A simple Definition of hypocrite: a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs

Many Puerto Ricans who are born outside of Puerto Rico get a real thrill when they finally get to visit the island for the first time. It's like "seeing the bride that you've been betrothed to all your life."

A few days ago someone asked some advice as a Puerto Rican born in the USA going to Puerto Rico for the first time not wanting to, rightfully enough, say or do something that'd be considered "out of place".

"Puerto Rican islanders hate hypocrites, y'know what I'm sayin'... ? Don't show that you're better NOR that you're worse... just a HUMBLE boricua who's from somewhere else. BE confident of WHO you are but don't appear too PROUD, cuz they eat proud as snacks down there. Key words: COURTEOUS and POLITE will always win. Have a smile? Don't be afraid to use it..."Con permiso"  (excuse me) is your secret word."

Of course, if you have never practiced any of the above, you'll find it difficult relating to what I'm saying, although is never impossible to start on a GOOD foot. Honesty means you are who you are and if you know that you can be abrasive, then learn some of the keywords or secret word from above. IT WORKS! In nutshell, NEVER BE A PHONY!

Ever had trouble with hypocrites?
Hypocrites are phonies and they're trouble. They are people without "substance" who live in a controversial method of "THEM vs. US", distinguished by their own superior insincerity and foolishness. Their method is that of the later Sophists (where we get "sophisticated" from), a Grecian sect of philosophers who began by teaching wisdom, prudence, science, art and, in brief, whatever men "ought to know", but lost themselves in a maze of quibbles and a fog of insincere words and pseudo-intellectualism.

Today's incarnation of such old time hypocrites are in fact public speakers with a good voice but no ear... (YES, they can hear but can't listen.)  ...inasmuch as being BOASTERS who have no faithfulness in their mouth, their inward part is very essence of wickedness; their throat being like an open sepulchre. They do flatter themselves with their tongues... and despise their neighbor, IF he's of a "LOWER CLASS" (never if from the upper crust).

When I told my inquiring friend about how much islanders despise phonies, IT was because those of humble origins who attain a bit of social status tend to become that which they are not by means of "aspiring to have more than their neighbor" and showing it! Boricuas somehow have a radar for those types.

When I was a kid in Cataño, Puerto Rico; I heard that some guy in a bar brawl had cut up another guy with a razor blade, for apparently no reason, except that he was an "echón" (from the verb "echar" = to disperse or give out, cast out, throw) LITERALLY... "echárselas" = to boast as if really having something solid but in reality having no substance."

For some reason there are those out there who like the attention, the publicity, or just like to lie about being in Vietnam or finding "dog tags" and claiming they belong to a veteran. There are many organizations in the USA dedicated just to find phony veterans and prosecute them. I personally can't understand this infatuation with wanting to be someone they are not or making false claims. It's beyond my comprehension, but there are zillions of phony heroes out there.

WHY do we hate those phonies so passionately?
Many of us, Puerto Ricans born in the good ol' island of Borinquen, come from a poor (humble origin) background AND the worse you can do to a Puerto Rican person of humble background is flash your "wealth" on their face. LOOK OUT!

No one has to pick this matter up... I know that, for the most part I speak through the net and my words get carried afar.

Thanks for visiting...
Best Regards...

donjibaro@gmail.com


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