That's what we have a court system for. The task for the judge is to
decide what is BEST for the child. Not
best for America, for Clinton, or for Castro. <<
Michael,
I very much appreciated your well reasoned post on the plight of Elian
Gonzoles and related parties.
Unfortunately, the specter of Castro looming large in the background
makes the case extremely difficult to judge on the face of it. As a
parent, I would normally "err" on the side of parental rights too, but
"Father Castro" certainly muddies the water as to the decision making
process about what is best for the child.
Speaking as a mother, all I can say is I have watched the file footage
of little Elian with his cousin (his surrogate "mother") and his Great
Uncle and can see that he appears to be adjusting and happy to be with
them. I am also hearing from the Miami family that the little boy does
not wish to return to Cuba. If the family is being truthful, my
question would be WHY? Obviously, Elian is too young to understand the
political situation or even that his return would mean a denial of
personal freedom in his future. My guess would be that if little Elian
fears returning to Cuba, it has to do with his relationship with his
father Juan Miguel.
I realize that we have not been able to get to the bottom of the
situation and do not know all of the facts about the inter-personal
relationships, but that is the very reason why it is IMPORTANT to let a
family court look at all of the issues and evidence and make a decision
in the best interest of Elian. I don't know if you remember, but there
was a video aired a couple of months ago showing Elian visiting his
father in Cuba. I remember commenting to my husband at the time that
just viewing the interaction between the father and the son on the video
DID NOT assuage any qualms I had about returning the boy to Cuba. The
father appeared "aloof" and young Elian had an air of "resignation"
about him in that snippet of film. I realize I may be reading much into
that little piece of film, but I found it could be illustrative of why
the child "fears" going back to Cuba. Additionally, if you recall, the
Miami nun (whose name escapes me for the moment) was in favor of
returning Elian to Cuba UNTIL she saw the interaction between the
Grandmothers and the little boy. Something tells me that all is not
right in the family and the nun was able to detect an undercurrent of
dysfunction that made her change her mind on what would be the ultimate
"best interest" of Elian.
There has been something about the father's behaviour in this entire
episode that simply does not "ring true" to me as a parent. I feel
either he is using his son to gain political advantage with Castro in
Cuba (Big fish in little pond) or else he is under some type of threat
from Castro's regime that would cause him to act in contradiction to the
best interest of his son. Either case, imo, works against sending Elian
back to Cuba, for I see him as a political pawn in either situation.
I believe if the little boy is returned to Cuba, he will ultimately be
under the direct control of Castro. I believe that his chance of ever
seeing freedom (apart from another revolution) will be next to nil. I
believe that he will be so heavily indoctrinated that he will never be
able to come to his own conclusions about his future and what he wants.
If he ever shows ANY anti-Castro sentiment, I shudder to think about
what may happen. Ultimately, if he returns it seems to me that he will
be nothing less that Castro's "child", because who among us actually
believe that Castro will ever allow this young boy and his family
return to the United States. That would be the ultimate humiliation
for Castro and I am certain that he will use any means necessary to see
that it doesn't.
Elian DESERVES to have his voice heard. The Miami family have the right
to present their case before a family court and let the court decide.
You have to question WHO'S interests are being served by abrogating
these rights?
I think therein lies the answer to the Elian's plight.
bp |
