--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Puerto Ricans, it doesn't matter where…" description: "\"Puerto Ricans, it doesn't matter where they live, it doesn't matter how long it's been since they visited the island, their hearts are there. If you ke..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/anibal-acevedo-vila-26962_congressman_puerto-ricans-it-doesn-t-matter-where-th_164363.jpg" --- # Puerto Ricans, it doesn't matter where they live, it… ![“Puerto Ricans, it doesn't matter where they live, it doesn't matter how long it's been since they visited the island, their hearts are there. If you keep them informed, and if you say to them, 'This is important for Puerto Rico, go and call your congressman,' they do it. They do it.” quote by Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/anibal-acevedo-vila-26962_congressman_puerto-ricans-it-doesn-t-matter-where-th_164363.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/anibal-acevedo-vila-26962_congressman_puerto-ricans-it-doesn-t-matter-where-th_164363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/anibal-acevedo-vila-26962_congressman_puerto-ricans-it-doesn-t-matter-where-th_164363.jpg) > “Puerto Ricans, it doesn't matter where they live, it doesn't matter how long it's been since they visited the island, their hearts are there. If you keep them informed, and if you say to them, 'This is important for Puerto Rico, go and call your congressman,' they do it. They do it.” [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Diaspora members maintain strong emotional ties to their homeland; informing and mobilizing them can drive political action. **In simple terms:** Expatriates care deeply about home; keep them engaged for impact. Key Takeaway Engage diaspora, inspire civic participation. Themes identity community political activism Mood hopeful urgent Type inspirational call‑to‑action When to use this quote - election campaigns - policy advocacy - community outreach - charitable drives Key Concepts diaspora dynamics civic engagement communication Questions to Reflect On - How can you tailor messages to diverse diaspora groups? - What barriers prevent diaspora activism? A Different Perspective Assuming all diaspora will respond uniformly may be inaccurate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congressman/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Important Puerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-puerto-1796124/) [Island](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/island/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Puerto Ricans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puerto-ricans-357859/) [Puerto rico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puerto-rico/) [Rico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rico/) [Rico Congressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rico-congressman-1796125/) ## Related quotes > [Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but by their own choice, Puerto Rico is not a state. The relationship has worked well for Puerto Rico…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/puerto-ricans-are-u-s-citizens-but-by-their-own-choice-puerto-rico-is/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [There's one last thing we need to point out. And it is a fact that Puerto Rico is a colonial territory of the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-rossello/there-s-one-last-thing-we-need-to-point-out-and-it-is-a-fact-that/) [Ricky Rossello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-rossello/) > [I think that there are times when Puertoricans think, "Oh, we are blessed with the relationship with the U.S." But the end result will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/i-think-that-there-are-times-when-puertoricans-think-oh-we-are/) [Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) > [I believe that the overwhelming majority of Puerto Rico wants to be Puerto Ricans. I have been in five different states in the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/i-believe-that-the-overwhelming-majority-of-puerto-rico-wants-to-be/) [Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) > [Puerto Ricans are so well educated, they're so capable, they're so competent, but due to a lack of opportunity, when you graduate from college,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-pierce/puerto-ricans-are-so-well-educated-they-re-so-capable-they-re-so/) [Brock Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-pierce/) > [I am surprised at the number of Puerto Ricans that are moving out of Puerto Rico still. I thought that, by now, the immigration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-lopez-rivera/i-am-surprised-at-the-number-of-puerto-ricans-that-are-moving-out-of/) [Oscar Lopez Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-lopez-rivera/) > [The common goals of Puerto Rico and the United States have always been for the benefit of both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/the-common-goals-of-puerto-rico-and-the-united-states-have-always/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [I'm not going to impose my vision on the people of Puerto Rico.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/i-m-not-going-to-impose-my-vision-on-the-people-of-puerto-rico/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [Commonwealth is the only alternative for Puerto Rico. It is the only alternative that harmonizes the aspirations and goals of the modern world by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/commonwealth-is-the-only-alternative-for-puerto-rico-it-is-the-only/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [Nobody can doubt Puerto Rico, sociologically, linguistically, culturally, and historically, is a nation. We have our own rich culture, thousand years of history, unique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/nobody-can-doubt-puerto-rico-sociologically-linguistically-culturally/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [Even when we were under the Spanish flag, we had a movement that just wanted assimilation into Spain, a movement of autonomy - which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/even-when-we-were-under-the-spanish-flag-we-had-a-movement-that-just/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [We must all work together to bring the best to Puerto Rico.