>>I don't think we should pretend to ourselves that concern for the "freedom" of Elian Gonzalez has anything
to do with the case. It doesn't.
Imagine that the boy were from Haiti, or for that matter from a poor family from the Philippines. Would we
hesitate for a moment before sending him back? Absolutely not. Would we be sending him back to a future
one scrap better than what he would face in Cuba? Absolutely not.
The boy is nothing but a pawn in a political struggle between the unsavory thugs of Castro and the equally
unsavory thugs of Miami's Cuban community, which is dominated to this day by the same mob that ran Cuba
into the ground under Batista and left the door wide open for Castro.<<
Of course he is being used as a "political pawn" by both sides. But the fact remains that according to the law as I understand it, once a Cuban has reached American soil, he is allowed certain legal benefits and his day in court to decide whether he can remain to become a U.S. citizen. You may disagree with that law and believe that it should apply to ALL political refugees or none at all, but for now the law stands. Of course, the rule has ALWAYS been with the current Administration, POLITCIAL EXPEDIENCE OVER COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.
There is absolutely no reason that I can see why this little boy should not have his day in court. As also his father. If the family court were to be able to hear both sides and decide in favor of the father, so be it. There could also be an expedited hearing. The courts have that discretion. Again, I ask you, why are the "skids being greased" to have this boy sent back to Cuba without a fair hearing?
BTW, you know it would be fairly easy to determine who is "lying" about the Miami families involvement with Elian in the beginning. According to them, they received a phone call from Juan Miguel instructing them that his son would be arriving in Miami and asked for their assistance BEFORE the tragedy. Are they telling the truth? Are they lying? Why not produce the phone records? Were they waiting for their day in court? Will they be denied those rights?
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