Today, 25th of July, Puerto Rico conmemorates the 103rd anniversary of the arrival of U.S. troops in 1898, which led to the eventual takeover of the island from the Spanish in the Spanish-American war. The same day Spain celebrates its patron, Santiago, and the same day Puerto Rico celebrates its Constitution, enacted in 1952. I often like to play the "what if" game with this date. What if Spain had won the war? Imagine Puerto Rico (don't count Cuba here because Cubans were already fighting for independence, which they would have eventually obtained) as part of Spain, today! Sure, we would have had a tumoultuous century under Franco and other dictators, but I just can't resist the idea that a twist of fate would have made me a Spaniard right now. I probably wouldn't be as curious and obsessed with Spain as I am, but it's interesting to think about it. Here we have a strong Sapnish heritage, and to a certain point Puerto Rico played an inportant role in 19th century Spain, especially in politics (the other colony in America, Cuba, was important in the economy). This is certainly not a celebration in Spain, but it does have a strong impact in the development of the Spain you all know today (I can't say that I know it yet!). Not only that, but "El 98" left a strong mark in world history.

Eti�n,

I'm not certain that would have granted you citizenship as a Spaniard. That wasn't their policy in their colonial empire.

My step-Grandfather served with Teddy Roosevelt in Cuba, and he didn't feel that the U.S. was righteous in that war. He indicated that the sinking of the Maine may very well have been done by Cuban zealots who wanted the U.S. to step in, and strip Spain of her hold over Cuba. Of course the U.S. had ulterior motives as well. We wanted the offerings of the Phillipines, and Puerto Rico. As usual, greed is what drives decisions. We were no less Colonial in our ways than the French, Italians, or British. We wanted it all.

JP Savage

Hey guys, pretty deep reflection on the possible outcome of the Spanish-American War.

Eti�n, I am sure you would not be as into Spain and everythign Spanish if you ended up being Spanish yourself. It is usually the "ajeno" ("foreign") that is intriguing and exciting.

Playing the "What if?" game is fun as long as you don't get tooo excited about an outcome that was not.

Not to get more phillosophical or anything but, "it is amazing what a moment in time can change".

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. "Colonialism had it's days counted since the day it was born!"

My birthday falls on July 25th and I have always had an obsession with Spain, do you think there could be a link? Anyway, I have vowed to walk the Camino and arrive in the beautiful plaza in Compestela amidst the festivities on my 40th birthday!
BTW, thanks for the mini history lesson about such an important date!!