The Truth Must Be Told

Yesterday, once again, a Puerto Rican delegation went before the U.N. Decolonization Committee to tell the whole world, in no uncertain terms, the truth about our "special relationship" with the U.S.: we are its colony. For the last 40 years, after two decades of the 1953 hoax, the Committee has called upon the U.S. to end its colonial rule and allow us to exercise our right to self-determination and independence.

To no avail. The U.S. maintains that this is a "domestic matter", thus disregarding international law. The U.S. has also successfully blocked the effort to bring the issue before the U.N. General Assembly. Although the balance of power has shifted considerably since those dark days of the Cold War, there are still countries that are beholden to the Americans, mainly for economic reasons, that will not vote against the U.S. or will choose to abstain.

Meanwhile, the record is clear. The truth has been spoken forcefully. It is only a matter of time before the world's conscience and shame will force the U.S. to do the right thing.

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