro mas de algo que es historia para dos o tres no para un pueblo completo, las historias TODAS tiene dos partes y yo soy puertorriqueña y bien que se que ninguno era un santo ni mucho menos un martir, bastante bien armados que estaban, cuando una persona (civil) anda armada es con intenciones de quitarle vida a alguien, entonces pierde todo tipo de derecho.
Somo los únicos que nos hemos atrevido a tirotear la casa blanca y eso no es para enorgullecerse, si Puerto Rico hubiera querido ser libre lo hubiera hecho hace mucho tiempo ya. No lo es porque NO LO QUEREMOS.
Con la patria ni se come ni se vive, eso son tonterías de gente que tiene mucho tiempo libre y muchos complejos acumulados.
Viví en un república por mas de 6 años y teniendo mas recursos que mi Isla la corrupción reinaba por todas partes, la policía lejos de ser servidores públicos atemorizaban a las personas. Tierra De Nadie
El sistema EEUU no es perfecto, pero… ¿Cuál lo es? Lo único que sé es que miles de personas de todas partes del mundo mueren a diario por la libertad que aquí se respira, por la oportunidad.
Si no te gusta el sistema de EEUU te puedes ir para tu país cuando quieras y si estas en PR y no quieres el sistema EEUU, trabaja y que te paguen en moneda puertorriqueña… luego me cuentas como te va.
Concuerdo 100% con lo que dice Jorge A Rivera, es muy bonito ser patriota desde los EEUU donde no pasa las vicisitudes que se pasan en la Isla y mucho menos creció en PR para poder opinar, esos son tonterías que escribe uno que quieres adornarle la píldora a los acomplejados independentistas que ya nadie ni los respeta ni los consideran porque son un chorro de cultos incultos con mega egos de letrados, que lo menos que les importa es su pueblo y su bienestar, por cierto casi todos son riquitillos, digo porque Rubé Berríios estudió en Harvard
JorgeARivera LostPev Yo nunca he entendido de que rayos habla esta gente cuando habla de que del “imperio” que nos “pisotean” Uyy! Yo nunca me he sentido así, eso son gente con demasiados complejos de inferioridad. Tiene que tomar terapia para que les suba la estima.
VictorRodriguezGotay Asi mismo es. Por eso es que no progresamos. Somos nuestro mayor enemigo.
Pedro Albizu en sus años después de Hardvard y antes de volver a Puerto Rico para fines de los años ’40 , viajó a Perú con su esposa Laura y fue fuertemente impactado por las ideologías del partido Apra de Haya de la Torre el cual era un partido que no se inclinaba ni a Moscú ni a Washington DC , sino más bien a la unificación de todos los pueblos latinoamericanos. En estos años del llamemos le los años del “evangelio Acuario de Albizu” conoce al fundador del partido Aprista llamado Haya de la Torre. Partido que eventualmente logra gobierno en Colombia ,Venezuela antes de Chavez y finalmente Peru en los años ’80 con Alan García.
Albizu vuelve a Puerto Rico para antes de 1950.
En la década del 70 del siglo XX los pueblos latinoamericanos fueron hondamente impactados por la impronta de la revolución cubana que había irrumpido en historia de América la dictadura Batista , liquidada mediante una Insu rección armada, cedio el poder a una vanguardia política liderada por la ahí ya legendaria figura de Fidel Castro quien pronunciaría un cambio radical en Cuba: estos eran los hechos objetivos.
En aquellos años desde la decada de los ’50 al los ’70 proliferaron en el continente americano y en el Caribe los movimientos en su reacción que intentaban reproducir lo sucedido en Cuba Sobre la base de la existencia en aquellos años , en objetivas más o menos parecidas .
Se acuñó el término “modelo cubano” del que se hicieron varias interpretaciones ; cada una suponía ser el verdadero modelo . Además algo más grave se pretendió imitar ese modelo . La imitacion por sí misma constituía un serio error . Era imposible que arribaran a un mismo resultado con la adopción de una fórmula política cuya validez se sustantivaba en su concordancia precisa con un determinado contexto nacional de peculiaridades muy definidas en la dinamica de su devenir historico, economico , politico , Social, cultural y psicologico .
En las décadas de los ’50 a los años 70 del siglo anterior muchos grupos políticos intentaron y fracasaron en América latina y en el Caribe reproducir con frialdad mecánica los instrumentos tácticos y estratégicos que posibilitaron a Fidel Castro liderar un cambio revolucionario en su país. La única excepción que estas reglas llegaría a registrar en América latina sería la tenás e inteligente insurgencia sostenida y culminada con éxito por el frente sandinista de liberación nacional en Nicaragua ; similar secreto seguiría más tarde el proceso insurreccional en el Salvador sólo contenido en su avance por la descomunal intervención económica y militar de Estados Unidos , causa esta que también dio al traste con la revolución sandinista en el poder .
I have the greatest respect for Nelson and his extensive research on Puerto Rico’s history since our acquisition by the empire called USA. After reading some of the comments, I’ll put mine in also.
I was born in NYC of a PR parent but I always identify myself as Puerto Rican, probably because if anyone makes derogatory remarks about Puerto Ricans it hits a nerve and I respond with full force. What Puerto Ricans on the island may not understand is that even though I was born in NY, people( US caucasians) may detect an accent or see my darker skin color and see me as an outsider. As someone who has assimilated quite well in spite of my looks I feel for other latinos who are discriminated even more than I ever was. My mother who was light skinned seemed to always have the doors opened for her until she opened her mouth and that strong spanish accent put the brakes on her assent. She developed that inferiority complex that we Latinos hide with false pride, always criticizing the independentistas and claiming incorrectly of course that Los Puerto Riquenos are helpless without the USA. Puerto Ricans have never been allowed to form their own destiny. Other groups have, are we any different–of course not.
We are just as capable as anyone to trade, grown our own food, develop our capabilities to the fullest if only we were allowed to.
Puerto Rico is going through a very difficult time right now and this might be the push that Puerto Ricans need to save their island from hostile takeover.
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