Author: Michael (---.c3-0.nyw-ubr2.nyr-nyw.ny.cable.rcn)
Date: 12-10-05 10:45
Pedreira in his 1934 work talks only about Puerto Rico in general. I believe that Culebra has a different cultural heritage. It was used and abused by various governments, not cultures and Perdreira's famous quote, “De esta fusión nace nuestra confusión”, applies to Culebra more so than Puerto Rico.
You mention Taíno. Even they did not live on the island, but used it to go fishing, hunting and then went back or moved on.
Then you contradict yourself by defining Culebrense as someone who lives there permanently no matter how long or where they come from.
It is impossible to draw a line between foreigner and Culebrense. If you do draw a line sooner or later you are going to stand on one side of the line and we have a situation were it is "us" against the "other" - pretty much what xenophobia is all about.
We can use democratic means to decide its future together. Are we for big development? Or are we against it? What are the consequences? Who benefits from what? Is it rich against poor?
Let's take this little enterprise for example, to meet your challenge: Islaculebra.com was developed out of love for the island not for monetary gain. I saw a lot of dissatisfied tourists that came here in search of something else (as in Casino, night life, big resort). The information that was available for the visitor was minimal. And what was also minimal was the ability for the small local guesthouse to make money, since nobody knew about it. So what do the locals do instead? - They sell their land. Which spells BIG opportunity for BIG developers, since they have pockets deep enough and advertising machinery in place to make large resorts happen.
So where do I fit in? I sit at my computer, a lot of the time in Culebra, but also elsewhere, and help visitors make up their mind whether Culebra is for them or not, help them find a place to stay (I include all businesses, no matter whether they give me money or not) and for those businesses that want to show the visitor they care about them more, I offer them the opportunity to advertise. I do not "flip" properties, nor do I take away anybodies job, nor do I impinge on anybody's freedom.
".. la historia empieza ahora .." Defining ourselves by where we come from, what language we speak or how long we have lived on the island is not going to help Culebra's future.
Culebra has a history of coming and going. To set its cultural heritage at any given time in history is an arbitrary act and does not serve the current needs of Culebra. Let's define those needs together, talk about them (without getting personal) and maybe we can create/keep an environment that is not only peaceful but utterly beautiful!
Enjoy Culebra!
Michael
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