Puerto Rico

By Acie Cargill

Synopsis

A young man meets Che Guevara’s granddaughter, Mariana, at the NATO Summit protests in Chicago. She convinces Philip to join her in her pacifist quest for independence for Puerto Rico.
They rent a rudimentary beach house on the south coast of Puerto Rico. Mariana speaks at rallies and memorials for past independence activists.
They also witness a shamanistic healing ritual by a primitive medicine man ‘bohique’.
She is invited by Ruben Colon to be in the inner circle of the Independence Party
They go to Washington, D.C. and meet with Pedro Pierluisi and some Hispanic Caucus congressmen
Mariana and Philip return to Puerto Rico. She is pregnant and will soon have her baby, Liberty.
Philip reads her the biographical material about Che that he feels was sent to him through the spirit word from Che. Mariana has a feeling of inadequacy after she hears Che’s ideas and exploits.
They go to a café for a wonderful vegetarian dinner. On the way Philip convinces her that Che’s circumstances were different than hers and he is sure Che would be proud of her work for Puerto Rico.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Acie Cargill
• Release date: Apr 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311028266

Acie Cargill

Acie Cargill is a poet, a songwriter, and a prose writer. He studied poetry with USA Poet Laureate Mark Strand and Illinois Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks. He studied novel writing with Thomas Berger, who wrote Little Big Man that Arthur Penn made into a movie with Dustin Hoffman in the lead role. Cargill also studied journalism with instructor Jean Daily. His work is a synthesis of all these styles.He is a member of American Mensa and formerly edited the Mensa Journal of Poetry. He also is a member of the Grammy Association, The US Quill and Scroll Society.Cargill is a vegetarian, a former physician, a musical performer on a variety of instruments, an environmental activist, a lecturer, medical reviewer, a lover, a cannabis user, and a seer.

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Puerto Rico

Acie Cargill

Smashwords Edition

Published By

Acie Cargill

Copyright © 2015

Acie Cargill

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Synopsis

A young man meets Che Guevara’s granddaughter, Mariana, at the NATO Summit protests in Chicago. She convinces Philip to join her in her pacifist quest for independence for Puerto Rico.

They rent a rudimentary beach house on the south coast of Puerto Rico. Mariana speaks at rallies and memorials for past independence activists.

They also witness a shamanistic healing ritual by a primitive medicine man ‘bohique’.

She is invited by Ruben Colon to be in the inner circle of the Independence Party

They go to Washington, D.C. and meet with Pedro Pierluisi and some Hispanic Caucus congressmen

Mariana and Philip return to Puerto Rico. She is pregnant and will soon have her baby, Liberty.

Philip reads her the biographical material about Che that he feels was sent to him through the spirit word from Che. Mariana has a feeling of inadequacy after she hears Che’s ideas and exploits.

They go to a café for a wonderful vegetarian dinner. On the way Philip convinces her that Che’s circumstances were different than hers and he is sure Che would be proud of her work for Puerto Rico.

About the Author

Acie Cargill is a poet, a songwriter, and a prose writer. He studied poetry with USA Poet Laureate Mark Strand and Illinois Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks. He is a member of American Mensa and formerly edited the Mensa Journal of Poetry.

His inspiration and mentor for this novel was the late Thomas Berger, who wrote the novel Little Big Man that Arthur Penn made into a movie with Dustin Hoffman in the lead role.

Cargill is a vegetarian, a former physician, a musical performer on a variety of instruments, an environmental activist with Youtube videos, a lecturer, medical reviewer, a lover, a cannabis user, and a seer.

