Commentsby
Bob Brandon....
Elian
2, the Soap Opera
March
30, 2000
It was a beautiful day in Miami. The kids were in the yard playing
on the swings, yelling to be heard over the din of news helicopters and
a candle-toting, chanting crowd gathered for a prayer vigil. Elian Gonzalez,
the most famous little boy in the world just wanted to be a kid.
He just wanted to be with his mom, who is still alive somewhere in Miami,
according to the bright young man in an interview Monday. How could anyone
have known when he was picked up around Thanksgiving, that this 6-year
old would be at the center of an international furor. As I wrote here in
January, Elian belongs with his natural father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez.
Whether that should be in communist Cuba, or somewhere else, has motivated
thousands of people in both countries to become involved in a simple matter
of child custody. Finally, after refusing for so long, Fidel Castro has
said Elian's dad is ready to come to America and bring home their national
hero.
If you think this kid is the center of attention in Miami, you should
see Havana. Cubans have been manipulated by their dictator for so long,
they don't know any better. About a hundred miles north, Cubans in the
Little Havana neighborhood where Elian has been living, threaten to form
a human barricade to protect him.
Elian no longer attends public school due to the fact that "Castro could
possibly invade Florida and take him by force." And now, the Mayor of Miami
has really stuck his neck out and says he will refuse to let local law
enforcement help federal agents remove the child. In Washington, Senator
Bob Smith of New Hampshire introduced legislation to confer permanent American
residency status on Elian and nearly all his Cuban relatives.
One question that begs to be asked: what about the other Caribbean boat
people? What about the Haitians? There's a nice warm exercise yard waiting
for them at the holding prison. Then they can count on being sent back
to a desperate life, as sure as their skin is black as night.
Elian is just a little boy. He needs to be with his father. If he would
like to defect, I'm sure he would find plenty of assistance. Everyone else
needs to go home, and get on with their lives. Show's over. |
 
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