For the past few months, the local politicians (along with the Presidential ones) have really been stepping up their advertising and marketing trying get every potential voter aware of their policies. As we get closer to the election here in Puerto Rico, one of the main ways they do that (for those of us without television) is by driving around with gigantic loud speakers on the roofs of their cars and trucks blasting audio loops promoting their candidate.
Loud music is just a part of the culture here. Because all of the windows are always open at the house, we just get used to cars cruising by the road with their Reggaeton blasting. Last Christmas morning, one of the local candidates for this election started his announcements at 7:00am which simply said, Merry Christmas and God Bless from the family of insert politician name here. Now, with elections drawing close, the music and announcement cars/trucks are increasing to a few times a day.
Yesterday, Summer and I went down to the Econ to get a few things for dinner and there was a giant parade going on. There was no marching band, no local high school sports teams, no floats, just loud music promoting the candidate, cars peeling out all up and down the road, people hanging out of sun roofs, sitting in trunks, on top of dump trucks and lots and lots of Medalla. Everyone supporting the candidate that had any kind of muscle car or motorcycle was revving their engines, blowing their car horns, air horns, screaming and drinking. It was a very interesting cultural experience that I have never seen before in that capacity. There were cops directing traffic everywhere, but they weren’t bothered by the dangerous things going on (drinking and driving, peeling out with only 10 feet of space before the next car, driving on the wrong side of the road). The parade must have been 10 miles long, all locals in their vehicles supporting their favorite politician.
I made a ringtone for my iPhone that sounds like a Puerto Rican political rally of cars. For those of you who are reading the blog from far, this may bring back some good memories. All you have to do is ‘right click’ on the link and and choose ’save as’: PR Political Parade Sound Ringtone
Here are a few of the pics I took from my iPhone while we were at the grocery store (they don’t do it justice, there was so much energy in the air):
Wow looks like a good time. Is there a major political person that everyone seems to be voting for?
The biggest reason I have heard from Puerto Ricans for not wanting statehood is a fear of loss of their cultural identity. As a Puerto Rican who lived in PR for many years and has resided in California for decades, I really understand that. We love our classic music, food, friendliness, the countryside, Old San Juan, and many customs associated with a long history of Taino, Spanish, and American influences. I even understand the fear of losing Boricua Spanish. I do love it. (I don’t believe Spanish would be lost with statehood. I do live in California and everything here is bilingual.)
HOWEVER, here are some other typically Puerto Rican customs and cultural practices:
Disregard for safety of children in moving vehicles.
Disregard for littering laws (C’mon people!!!)
Animal abuse (e.g., dumping of pets, cockfighting, etc.).
Disregard for other citizens’ rights to peace and quiet.
Rude service to non-Boricuas, due to a sense that only Puerto Ricans are entitled to live in and visit Puerto Rico. (I have witnessed this countless times, since can I pass as either Puerto Rican or statesider.)
Disregard for traffic laws.
Heck, disregard for most laws!
I’m 100% for LOSING those cultural elements, which we will continue to endure as long as Puerto Rico retains its status quo. There, I’ve said it! Fran
I’m against the concept of status-politics as demonstrated on this island.
A change of status will be only that. A change of status. The cultural elements that keep the island just on the brink of the third world will still remain there.
Fortuno won… whoopie.
Fran - You hit the nail on the head right there. I can’t tell you how many times Stefan has pointed out (in complete horror) the unrestrained children riding in cars. Cars that happen to be running red lights, weaving in and out of traffic and all the other fabulous “traditional Puerto Rican driving technics”. I saw a child in a car seat yesterday and actually thought, “Wow, that’s weird”!
In the same political parade we took picture of above, there were children sitting on roofs of cars (with legs dangling through the sun roof) that were speeding down the wrong lane, passing cars, cutting back into the parade, spinning their tires, popping the clutch and the driver cheersing the cops directing traffic with his Medalla beer. All to the police officers delight. Really strange.
While it’s easy to say Puerto Rico & Puerto Ricans should do this or that, Puerto Rico really is decades behind the mainland when it comes to certain things (being “green”, cockfighting, etc), but going back to California, really makes me appreciate Puerto Rico for what it is. It is somewhat “lawless” here, but for the most part it works out better. Can you imagine if a Puerto Rican was given a $100 ticket for parking more then 12″ from the curb? Or perhaps a $45 ticket for parking on a public street when the city is sweeping the streets at 3am? Could you imagine if all of the Puerto Ricans that park in the Fire Lane at Kmart had their cars towed? There would be a riot! 90% of laws in California (and most states) are all just “fundraisers” for the city to get their hands on more of your money…
Summer: I’m glad to hear your perspective of PR vs CA (I.E., it’s not so bad in PR considering what it’s like in CA). When I moved to CA in the 70s, it was so much more civilized here. However, things have gone downhill fast in the past 10 years here, including, as you point out, the ridiculous amount charged for fines here, which we realize are nothing more than efforts to meet revenue quotas. (Now they’re considering using the red light cameras to nail you – to the tune of hundreds of $$ – when you stop before making a right turn and your bumper is over the white line, regardless of whether there are Xing peds.)
Robert: My cousin, a doc in San Juan, has told me that things in Puerto Rico have always been this way and we will not see change in our lifetime. Actually, blatant disregard for laws and an insidious sense of non-accountability seem to have gotten worse in PR since the 70s, for whatever reason. When so many elements of a culture seem to be backsliding, the only hope for improvement is a change in leadership and direction. I am HOPING that a change in status would make Puerto Rico a more civilized place. Not that I think the status will ever change; I believe my cousin. However, none of us has a crystal ball. But yes – status politics suck. Fran
Hi. I came across your website on google just by typing in moving to puerto rico. My fiance and I are very serious about moving to the Rincon/Aguadilla area. We have some family in the area and came to visit in August and really love it. I am a hairsylist and Matt does massage therapy. I just wanted to find out from you guys…how do Puerto Ricans welcome Americans moving to the area? Where do you get your hair done? haha. I am hoping to just open up a little salon in my house there, but have a few options as far as salons go in the area…altieri salon and sunset spa, both in rincon. Any other suggestions would be helpful. We are moving from North Carolina. cheers to your move there…looks from your website you guys have settled in..right on! thanks, alison