Table of Contents

Author’s Note

1. The Agenda

2. Chicago, May 18, 2012

3. 2001

4. George Orwell’s 1984

5. Two Virgins Have Intercourse

6. Female Sexuality

7. Street Drugs

8. Earl of Old Town

9. Reynolds Club U of C

10. Documentary Film on Che Guevara

11. Little Village Salsa Chicago

12. Breakfast at Hutchinson Courtyard

13. NATO Summit Protest March

14. A Period of Separation

15. Reunited

16. Philip’s Parents

17. Background on Puerto Rico

18. A Relationship

19. Fred the Head

20. Letter to Parents

21. Puerto Rico, Dream or Reality

22. The Bohique

23. Love on the Beach

24. Back to the Cause

25. Meeting Hector Guevara

26. Mariana’s Parents

27. Regrets

28. Rally at Ponce

29. Mariana’s Speech at Ponce

30. Celebrating Mariana’s Successful Speech

31. Ponce Massacre

32. Credibility

33. San Domingo

34. Puerto Rican Independence Movement

35. Pedro Albizu Campos

36. Luis Munoz Marin

37. Commonwealth Status of Puerto Rico

38. The Rally at San Juan

39. Mariana’s Speech at San Juan

40. Invitation from Ruben Colon

41. Some Suggestions from Philip

42. The Convention of The Independence Party

43. Mariana’s Speech to The Independence Party

44. Back in San Pedro

45. Purchase a Used Jeep

46. Oscar Lopez Rivero

47. San Sebastion and Mayaguez

48. Mariana’s Speech at Mayaguez

49. The Angel Gabriel

50. Invitation to Cerro Maravilla

51. Checking out Cerro Maravilla

52. Pregnancy

53. Invitation to Limbo Day

54. Mariana’s Speech at Limbo Day

55. Introduction at Cerro Maravilla

56. Mariana’s Speech at Cerro Maravilla

57. Back to the Bohique

58. PTSD

59. Tiptoeing in Thin Ice

60. Colon’s Inner Circle

61. Future of The Independence Party

62. Consideration to Support Statehood

63. Conditions to Support Statehood

64. Taking a Break

65. Listing Conditions of Statehood

66. Back to San Pedro

67. In Washington, D.C.

68. Pedro Puerluisi’s Thoughts

69. Meeting is Over

70. Meeting Congressman Serrano

71. Luis Gutierrez

72. Hispanic Caucus Meeting

73. Philip’s Essay on Che

74. Socialism and Communism

75. Che and Hilda

76. United Fruit Company Fights Back

77. Capitalism

78. Che and Fidel

79. Wives and Other Women

80. Last Trip to San Domingo

81. The Last Supper

82. Birth or Rebirth

Author’s Note

I am always contemplating. What else is there for me to do? That is my role. Other than that, I am worthless. Dead weight. Accept me just for that. Understand me. I will never force myself on you. I am easily ignored, but I will be available for you always.

I am powerless, but empowered. I empower others. They seem to need what I offer. Advice. Approval. Assent. Join me. We need each other. Complements

I judge. I am watching and listening. Then I am decisive. I take chances when necessary. I am never unfairly abusive.

I am part of the past and the present. I am part of the future. Everything I do relates to a better future for everyone. I am not selfish or self-centered. I let others speak for me. They know where I stand. Consistently.

I will come to you in your dreams. In disguise. Surprise you. Seduce you. Surrender to me. I burrow inside you and I will never leave.

1

The Agenda

We were almost back to San Juan. Mariana was driving and I was lost in the scenery and in my reveries. What a beautiful place this is. Why would anyone live anywhere else if they have a choice? Such a human friendly environment and so many friendly humans. I knew right then that I wanted our baby, Liberty, to be raised in Puerto Rico. This place is a blessing and she will be a blessing to this place.

Here is the building with Colon’s office. As usual he is perfectly cordial. When we were seated, he brought out a beautifully arranged document entitled Agenda for Puerto Rican Statehood in the USA. It started out with a flourishing statement of purpose which of course, was to have Puerto Rico accepted as a state of the union. Next it proclaimed the dissolution of the Independence Party of Puerto Rico if the following conditions were met.

1. The US would agree to limit their military presence in Puerto Rico to one base, although ships can use the port of San Juan for resupply and shore leave and military jets could use the Munoz Marin airport.

2. Puerto Rico would be able to levy a state tax on the profits of US corporations operating there.

3. Puerto Rican citizens would be eligible for the same government benefits as citizens of any other state.

4. The US and the Puerto Rican state government would administer restrictions on the use of the seas around Puerto Rico, both commercially and for sport.

