wow! I clicked and read the whole thing. Powerful stuff and true. ¡Viva José!

no doubt!!

Wow, thanks for that link Nez - now that's what I'm talkin about. Nice to know that at least one member of Congress sees the movement in South America for what it is - real democracy at work.

Now, let’s go back a second to my focal point of growing up in the projects. They tried to kill the man and he came back into power. He thinks a few people were involved in it. He calls our President the devil as a representative of the country that didn’t help him during that time. We don’t appreciate having our President called the devil. We don’t encourage that and we all denounced it. But in the projects if you try to bump me off, the least I am going to call you is the devil. In fact, the ramifications may be even more dangerous. So I think it was really a light comment compared to what he felt was happening to him.

This man brought too much common sense to Congress. This is another one of those truthy UFO sightings, isn't it? I want to put this on my wall.

i KNOW. try finding his speech online. not so easy. i couldn't except at this blog. surprising, eh?

thanks for sharing this - and so glad that real people are finally standing up!!

Wow. I have not felt this much affection for how a governmental member uses "free speech" since, I don't know...maybe ever? Thanks for posting this, what a way to start my day. A former professor of mine has been talking about Hugo Chavez for a while now, and I really do sometimes feel schizoid about what to believe. Like - am I crazy or is the government lying to people? How do I know that other government over there isn't the one lying? And then - of all things - it's on film, some of the shit that went down with Chavez in Venezuela. And most people in this country apparently still think he is a dictator. !!?? God love Representative Serrano for his speech.

I'm still wary of any revolution that is counter to student movements and true freedom of the press. I'll reserve judgement till I hear from real Venezolanos, unhindered by censorship, as to what they feel about all this. Not what another politician from the U.S., whether conservative or liberal, has to say about it.

fair enough. but in the context of today's political "discussions," there's not denying that this man is spitting some serious palabra. it's good, honest, earthy stuff.

Of course if Serrano did the same for his compadres, I would back him up.

yeah I have a friend who's cousin was a political prisoner under Chavez, so I don't think Chavez is perfect and the jury is still out for me. Any group can act strange when they get power, afraid of that power going away.

But who knows what can happen there. Cuba is allowing a dialogue letting people air their complaints. If Cuba is a country that Chavez is willing to follow as a lead...and they change...well then Venezuela has a possilbity of allowing the same. At the very least I think Venezuela's oil belongs to the Venezuelans, I'm glad that change was done there, but I hope Chavez brings the type of economic stability to his country that will last even if the oil runs out.

However I do think Bush has allowed some things to happen that are evil. That is inexcusable for a president to not want to know, turn their head. There is a difference between someone who doesn't know something, and someone who doesn't want to know. The president is the second type. I understand where Chavez was coming from when he called Bush the devil.

So while I am with the poster who questions looking idealistically at Chavez, I also like Serrano's speech and agree with what Nezua's said. I'm glad we have the right to speak like that in this country and I wish more people would use it.

good points. thank you for the thoughts. and i agree about free speech. so importante. and its hard not to look outside idealistically, perhaps, at some leaders who seem to do good for the common person in many instances, while bush sneers at those he imagines below him. its hard not to idealize after being subject to the sniveling pretendsident for all these long, long, long years....

Just want to say that this is a welcome speech by Serrano and that every Congressperson has his supporters and detractors, depending upon the issue. Serrano is Puerto Rican-American and so he has to carry some water for Borinquen every once in a while in Congress, and his opinions are often blunt and not appreciated by the ELA government of Puerto Rico. {Estado Libre Asociado, a euphemism}. Check out this statement:

PUERTO RICO HAS BEEN A COLONY TOO LONG

The actual status of Puerto Rico is a colony - nothing more, nothing less - because Puerto Rico is under the territorial clause of the United States Constitution and Congress has plenary powers over it. Thus, among other things, Puerto Rico is subject to all federal laws, although it does not have voting representation in the federal legislative process. Nor is Puerto Rico sovereign and able to pursue its interests in the world.

From its discovery by Columbus in 1493 until American Troops invaded and occupied the Island in 1898, during the Spanish American War, Puerto Rico endured 405 years of colonialism by Spain . Since then, from 1898 until now, it has endured another 100 years of colonialism by us. Today it is still a colony that continues vehemently to ask for its basic democratic right of self-determination.

This bill is the vehicle to end the 100 years of colonial status for the 3.8 million U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico. The people of Puerto Rico have been denied the sovereignty that is acquired either through independence or statehood long enough. It is time to correct that un-American condition. This is an appropriately historic year to approve this bill. On July 25, 1998, Puerto Rico will become the United States', and the world's, oldest colony. How tragic it would be if the country that professes to be the strongest supporter of democracy refuses to step up to the plate and advance the process for ending the colonial status of Puerto Rico.

I do not care if statehood wins. I do not care if independence wins. I do care every day when I get up and I realize that the American citizens residing in Puerto Rico are all colonial subjects of this nation. This must change!

http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/vol2n12/serranotest-980715.html

Yet, in the very complicated world of PR politics, many on the independence and the autonomist sides {there are about six sides here at any given time} claim that Serrano is a pitiyanqui as he wishes to see PR as a state.

Whatever the reality, he gives lots of great speeches.

this story is right on the mark.american corporations(devils backed by the c.i.a.)are currently trying to topple these democraticly elected governments.the power of dissent, put into votes is awesome.time for the mainstream media to start speaking the truth(puppets).i enjoy your blog and the fact that there others out there who have similar minds,peace.

Whoa. I've never heard of this guy before, but he has my respect.