Isn't it amazing and scary how many Americans are ignorant of the fact that people born in Puerto Rico are Americans?

Question

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

They are not Americans the same way that people born in the states are. They are American citizens because Congress said so. And that status can be revoked. People legally born in the states to legal parents don't need Congress to say they are citizens.

Puerto Rico is self governing. They don't pay US taxes. They don't have a vote in Congress. They can travel freely in the US, but that can be revoked also.

It's debatable if Puerto Ricans can be US president. Just like it was debatable when John McCain ran. He was born in the Canal Zone, which is similar to Puerto Rico in that they are citizens by declaration of Congress. But he had other things that made him a "natural born" citizen besides where he was born.

Same with other US territories that are not states.

Realistically, not many people understand the status of Puerto Rico. Glancing through the answers, it looks like most people answering don't know it either. Puerto Ricans are Puerto Ricans. They are NOT the same as Americans born in the states.

DryGermanGuy · Accepted Answer

Most publicly-educated Americans can be glad to even find the United States on a world map. Don't expect them to know much of the things going on outside of the "lower 48".

emeraldsaphire · Accepted Answer

I mean there is an infinite number of things people don't know. I don't think not knowing about Puerto Rico's status is a big deal when compared to other knowledge gaps. Particularly in Health, Economics, and Psychology.

I think Puerto Rico should be given back to Spain anyway, it makes no sense or the US to hold it.

Georgia001 · Accepted Answer

It's not just Puerto Rico; many Americans are also completely clueless about the status of places like Guam and American Samoa. National borders are clear on maps but fuzzy in our minds.

NYCQuestions1976 · Answer

Definitely a ridiculous mistake, but I'm pretty sure that many people around the world are generally ignorant to the fact that Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. Or at least confused by their official status internationally. While Puerto Rico doesn't have their own delegation in the United Nations, they do compete independently as their own entity in international competitions (such as the Olympics and the World Cup) under their own flag. Also, geographic ignorance exists across the political spectrum. Some leftist idiot on TikTok posted a video claiming that he was "leaving the United States and moving to Hawaii" because Trump was reelected in November 2024. Glass houses.

Danzigdawson · Answer

It's old, but still pertinent:  Let that level of stupid sink in for a moment.

OneViewpoint · Answer

Not really. A lot of people born in the US can't find the Pacific Ocean on a map. They think New Mexico is a foreign country. Pick any European nation and they probably can't find it on a globe.

loveslongnails · Answer

There's little to be amazed about when it comes to USA citizenry being ignorant. For the most part, at least in red states, it's by design. You don't want an educated workforce if your entire socio-politico-economy is based on grift, profiteering and fuckery... right?

ProbablyClueless · Answer

It is scary. You'd think civics would be more emphasized in our curriculums, but here we stand.

I will say that American territories are a little bit different from the mainland US from a cultural standpoint, but that's even true of Alaska and it's definitely true of Hawaii, which are both full States.

Puerto Ricans are 100% totally American citizens. Are they also "American" Americans? Eh... but, who even cares, because it doesn't honestly matter?

Filthy_Immigrant · Answer

what fucking American has ever denied Puerto Ricans as American?

everyone here knows that PR is arguibly a state and on top of that Puerto Ricans can come here and leave whenever they want without groing through immigration. they are also the hispanic community that gets the most recognition of us all

AviatorTom · Answer

Amazing? No.

Many Americans don't know that Hawaii is US state.

The US education system has failed miserably at teaching geography. It's more important to teach controversial philosophies than to teach facts.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

I know. I saw an IG thread where Americans were threathening a Puerto Rican girl with ICE 🤦‍♂️

lightbulb27 · Answer

didn't know that... lol. Time to rename it and make it a state.  What should Trump rename it?

DrPepper12 · Answer

No. Monolingual narcissist theocratic nutcases are like that...

avery58 · Answer

Yeah, there are some people who think Puerto Ricans are afraid of 🧊 lol

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Not really. Most Yanks are pig ignorant of anything save their gluttonous desires.

exitseven · Answer

I knew this a long time ago. one of my college roommates was Puerto Rican. He sort of looked like Omar Sharif.

Anonymous · Answer

As far as I know, Puerto Rico has their own team in the Olympics and other sports competitions. They do live in America as a continent, but they are not Americans in their national sense.

Anonymous · Answer

Then, why are they worried about green cards?

Anonymous · Answer

And most of the ignorant motherfuckers are Trump supporters.

Anonymous · Answer

Americans are dumb.

Anonymous · Answer

Americans are really ignorant lmfao

Anonymous · Answer

Europeans are the dumbest fucks on the planet.

Twalli · Answer

I think it's because they're not a state.

Isn't it amazing and scary how many Americans are ignorant of the fact that people born in Puerto Rico are Americans?

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