5. Puerto Rican legislators would be present during the creation of any legislation affecting Puerto Rico.

6. Puerto Rican laws will be made and enforced by Puerto Ricans as long as they are not in violation of US federal laws.

7. Some of the corporately owned agricultural land to be redistributed to Puerto Rican citizens for farms and homes.

8. Puerto Rican history and heritage and cultural pride will be taught in the schools and encouraged in the society.

9. Puerto Rican children will be taught Spanish and English languages.

Mariana said, Ruben, you have done a masterful job of writing up this agenda, as I knew you would.

He said, It allows for a modicum of unofficial independence while seemingly satisfying what I think are the requirements for statehood. So can I assume everything is to your approval, Mariana?

Yes Ruben, I will support you completely.

Ruben replied, I would like you to come to Washington with me to present our proposal to the people working towards statehood.

He is such a polite guy and so suave. I was thinking his manners are bound to win over the congressmen he relates to in Washington. Their feelings towards Mariana might be more mixed. Many might have a slight animosity towards her because of her name and descent, but she has a beautiful big smile and a winning charm. If she can exhibit the same exuberance to the statehood cause as she did for independence, she will convince them of her sincere love of Puerto Rico and her true desire for it to be part of the US.

I said, We don’t have much money. We have spent all our time pursuing independence as you know.

Ruben answered, I have a good paying position here with the university and I will personally cover the expenses for both of you.

She asked, When are we leaving?

"I would like to leave Wednesday. I will be free until the following

Monday. I can make the arrangements and also appointments with as many legislators as possible, especially our Puerto Rican representative, Pedro Pierluisi."

Mariana spoke, I always considered him to be one of our biggest enemies of independence, and now we will be trying to work with him.

Yes, there is an old saying that politics makes strange bedfellows. I would like him to know that we will be working with him in any way possible, and of course, I want to present the conditions of our cooperation.

Ruben continued, I hope we can convince him that our influx of influence and energy will benefit the cause. I do believe we can help by alleviating much internal opposition here in Puerto Rico that he will no longer have to deal with.

And your presence, Mariana, I hope will help convince him and the congressmen, that there will be no rebelliousness by the independence activists in the affairs of the state.

She replied, I will be working towards getting the citizens to actually come out and vote for statehood.

Ruben added, We can use the treasury of the Independence Party to promote the vote.

We will be ready on Wednesday, Ruben. Ok Philip?

Yep. I am always with you, Mariana. You know that.

2

Chicago May 18, 2012

Daley Plaza, Chicago, May 18, 2012. Several thousand protesters were milling about. Occupy groups, war protesters, veterans against war, environmentalists, and at least a thousand nurses from the National Nurses Union. The nurses were campaigning for a tax on Wall Street transactions to help pay for healthcare for the poor.

Tom Morello was the featured folksinger and he was working the crowd onto a frenzy of protests and chants. People began marching around with their myriad of signs. The Chicago police had the demonstrators ringed in by their shoulder to shoulder positioning, their bicycles and their billy clubs. Some of the cops began marching through the crowd as a demonstration of their force.

I was 28 years old. I wasn’t a member of any organization. I could have been classified as a freelance protester. I really was in favor of about all of the proposals being bandied about that day. I have always been very open-minded and receptive to counter-cultural ideas. It seemed to me that mainstream conservatives had been brainwashed to the point of being unable to even logically consider any idea that was different from what they already believed.

I walked about in the big open plaza watching all the group dynamics occurring. The plaza was dominated by a huge statue that Pablo Picasso had designed as a gift for the city of Chicago. It was a reddish metal and at least 50 feet tall and no one really knew what it represented or symbolized. Once you have seen it, you will never forget it.

I was standing at the base of the Picasso when a young woman walked up to give me a handout about demonstrations being planned for the

NATO Summit meetings which were to be held May 20 and 21 at McCormick Place along Lake Michigan a few miles south of the Loop. Many of the world’s most important leaders will be there, including

President Obama. Most of the topics to be discussed concerned war and munitions, so it would be a good place for anti-war demonstrations.

She asked me, Will you take part in the demonstrations?

I said, Yes, I will be marching, as long they are non-violent. I just want to be counted as a person opposed to war in general.

