The island of Puerto Rico does not have any national markers

The island of Puerto Rico does not have any national markers A territory without its own national marker, be it a flag, an army, a post office, or a currency, is not a nation or a pais (country). Thus the islanders of Puerto Rico can be called Puerto Ricans by the mere technicality of being born there (and, of course, the lineage of these sons are also technically called Puerto Ricans) or by embracing the island as their own home (as done by such well known personality as Ponce de Leon) . However, the islanders can have claim only to one nationality at this time. And, being that Puerto Rico is not a pais, Puerto Ricans are not Puerto Ricans by nationality. By the action of the United States Congress, the people of Puerto Rico live in an unincorporated territory; and they are American citizens and, as such, they are American nationals albeit at the mercy of Washington’s dictate. As the island is not an estado (state), and is not libre (free), and is not asociado (associated) the populace does not have a sense of self-identification. Of course, it could be argued that Puerto Rico is a hybrid State, that is, is not like the other fifty States and is not a Territory. Many legal decisions coming from the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Supreme Court tend to identify Puerto Rico as a State for varied purposes to include application of the three-judge provision of 28 U.S.C. 1253 (see 416 U.S. 663 Calero-Toledo v. Pearson Yacht Leasing Co). However, the controversy as to whether Puerto Rico is like a State or just a mere unincorporated territory continues unabated being that Puerto Rico is not officially a State. The insular politicians (those that want to maintain their own power), in complicity with some powerful backers in the Hill, have done substantial damage to the political status of the island. It is one of the confirming symptoms of the prolonged albeit mostly benevolent colonization that those who thrived financially or wielded great power under the less than fully self-governing status develop elaborate theories to justify the continuation of the present status. When Congress decided to provide the island the status of Commonwealth in 1952, it only provided for limited autonomy to include the ability for the people to elect the insular governor. That later status was a step forward and with the expectancy that soon after the island would receive an upgrade to incorporated territory.