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Politics : About that Cuban boy, Elian -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Rambi who wrote (6387)	5/26/2000 4:43:00 PM
From: greenspirit	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9127

Rambi, one of the things I strongly disagree with is the relativistic notion that "America is no better than Cuba". Many of our forefathers died for the freedoms we take for granted. And I for one am greteful they did. Is our system perfect? Of course not. Do people get caught in cycles of poverty and despair? Of course they do. But to compare and contrast the two systems of government and infer an equal standing morally is disgusting to me! Communist fascism of the type practiced by Fidel Castro is evil and wrong. There is a damn good reason people risk their life in small wooden crates to get to the United States of America. And it's more than simply having the ability to eat McDonalds hamburgers. I believe the Cuban Americans living in Florida are far more in touch with this reality, than some of us who have been privileged to live in freedom our entire life. Many of them know first hand what it's like to live in Cuba today. And I believe we could learn a lot from what they have to say. Michael

To: Rambi who wrote (6387)	5/26/2000 4:47:00 PM
From: nealm	Respond to of 9127

And I think it is wrong to blame the individual when the failure is so all-encompassing and increasing in a certain strata of our society. Since you didn't get my point either. Here it is again. At some point the fate of individuals does lies with the actions of individual. Yes, a lot folks have the odds stacked against them. Government can improve the odds, but that's it. Government can't manufacture a life and just hand it to people. If someone can't or won't reach for a better life when the door is open it's not the fault of government. If the door is closed due to injustice that's something government can work on. If the failure is due to drug abuse or some other self-abuse then that's something quite different. A lot folks do reach for a better life and fail, for them I am truely sorry. That's where charity comes in. There's charity of all sorts, for victims of AIDS and diease, natural and man-made disastors, etc. I contribute regularly to a few causes, mainly those related to multi-sclerois. But as far as Elian's case is concerned Americans have bit on the common story and have slammed the door shut on him. That's what I object to.