America the "Enlightened"

I was inspired by the everlasting words of Mr. Washington:

In a society that characterizes us by ethnicities and races
through the boxes we check on forms on a daily basis
even if we're from two, three, four different places

my identity is ambiguous. 

I've gotta choose one box, but in my mind, I see myself in three.
I'm a latina,
Puertorriqueña,
 una Americana,
but according to society, I can only choose one.
So I ask myself—where am I really from?
My ancestors came from the campos of Puerto Rico to the land of plentiful, of opportunity,
so my parents, their children
could live the American Dream.
To a land that promised Puerto Rico they came to provide prosperity, protection and peace--
only to oppress the people with their speech.

To a land that told the people:

"We bestow upon you the immunities and blessings of an enlightened nation."

Enlightened nation.

If you're so enlightened, why did you "save the people of Puerto Rico" from the grip of Spain,
only to colonize them again,
and attempt to erase their identities like they're some sort of sin?

We bestow upon you?

Let me tell you what this really means—
We bestow upon you our culture—deemed superior.

We bestow upon you a foreign language—meant to Americanize you.

We bestow upon you the right to elect your own governor, after decades  of forced colonization.

We bestow upon you the title:
El Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico."
A common wealth.

An "unincorporated dependent territory."

So where does that leave me?

I'm cursed —with an ambiguous identity —forced
 to choose between where I'm from and where I was born,

left with the America's national anthem forever stuck in my mind.

but right now, it looks like I've just lost my pride in this country.