She smiled, My name is Mariana.

I smiled back, My name is Philip.

She was wearing loose, but revealing jeans and a mauve t-shirt that said Free Puerto Rico. I asked, Are you Puerto Rican?

She said, Yes, would you like to know more about our cause?

I said, I am interested in all causes.

She trusted me, maybe because I had long hair and a beard. Anyway she must have sensed that I am an honest guy. She gave me a smaller paper with directions to a meeting that night in Little Village.

I hope to see you there tonight, Philip. She walked away into the raucous crowd of protesters.

I hung around a little while longer downtown. The demonstrators were allowed to march on some of the main streets, but again the police lined the whole route and prevented anyone from crossing the Chicago River bridges to get to the residential areas of the near north side. It was a young, raucous crowd and the potential was definitely there for the march to become rowdy.

Many of the marchers were from out-of-town and didn’t fear or even respect the Chicago cops. It seemed they didn’t want to come this far and return home without getting banged around a little. There were scuffles and minor skirmishes as would be expected with a young crowd dedicated to their causes.

A few demonstrators got roughed up and were taken to the jail for the night. Emotions were running high. Young women were screaming and crying and pleading with the police to release the captives, but no one was released once they were taken by the police. They were taken to various lockups to let their raging, youthful hormones dissipate behind bars for the night.

I decided to take the CTA to Little Village and see what Mariana had going on. The directions were somewhat surreptitious. "Go to the Bienvenidos Archway on 26th street and then go west. At the third alley go south until you come to a red door and knock three times. Tell the person who opens that you are a friend of Mariana."

I did just as the directions instructed and I was admitted and she was sitting on a chair in the kitchen area. There were a few dishes of food on a table and Mariana said, Philip, please eat. Well, the food looked good and I was hungry. There were mashed potatoes with some kind of lentil in it, and a bowl of brown rice, and some red beans. I am a vegetarian and I was thrilled to find such wonderful food.

Someone spoke from the living room. Compadres, please come and sit in here. We are honored to have a special guest speaker tonight from Puerto Rico. Her name is Mariana Guevara and she is the granddaughter of the Cuban revolutionary hero Che Guevara.

Mariana stood at one end of the room. I noticed tonight how nicely her jeans hugged her hips and butt. That is my weakness and she really had the look I like.

She began speaking, Yes, Che was my grandfather and my grandmother was a fighter in the Cuban revolution alongside Che. Her name was Mariana Maceo. She went with Che to fight in the Congo and that is where my father was born.

My mother was Puerto Rican and they decided to live there and raise their family, which included two boys and two girls. As you would suspect, there was always an aura of revolution and independence in our home life.

I am here to study Caribbean history for a year at the University of Chicago. Chicago has a history of accepting revolutionary ideas and I hope to continue with that tradition while I am here.

A young man spoke up, We have a school named after the Puerto Rican independence patriot, Pedro Campos. I graduated from that school three years ago.

Mariana replied, I would like to visit that school while I am here in Chicago. Pedro Campos is the guiding light for Puerto Rican revolutionaries.

Ms. Guevara, how do you intend to convince the US government to grant independence to Puerto Rico?

Well I am hoping it can be done with persuasive words, not guns and bombs. I’m really not into armed rebellion or terrorism. I think that would cause so much animosity for Puerto Rico that the resistance to independence would stiffen and remain staunchly in favor of keeping Puerto Rico as a colony. The US cannot be bullied with violence. They are too powerful. It has to be done with logic and world opinion.

Another attendee spoke up, As you know Ms. Guevara, most of us here tonight are members of the Communist Party and we want to know how you stand about establishing a communist government if you are successful in attaining independence for Puerto Rico.

My grandparents, Che and Mariana were both communists and they fought to have the principles established in other countries. I am not an official member of your party, but I am certainly sympathetic to your beliefs. I would like for Puerto Rico to have communist party members as part of the government. I envision a mix of ideals and the development of an open society never experienced before on this planet.

He replied, I would like to see Puerto Rico established with government ownership of all facilities and the distribution of all profits to all the citizens of Puerto Rico.