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/we-must-all-work-together-to-bring-the-best-to-puerto-rico/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [The majority of the people of Puerto Rico support commonwealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/the-majority-of-the-people-of-puerto-rico-support-commonwealth/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [I represent Latinos. I represent Puerto Ricans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-represent-latinos-i-represent-puerto-ricans/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [Puerto Ricans are United States citizens, and I think that the issue of statehood or independence needs to be addressed and needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/puerto-ricans-are-united-states-citizens-and-i-think-that-the-issue/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) ## More by Anibal Acevedo Vila > [Grant us more powers, not less; grant us more democracy, not less; grant us the tools to move forward because, I can assure you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/grant-us-more-powers-not-less-grant-us-more-democracy-not-less-grant/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [I believe - and so do most Puerto Ricans - that the ideas that will prevail in the new century will be those similar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/i-believe-and-so-do-most-puerto-ricans-that-the-ideas-that-will/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [You defend the truth no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/you-defend-the-truth-no-matter-what/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [The majority of the people of Puerto Rico support commonwealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/the-majority-of-the-people-of-puerto-rico-support-commonwealth/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [We must all work together to bring the best to Puerto Rico.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/we-must-all-work-together-to-bring-the-best-to-puerto-rico/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [Even when we were under the Spanish flag, we had a movement that just wanted assimilation into Spain, a movement of autonomy - which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/even-when-we-were-under-the-spanish-flag-we-had-a-movement-that-just/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [Nobody can doubt Puerto Rico, sociologically, linguistically, culturally, and historically, is a nation. We have our own rich culture, thousand years of history, unique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/nobody-can-doubt-puerto-rico-sociologically-linguistically-culturally/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [If there is a problem with democracy, the answer has to be more democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/if-there-is-a-problem-with-democracy-the-answer-has-to-be-more/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [Since its inception, the American nation has had on its official seal the following motto: 'e pluribus unum,' which in Latin means, 'from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/since-its-inception-the-american-nation-has-had-on-its-official-seal/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [Statehood is not a model for economic development; it is simply a way to organize a federation. What statehood does in fiscal and economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/statehood-is-not-a-model-for-economic-development-it-is-simply-a-way/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [Commonwealth is the only alternative for Puerto Rico. It is the only alternative that harmonizes the aspirations and goals of the modern world by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/commonwealth-is-the-only-alternative-for-puerto-rico-it-is-the-only/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [Washington is a very complicated city. You have to work the personal relationships. They are politicians, they are congressmen, they are senators, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/washington-is-a-very-complicated-city-you-have-to-work-the-personal/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [A 97-percent win is the kind of result you get in a one-party regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/a-97-percent-win-is-the-kind-of-result-you-get-in-a-one-party-regime/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [Thank God for paper ballots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/thank-god-for-paper-ballots/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) > [The war in Iraq has fractured the political will of the United States and the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/the-war-in-iraq-has-fractured-the-political-will-of-the-united-states/) [Anibal Acevedo Vila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) [Explore all 21 Anibal Acevedo Vila quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/) ## More Congressman quotes > [Unpleasant questions are being raised about Mother's Day. Is this day necessary? . . . Isn't it bad public policy? . . . No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/unpleasant-questions-are-being-raised-about-mother-s-day-is-this-day/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [You don't have