Elian Gonzalez

[Chelle]

Hello ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and sisterfriends,

I am new to the chat forum but I felt the need to respond. Akatude, you are right in saying Elian was spared for a reason. Everything happens for a reason. Elian's mother risked her life so that her child could have better opportunities the United States is capable of providing. However we can not overlook one thing. Elian's closest of kin(his father). How would we feel if our child was denied contact with us or access to us. I'm sure he was wondering how his child was. I know if my child was found in cold waters I would want to see and make sure he was alright.

We must do what's best in the interest of the child. If this was an African American child or a child of color that was found they would have probably thrown the child back in the water and made him swim back to his native land.

In response to the force in which Elian was taken from the home I believe it was excessive and is something Elian will probably never forget. But the family in Miami could have prevented this. Elian was taken to see a medical doctor but what about Elian's mental state. Has he been taken to see a psychologist or a therapist? I am sure he is confused and frightened. He may even be wondering where his mother is. If he knows what happened to his mother he hasn't even had the time to heal or grieve from his lost.

If the family in Miami had the child's best interest at heart they could have taken the necessary precautions to ensure Elian's mental and physical state. Did they actually think they could go up against the government and dictate what they were and weren't going to do? C'mon. Let's be real. Perhaps they should be too.

Sorry for the long response.

Peace and Much luv,

Chelle

[Pinkice5]

Speaking as a person who once lived in Miami, I was appalled at the arrogance of the Miami family and Cuban community. That is an arrogance that I observed in the two years that I lived there. They seem to have the outlook that Miami is a branch of their homeland and that they run the city. They honestly felt that they could go up against Janet Reno and the government simply because they make up a good portion of Miami. I was happy to see the government finally take a stand on this issue yet saddened that Elian had to suffer in the process. I blame the entire scene on the Miami family.

I do not agree with statements that Elian's mother would want him to stay in the United States. Yes she did attempt to bring Elian to the US for all of the benefits that this great country is supposed to provide, but that was with the mentality that SHE would be the one helping to provide that for him. She never said "in the event that I perish Elian should go to my ex-husband's family". She didn't even know these people and furthermore, her mother and mother-in-law were both in agreement that Elian should return to Cuba with his father. Now I don't know about you all sorors, but if you have the kind of mother like I have, Castro, Clinton nor anyone else could make my mother lie about what my intentions for my son are upon my death. Elian's maternal grandmother clearly stated that her daughter would be happy if her son were returned to his father. To me that clinched it.

Sorry if I sound a bit heated, just sick of the Cuban community's arrogance. I know it appears to be a community sticking together for a common cause, however if you lived there you would see that they really do have an arrogance about them. Cuban immigrants are greeted on the beaches with blankets and hot coffee by Gloria Estefan and her husband while Haitian immigrants are greeted with INS officials with guns. They literally hit the ground running hoping they can find a safe place to hide until one of their relatives can pick them up and harbor them in their homes simply because Haitians do not have political asylum in the U.S.

[LadyAKA]

Good morning all;
I have been trying not to respond to this topic because I am not that versed and knowledgeable about what is happening but Pinkice5 you hit the nail directly on the head with your post especially the your last paragraph, I should not have laughed but I did. It is so true about how the Cubans are rescued as opposed to Haitians. And I think we are all in agreeance that force was needed but that maybe shoving the gun in the kids face was a bit excessive! And from what I am reading we kind of agree that Elian should be with his father; his Miami family was taking it way toooooo far. It amazed me how quick they got on the plane to DC after this whole thing. And like I said in the sisterly forum, Elian's oldest cousin (Mary-something) is such a fake and she gets on my nerves It was 'almost' heart wrenching when she spoke out on TV about the whole act but beneath all that was this lady just trying to be today's hottest news, she will probably sue and get money from this whole deal.
Lastly, some co-workers and I just spoke about this at work, the kid is not going to go through that much trauma once he grows up, he is from Cuba and I am sure he has seen deaths and guns before.....that is just my opinion!

LadyAKA
P.S. I think Juan is going to sneak this kid out before the May11 court date, and if he does stay around and they lose ...the Cuban in him might come out and something is going to go down. In the end I feel his son will end up back in Cuba with him!