What Our Country's Name Represents

The existing name for the nation honors a monarch who escalated the Spanish Inquisition.

During Philip II's reign, unique languages, art, books, traditions of divine magnificence were barbarically destroyed in his name. Torture, murder reigned. Our country was part of his dark empire.

Much has been written about this cruel bigot who brutally annihilated the individual human being's divine religious freedom. Our own heritage, our identity:obliterated. The crew of conquistador ships sent to the New World were criminals, murderers, rapists who opted for the unknown. They were the lowest of the low.

How could we be surprised that these criminals then subjected our forefathers to inhumane suffering? These were not heroic explorers who improved our living conditions or brought peace, prosperity to our islands. Instead, our own people were lashed and killed into submission, forced to accept a way of life, a nightmare that continues to exist today-- one of pain, struggle, suffering,hopelessness.

These criminals became ruthless, self-absorbed rulers of our beautiful islands. All of them sent by Philip II.

Our country's name honors this ruler who demolished our dignity. The destruction was so complete that our people's identity shattered; our many cultures, our traditions erased.

If our people desire to improve, to make change for a brighter future, the first step is to uncover who we are.

And it is important to correct the misnomer that is our country's name.