The joke is on us! We demand respect!When pseudo-roast-comedian Tony Hinchcliffe compared Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage,” it was not the only insult. Let’s see Harris and Trump’s actions alike
By Sandra Rodríguez-Cotto
If a joke is bad, it won’t work. However you may look at it, it’s useless. That is precisely what is happening in this electoral race in the United States.
The worst thing is not what pseudo-roast-comedian Tony Hinchcliffe did on Saturday when he compared Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage.” The worst thing has been the response from both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. They both took advantage of it, at the expense of us, Puerto Ricans.
Trump first denied any wrongdoing, minimizing any effect and saying it was nothing, until he saw the anger and opposition of the voters. Some of his pundits – such as Glenn Greenwald – have disregarded this as another media hoax or a simple pretext to go after his Republican candidate.
Today Trump just released another video where you can see blonde, white people, all looking like Florida natives, playing salsa and pretending to dance, strangely moving uncoordinated side-to-side on some boats, unlike our typical Caribbean rhythm, waving the American flags, as if with that he bought into the Puerto Rican sentiment.
Trump knows that he might well convince many, because, let’s face it, there are many ignorant people. That cannot be denied. But the video itself is another mockery on his part. It’s saying to our faces: “I don’t care, let’s dance.”
I know we have over six million Boricuas living on the mainland. But that is also proof of American failed politics over this Caribbean colony. I know celebrities like Bad Bunny, Ricky Martin, and others publicly criticized the so-called comedian Hinchcliffe’s remarks as well as Trump’s response, highlighting them as evidence of underlying disdain toward our communities. But the issue at large here is much more than just that. It’s colonialism in its most blatant and shameful display. That is to say that since we are a colony, we mean nothing to them.
We, Puerto Ricans on the Island and abroad, feel frustrated by Trump’s historically dismissive attitudes, especially recalling his administration’s handling of Hurricane Maria. I feel humiliated. It is incredibly painful to see something so dismissive and hurtful towards my people brushed off like it doesn’t matter, without acknowledgment. But it is more than saying that. I was there. I lived the aftermath.
I outlived the despair and destruction. I saw death head-on and confronted the local corrupt politician’s mismanagement of that catastrophe. I saw the destruction. I went to press conferences back then and covered day and night what happened on the only radio network that remained on the air, WAPA Radio. So, I know what happened. And for that experience, I know these comments may influence Puerto Rican voters in critical states like Florida and Pennsylvania, where large Puerto Rican communities could impact the election outcome. But we must see behind that.
The entire media establishment can criticize Trump, but as a Puerto Rican, I must also see the other side of the equation. The Democrats are no saints. After all, none of them are Boricuas. At least, not the majority. Not all of them feel and understand how we feel, how sick and tired we are of this treatment from Americans.
As a fellow journalist, the respected Julio Ricardo Varela put it, “Puerto Ricans have heard these kinds of excuses and apologies before.” I am Puerto Rican, and I also am tired, as Julio said.
For that reason, I stress that what Kamala Harris did should also put us on alert. She quickly defended the Puerto Ricans, which we all must applaud. Yet, it was the least she could do, being herself considered a minority. She must know how this felt, but more than that, as a candidate she needs even the smallest vote. She then pulled out a list of promises to help our local economy. Beautiful, great, positive.
The underlying problem is that she, just as Trump does, and as both Democrats and Republicans have done in the past, is using us. Harris wants and desperately needs the Boricua votes. So, that’s an undeniable part of her response, even though I recognize she knows our struggles and needs better than Trump.
What lies latent in everything is us, Puerto Ricans. What’s next? Offended again. Humiliated again. Once again harassed by the Americans who come to violate our beings. Because that’s what it’s about. The almighty-powered Americans come to violate our peace, our space, our being. As a colonial power, they dominate and do with their colony whatever they want. Enough already!
Let me remind them that we are almost nine million Boricuas on the Island and the mainland. In the decisive states, specifically, we are over 450,000 in Pennsylvania, over 100,000 in North Carolina, 65,000 in Wisconsin, 55,000 in Michigan, over 1 million in New York, and another 1.2 million in Florida, and counting. We can make a difference.
More than the insults that undermine Puerto Rican historic contributions, more than the politics held by both Republicans and Democrats, the underlying issue here is the big elephant in the room that no one wants to acknowledge. And it is the injustice of being a colony in the 21st century. The oldest colony in the world. Yes, it is right under your noses and is being held captive by Americans. Here on the Island, we demand respect. What are you going to do about it?