Mariana replied again, I think your idea is admirable and probably would be the best way, but you must remember that Puerto Rico is still controlled by the United States Congress and I really doubt they will grant us independence if we have actual communist ideology in our new constitution.

A man stood up, To hell with the American Congress. We are talking about independence for your people and the establishment of a new society based on equality instead of the American class society. If they do not grant independence, then your people must take it. That probably means they must be able to stand up and fight when the time comes.

Mariana answered him, I don’t doubt that you are probably right, but I am hoping it does not come to that. I am not promoting a struggle that will lead to the deaths or injuries or even incarceration of anyone on any side of this issue. I want this done peacefully and legally.

Another said, Impossible! The US will never relinquish complete control of Puerto Rico unless they are forced to.

Tension in the room seemed to be rising as people started talking among themselves and I could tell by the tone of their voices that they were not pleased. I realized that this was a hard-core revolutionary communist cell, probably related to the FALN movement known for shootings and bombings. When they were told there was to be a Guevara speaking, they were probably expecting a fiery, inspirational speech about the overthrow of capitalism and establishment of communism worldwide.

Mariana was a pacifist. Maybe that was a concept they could not understand. Maybe they thought it was a loser’s way. Anyway, these people tonight were activists not afraid to use violence if necessary. They were disappointed in Mariana and her beauty and charm could not overcome their disdain.

Another attendee asked, What about the beliefs of Che Guevara about an aggressive promotion of world communism? How do you feel about that?

I believe my grandfather did what he felt would be the best way for the future of all of us. He started out as a pacifist, working as an unpaid physician for impoverished people. He was driven into violent rebellion by the way he and his fellow communist activists were treated by the CIA and their paid government enforcers.

Mariana went on, Could that happen to me? Anything is possible, but I have spent a lot of time considering the possibilities and I believe the best way to achieve independence for Puerto Rico is with demonstrations, rallies, protests, civil disobedience, the power of the media, and especially the morality of logic. We are in the right. It cannot be disputed. Colonialism is wrong in the modern World. The US is against colonialism. Almost every country is against it. Yet the US practices colonialism on Puerto Rico. They are indefensibly wrong. The time is right for the establishment of independence in Puerto Rico.

There was loud applause and everyone stood to acknowledge Mariana. Not everyone in the room was a believer in her methods, but everyone respected her dedication and sincerity. She was smiling and greeting all the attendees with a handshake or hug. Little groups were forming here and there discussing concepts and techniques of their activism. Mariana moved toward me and asked, Philip, could you see me home to Hyde Park? I am still unsure of my way around especially at night.

I said, Of course I will. Just let me know when you are ready to leave.

I had left my jeep parked downtown in the Grant Park underground garage. I had decided to take public transportation to Little Village because I wasn’t sure of parking availability and safety, so Mariana and I took the CTA back downtown and I would drive her to Hyde Park. As we neared the loop, we saw many small groups of demonstrators walking the streets. Maybe they were just exploring Chicago and maybe they had nowhere to go.

We got off right on Michigan Avenue a few blocks from the garage.

The big demonstrations were over, but protest was still in the air.

People were gathering and walking and some were chanting slogans. Many had signs. Some were running.

Some were sitting in circles on the sidewalks and some on the grassy areas near Grant Park. Maybe they were going to sleep in the park. That’s what I would do if I had no place to go to. There were so many other people about that they would probably be safe

I told Mariana, I love to see people expressing dissent.

Yes, so many Americans seem like cattle being led to a slaughterhouse.

It’s so hard to know if I am one of the cattle.

Philip, you seem to be a thinking man. That’s what separates humans from the cattle. The ability to think and make real decisions about important issues.

Well, thank you for telling me that Mariana.

On the way to her room at the International House on 59th street,

Mariana invited me to meet her the next afternoon at the Reynolds Club for coffee. She also said a documentary film about Che was going to be shown later that day on campus and she had been invited to try and fend questions from the students. I would be welcome to attend that session with her also if I wanted to.

I said, Mariana, I want to see you as often as possible. You have me captivated."

Thank you, Philip and thank you for taking me home. I will see you tomorrow.

Should I try to kiss her goodnight? Yes, of course I should. "May I