The mix of identity

What makes us different? We have many qualities, that make us Puerto Rican. Among them is hospitality, helping others, and identity. We would not be “us” without any of these qualities. Jim Cooper said in his book “Down on the island”: "Puerto Ricans are the most hospitable people in the world, As when they say “Mi casa, es su casa”, they mean it, and when you are invited to someone's house, more food and drinks are offered, and pressed on you, more than anyone can consume”. Every moment of life, we ​​have the opportunity to show our special qualities. There are things we can find in other people, but most of the time it is hard to find good people willing to help others and able to reflect their identity.  Thus we can find ways to connect each of these qualities. Thanks to the opportunity we have to share what makes us unique, and in any moment test us. Like Peter Roberts mentions in “Identity”: “The identity of any human can be specified by using, singly or in combination, many different universal criteria, e.g. sex, age, religion”.

How we define identity? Even if we are automatically identified, national identity is basically established by were you come from or where you birth, we can say that those things doesn’t marks us. Because we always leave out so others say. As if we had the power to create a new image of the person we're meeting. This often happens when people who are not Puerto Rican decide to make new friends or socialize with others, they always have that ability to believe and know the person that has been not tried before, and so does everyone else who lives here in Puerto Rico. And this sadly happens a lot. Is getting worst everyday by letting us to say something about someone even if we don’t know them. Identity is what makes a particular person or a group different from others.  Our name, our national origin, our citizens, is very intimate elements of our identity. People often have fixed ideas and often-inaccurate stereotypes that determine whether we are welcome or we overlooked if we are accepted or rejected. We face many prejudices by which we are carried away most of the time. I have to learn that not all people can be measured by the same rule. People who are not Puerto Rican have discriminated me against. But I must learn that not everyone is equal, and we should give also the chance to know them better. Not like years ago when the people discriminate only for the color’s person, their behave, the way they speak, or walk, eat, etc. In short, identity is what one is, its individuality, its being a certain person. But I never question my identity, I know I’m Puerto Rican.