WHY WOULD YOU HURT ME IN THIS MANNER.

@thatonecoveyin12 JUST LOOK.

😭😭😭

I resisted the urge to dump a bunch of historical facts about the U.S. and Puerto Rico’s military…

Do it. Doitdoitdoit.

I like learning things via infodump.

AIGHT. *takes deep breath*

Puerto Rico is one of the oldest colonies in the world but it is obviously not the only one. First colonized by Spain, then invaded by the U.S. and rewarded to the U.S. by Spain as one of the countries under oppression during the Spanish-American war- The year 1898 was extremely busy in terms of several colonies of Spain fighting for independence.

The Philippines, Cuba, Guam and Puerto Rico were uniting against Spain to establish their own sovereignty and allies after at least 400 years of slavery and genocide. The United States of America, under the leadership of William McKinley, decided “To end the fighting in Cuba between the Rebels and the Spanish forces.” This intervention not only affected Cuba’s fight for independence- but also Puerto Rico’s. Puerto Rico is the Spanish name given to the island, the name means “rich port” but echoes of its indigenous name still endure to this day across the Caribbean. The empire of Spain spanned across Western North America in California and Texas for example, South America, Asia and the larger island-dotted Pacific. Spain had not been the only colonizing country in the New World but it is quite possibly the richest, especially when compared to the United States. (I don’t mean that sentence in a nice supportive way- both Spain and the U.S. stole and killed any variety of native legacy you can think of. Melting and appropriating artifacts is one of them.)(The French also did their damage. Like the British.)

For the United States, the terms in conjunction to its brand of colonization are separate but distinctly relevant to words like imperialism and annexation- Imperialism and annexation are coined ideals or explanations alike to the concept of Manifest Destiny and expansionism. The region and country which the words evoke are important in labeling respective but parallel conflicts. And they aren’t necessarily obscure, but at times hidden in plain sight.

Reyna’s dad- fought on behalf of the United States but can’t vote for effin’ President from the island he was born in- an island that U.S. proclaims as its domain? Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens only when the U.S. needs soldiers. He gets back all traumatized to his daughters and then this shit happens. SMH. (This post was gonna be longer but I procrastinated.) I’m looking at this in the context of generational trauma x4 relatives back. Going into the military wss considered a good way to get further - but the way the U.S. treated him. And therefore indirectly damaged Hylla’s ans Reyna’s upbringing. I SCREAM WITH THE TRAUMA OF MY OWN ANCESTORS. (Yes. I am also PuertoRican)

@gaymortagokat ty for your patience.

Yooooo.

Okay I knew some of this but not all of it.

I would have to go find the right details but I vaguely remember learning that for one of the wars (pretty sure post ww2 possibly Korean War) that Puerto Ricans were among the first drafted cuz the government basically didn't want to put white boys at risk. I'll try to find the correct info when I got more time.

Idk if you've ever looked but the wiki page for Puerto Rican slang is amazing some of it is just real funny to me because around like 14 us public school made us learn a list of 1950's slang and like a lot of that is on the wiki just what it would be if translated into Spanish.

Then if you look at the wiki for any of Reyna's family mentioned in BoO you find out that there's a potential that the family was originally like northern European and cousins of Cofresí basically founded the first school on the island (if im remembering what I read correctly its been awhile I was curious and also looking to see if there was a small piece I could potentially use in a Reyna fic)

I'm slowly working my way through it but before I moved I was reading Puerto Rico A National History by Jorell Meléndez-Badillo. Didn't get too far but I really like the way they explain things. What I read is really blurry in my mind right now so I think I have to start over lol.

Gods there's so many ways to interpret how even Reyna being basically second class citizen in the US affects what she believes about what she needs to do for New Rome.

THATS EXACTLY THE POINT TOO. PuertoRicans fought in many conflicts and were among colored infantry as well. So the U.S. doubly didn’t recognize their contribution at times. And as a Puerto Rican, unless comepletely abiding by the one-drop rule- contribution in the Armed Forces was erased or not mentioned depending on the shade of skin. I haven’t checked the wiki page for Puerto Rican slang. ALSO. COFRESI MENTIONED?! (I can’t believe I missed that while reading her wiki)

The Wikipedia is very thorough! I’ve got other words to add that also that circulate on the island as well. Starting with a French word because of the Creole ties that the island has- we also say “Chévere!” The word is an expression of “cool.” Part of the reason I also brought up Spain’s relation to other colonies in the Caribbean is because at one point the islands planned to form an alliance akin to states in the United States. Or a confederate union of sorts. Fun fact! This is why Puerto Rico’s flag is inverted to Cuba’s colors for example. Eugenio Maria de Hostos played a huge part in influencing the flag (I think indirectly). He was also an important educator! Born in Mayagüez

here are some more words in Puerto Rican slang to add:

buey - from Spanish it generally means “bull” , in Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands refers to crabs or a crab(we use it enough here that I think it counts as slang)

hurutongo/ hurutungo viejo - far away /old path

Añoñao/Añoñada- when someone is out of it, tired and perhaps even a little annoyed

changeria - whining and crying

bejuco - another word for “thing” equivalent of “thingagmagig”

diantre, diache - like saying holy crap

parquiar - slang for parking, from the English word itself

With that being said! If Reyna and Hylla do have ties to Cofresi, they might also have familial ties in Dorado. Maybe she’s also visited El Ojo del Buey. And also! Another cool word I think people should be more familiar with- cause Cabezudos are cool and all- but have ya’ll seen Vejigantes?