I have thought of writing about this subject for the last few days since I try to keep my blog more business oriented than on my personal side. But on some occasions there are things that clearly bother me like a few days ago when I wanted to support those who where creating awareness on the issue of shooting up in the air during New Year’s Celebrations.

A few days ago ABC aired a TV show where Puerto Rican Actor @amaury_nolasco makes a claim that Puerto Ricans are very good at selling drugs.

I did not see the episode all I saw the video below shared by my fellow friends the Latino Rebels in which he @amaury_nolasco makes the statement.

How I feel about Drugs?

I have never been a fan of drugs even the so-called legal ones. I have never smoked a Cigarette and the only possible drug I have consumed is alcohol. I became vegetarian for health reasons primarily to stay away from the pharmaceutical option that could fix those heath issues. The reason I have been vegetarian for so many years is because it clearly helped with my issues without using any drugs which for most Puerto Rican’ is the first choice to fix it.

Mixed Feelings on Drugs

Puerto Ricans overall seem to be very conservative on the subject of illegal drugs but I would call many of them to be large fans of Pharmaceutical drugs. Many are still against medical marijuana but they are the first ones to pop many pills without thinking of the long impact of them.

The pharmaceutical industry over time has brainwashed our people offering them better salaries than what they would get in other industries in an attempt to make us Puerto Rican’s forget of the fact that throughout history they ended up using many of the Island’s population as guinea pigs (I still believe they play a good part at many of the diseases that exist on the island but that is just my opinion). On some occasions the government has even been an ally towards forcing women to take birth control as test subjects.

The first Option for Many is a Legal Drug

I see how many of my countrymen and Puerto Rican residents tend to opt in to legal drugs so they can continue their reckless ways in eating things that will deteriorate their health. I think I will leave this for a post on Veglatino on the many times I see people taking legal drugs to offset bad nutrition.

Getting Back to a Nasty Stereotype

I have been lucky enough to spend time around many types of individuals from family members on my father’s side making a living selling illegal drugs from close family members being addicted to legal drugs.

When I look around the people that have been around my life a small ratio of them are or where tied towards dealing with drugs or using them irresponsibly. I have to say that if I put a ratio into the people that have been around me using drugs in what I consider a wrong way it might be 1 out of 40.

Addicted to School

If Puerto Ricans on the Island are addicted to something is into going to school which to a point many universities make a good chunk of money by keeping people in school even when they are no job opportunities for what they are going to school for.

Addicted to Work

I see many of my fellow Islanders with multiple jobs trying to make a living in the only way to take care of their families. I see individuals who have degrees working at Fast Foods just like my good friend @michaeldcc noted a few days ago on his blog. They are addicted towards working because they don’t clearly have another option. I myself put myself through college with the breadcrumbs I received from the U.S. Government for serving in their military (by the way I never got everything they put on the contract), working two or three part time jobs to pay tuition and expenses, and even building websites as a hobby to make ends meet.

My Experiences with Stereotypes

I worked in the U.S. and I had my fair share of encounters with racist individuals who did not know any better ( I just took them as ignorant morons). One of worst places was the military where clearly Puerto Rican service members fight for a country that has occupied them since 1898 to be victims of racism and other issues like for example the issue of English being a second language. I support all veterans but I have even more respect for those Puerto Rican veterans that go to war to get the job done when even their peers have very little respect for them.

I remember being in the military where on occasions I was asked if I had a knife in my pocket because I was Puerto Rican. That is one of the lightest racist comments I experienced. The same when I worked in other places especially on a project on an SP500 client for my previous employer American Systems where I had a competitor working on the same project as us making negative racists remarks to push my buttons because the IT Security Advisors where Puerto Rican and Argentinian (or as he called us Foreign). Obviously I read these racist individual intentions and did not allow him to take control of the situation. I was lucky enough to have a very solid team of Caucasian co-workers that came to my defense without me having to say a word.

Amaury is Clearly not helping

Amaury is a very well known artist. Many Puerto Rican’s feel proud about him. I clearly have to admire his talent but I have to say he did make a big mistake by selling out his own just to make a lame joke. I really don’t see him as a comedian. We are all human but I don’t see him admitting he was wrong. I also don’t see ABC apologizing for such a stupid choice of a script.

Overall I have to blame Amaury for playing along with the poor decision to be part of this and he is only feeding those ignorant people that can use him as an example of a Puerto Rican Admitting that we as Puerto Rican are good at selling drugs.

I have to say that I admire other ethnic groups that stick together when a situation like this happens. So not only do I ask my fellow Puerto Ricans to create more awareness on the issue like some have done already. Since I believe in one Race, the Human Race. I ask you reading this to take action and share this with others and ask them to share it.

As a fan of ABC and Amaury I have to say shame on you for not apologizing on this issue an acting like it never happened.

How do you feel about the video?

I applaud those who left politics to the side like Pedro Pierluisi who called the actions regretful and offensive. US Rep. José Serrano and Rep. Nydia Velázquez are demanding an apology from ABC.  I also thank @julito77 for covering this issue and doing a great job at creating awareness.

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