Look, I don’t want to make this guy famous, and I don’t want to give him more free press. However, I have to address a very important matter regarding his statements. His statements are his own statements, they are not the words of our Dominican brothers and sisters. They are his words. Please understand that. Here are my thoughts on the Dominican making fun of Puerto Rico.
As I watched this video, (I only watched about 1/3 of it before I lost interest) I was becoming frustrated and thinking about the many inconsistent statements that he made. One of the things this guy said is that Puerto Ricans treat Dominicans in Puerto Rico badly.
So full disclosure, I don’t live in PR, and I don’t know how Puerto Ricans on the Island treat Dominicans. However, I have common sense, and it stands to reason that SOME Puerto Ricans, just like Americans, Dominicans, Mexicans, Chinese, Indians, and any other majority group within their own lands, might treat immigrants in a less welcoming way. Whether or not you want to admit it, this is part of reality. So, to be honest, I would not be surprised if SOME of our people were cautious or unfriendly toward some Dominicans who came to Puerto Rico. I’m not saying it’s true as I’m not there, I’m saying that it wouldn’t surprise me at all. I’ve seen tensions among our communities here, and if it’s like that here, I imagine it could be similar or even more intense on the Islands.
I’ve been to the Dominican Republic many, many times. I definitely stood out while I was over there, but even so, with the exception of SOME (again, SOME) individuals, I was treated very well by the people I met. My son was born in Santo Domingo, so I spent a year and a half traveling back and forth to visit him as I sorted out his birth certificate.
I don’t want to make this about Puerto Ricans and Dominicans. I like to focus on individuals rather than generalize. But I did observe some things there that align somewhat with what this guy said about people treating others badly, only coming from his own community. For example, hostile and derogatory language directed at Haitians was something I heard from SOME Dominicans. Some of them treat Haitians in ways that reflect deep prejudice, similar to other forms of discrimination seen elsewhere. In Mexico, I heard Mexicans speak disparagingly about Guatemalans and other immigrants. And this pattern goes on worldwide. As I said earlier, SOME majority groups do not always welcome minorities entering their lands.
It’s not right and can be hypocritical, but it’s not representative of everyone. So for every Dominican who spoke that way, there are others who will offer a Haitian a job. And for every Puerto Rican who treats a Dominican poorly, I’m sure there are many more who will also give a helping hand.
I’m not presenting any of this as absolute fact, just sharing logic and past experiences. The main point is that this man, as well as anyone who treats others badly, does not speak for all of us. They speak only for themselves. This guy’s video might make you angry, but remember, he speaks for himself and not for all of our Dominican brothers and sisters.
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