Soror:
I have an extremely different position than yours. I am GLAD that the U.S. government finally found its cojones and put a stop to this lawbreaking by these arrogant, publicity-seeking, fascists who call themselves Elian's caregivers.
From all the reports I have read, Juan Gonzalez was an integral part of his son's life, and Elian spent almost every day with him. That is not in dispute, despite what the People article may have said otherwise. And it's not as if Elain has erased all memory of his father, it's just that he has been BRAINWASHED by new clothes, trips to Disney World, and toys. Is that what's really important in child-rearing?
Why do you assume that his mother's wishes are more valid than his father's wishes? We complain and complain about how men aren't good fathers, they don't participate in their children's lives, etc. But when we see a man who is interested in maintaining a bond with his child, we question his motives. That is so hypocritical. Also, we may not like Cuba, but his father has had many chances to defect, but does not want to. He is a member of the Communist party, has a good job, and enjoys his homeland.
Why do we Americans act like we don't understand why someone would not want to be here? America, where we kill our kids, enslave black and brown men in prisons, miseducate black and brown children, pollute our air and water, ostracize the homeless, and spend hundreds of dollars on our kids' clothes and toys but nothing on their education. Contrary to what they taught us in Civics class, America is not necessarily the promised land for everyone.
If Elian was a black Cuban or a Haitian, you would have never known his name, because the U.S. would have sent him back without blinking. Why are white Cuban's claims of oppression more valid than black people's? This whole debacle is a result of the near stranglehold that the white Cuban exile community has on Florida (a swing state in the presidential elections, hence Gore's about face on the issue).
My only regret about today's action is that it didn't happen four months ago, and that Elian was exposed to guns. As for a broken bedroom door, I say the government should reimburse the Gonzalez family as soon as it receives reimbursement for the police personnel, barricades, helicopters, etc. that have been needed to keep those MOBS in check. One last thing: do you really believe in your heart that had Elian, his relatives, or those crowds been black, that the government would have used the same restraint for this long? There would have been jailed/dead black folks about one day after they started some mess.
Sorry for the book, but I am so mad that these WHITE LATINOS have been allowed to run this thing for so long, while BLACK PEOPLE are being killed by the government every day! Wake up, sorors and friends!
DG
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