Interview to Brenda Giselle Mejia, Capital Social’s new writer

1. Why your interest in writing for Capita Social?

I am interested in collaborating, since I can provide another point of view to the conversation. Even though I studied political science for two years, I don’t consider it my forte. I think my ideas would bring a more humanistic vision to this debate.

2. What is your opinion regarding Puerto Rico’s current situation?

Apart from the current economy and political situation, I think the greatest problem that Puerto Rico has is the lack of empathy. For many years we have been told that the “Boricua” is characterized by their noble heart, but life in the island has proven that this is not more than a cliché of which the majority of the population does not play a part of. This is represented everyday through coexistent, treatment towards animals and our fellow human beings, and the respect within the same families. Churches instead of concentrating in making a unifying role, they have become an agent that promotes hate, instead of peace and love.

    3. What areas would you be interested in Puerto Rico exploring for a better economy?

I think that Puerto Rico should bet on the Cultural Tourism. We are always concentrating in generating a mass focused tourism that results the same for every market, let it be Japan or Puerto Rico. Culture has passed onto a second priority, to what the government wants to support less because they do not understand the importance of it. Statistically, places that have betted their patrimony as a touristic exes are the ones to generate more tourism revenue. Some classic examples of this are Italy and France, and one closer to our reality, Mexico. If we start to see culture as something we can benefit from, and we make it correlate with tourism services, we would be providing more than enough to our country.

    4. Would you leave Puerto Rico? Why yes, or why no?

I am completely decided to make myself part of the statistic, and leave Puerto Rico next year. Even though with the economy, I thought I could live in Puerto Rico with all its beauties. As I mentioned previously, at this point I think there are more negative things that affect us because they are intrinsic to the people. We have a real big mental health problem that we do not want to recognize, which is the root to all our social problems. As the Bible said, “Help yourself, and I will help you”. Puerto Rico is a country that lacks humility…that’s the moment where we as citizens should, instead of being selfish, decide to provide to a society, where in the end we feel that there is more voice and much more affinity.