to be a spiritual seeker, you can be a businessman dealing with the revolution in computers. You could be a congressman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-spiritual-seeker-you-can-be-a-businessman/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Jack Abramoff is going to testify against some of the other weasels in Congress. A lobbyist testifying against congressmen? How many Bibles are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/jack-abramoff-is-going-to-testify-against-some-of-the-other-weasels/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [ Leo Crowley, Harry \[Truman\]'s Foreign Economic Administrator, tells Congressmen the theory...: 'If you create good governments in foreign countries, automatically you will have better… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leo-crowley-harry-truman-s-foreign-economic-administrator-tells/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dan Coats, retiring senator from Indiana, a mild-mannered man, a former United States ambassador to Germany, former congressman, said of Ted Cruz he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/dan-coats-retiring-senator-from-indiana-a-mild-mannered-man-a-former/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [African American Congressman Bobby Rush wore a hoodie on the floor of Congress to make a point this week. And they threw him out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/african-american-congressman-bobby-rush-wore-a-hoodie-on-the-floor-of/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [The sport of wrestling is a tremendous builder of the values and characteristics which are needed to succeed in any walk of life. Much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-hastert/the-sport-of-wrestling-is-a-tremendous-builder-of-the-values-and/) [Dennis Hastert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-hastert/) > [It's amazing to me that people have any interest in such a low-level sex scandal. If I were sleeping with a congressman, maybe, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-cutler/it-s-amazing-to-me-that-people-have-any-interest-in-such-a-low-level/) [Jessica Cutler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-cutler/) > [That's what a Congressman or a Senator is for -- to see that too much money don't accumulate in the national Treasury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/that-s-what-a-congressman-or-a-senator-is-for-to-see-that-too-much/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [So, the point I'm making is, we are not going to cut spending in Washington if we think it's the job of every congressman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/so-the-point-i-m-making-is-we-are-not-going-to-cut-spending-in/) [Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/) > [Talking with most people usually involves a search for truth. Talking with congressmen is strictly special effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/talking-with-most-people-usually-involves-a-search-for-truth-talking/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [America, not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/america-not-keith-ellison-decides-what-book-a-congressman-takes-his/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [ Now, \[Donald\] Trump has thus far gotten endorsements from illustrious group, that includes Sarah Palin, David Duke, Dennis Rodman, racially profiling birther sheriff, Joe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/now-donald-trump-has-thus-far-gotten-endorsements-from-illustrious/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [Congressmen are like diapers - You need to change them often, and for the same reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-mccloskey/congressmen-are-like-diapers-you-need-to-change-them-often-and-for/) [Pete McCloskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-mccloskey/) [Browse all 284 Congressman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congressman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Puerto Ricans, it doesn't matter where they live, it doesn't matter how long it's been since they visited the island, their hearts are there. If you keep them informed, and if you say to them, 'This is important for Puerto Rico, go and call your congressman,' they do it. They do it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anibal Acevedo Vila" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/puerto-ricans-it-doesn-t-matter-where-they-live-it-doesn-t-matter-how/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Congressman" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/puerto-ricans-it-doesn-t-matter-where-they-live-it-doesn-t-matter-how/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/anibal-acevedo-vila-26962_congressman_puerto-ricans-it-doesn-t-matter-where-th_164363.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/anibal-acevedo-vila-26962_congressman_puerto-ricans-it-doesn-t-matter-where-th_164363.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b5/anibal-acevedo-vila-26962_congressman_puerto-ricans-it-doesn-t-matter-where-th_164363.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Puerto Ricans, it doesn't matter where they live, it doesn't matter how long it's been since they visited…” — Anibal Acevedo Vila", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anibal Acevedo Vila", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anibal-acevedo-vila/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Puerto Ricans, it doesn't matter where...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/puerto-ricans-it-doesn-t-matter-where-they-live-it-doesn-t-matter-how/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anibal-acevedo-vila/puerto-ricans-it-doesn-t-matter-where-they-live-it-doesn-t-matter-how/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```