The
Battle for Paradise by Naomi Klein, 2018, Excerpts
Precisely because the official
response to the hurricane has been so devoid of urgency, Puerto Ricans on the
island and in the diaspora have been forced to organize themselves on a
stunning scale. With next to no resources, communities have set up massive communal
kitchens, raised large sums of money, coordinated and distributed supplies,
cleared streets, and rebuilt schools. In some communities, they have even
gotten the electricity reconnected with the help of retired electrical workers.
Real-world Puerto Rico is
densely habited with living, breathing Puerto Ricans.
One result of being forced to
save themselves is that many communities have discovered a depth of strength
and capacity they did not know they possessed. Now this confidence is rapidly
spilling over into the political arena. There may not be rioting in the
streets, but that should not be confused with consent.
Puerto Ricans now know, beyond
any shadow of a doubt, that there is no government that has their interests at
heart, not in the governor’s mansion, not of the unelected fiscal control
board, and certainly not in Washington.
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