Word: elian
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...best interests of the boy it should be the Cuban-American community. The particular experiences of Cuban-American exiles afford them a special insight into the matter. Yes, the exiles resent Fidel Castro, but they are not blinded by their hatred. Instead, they are keenly aware of what awaits Elian in Cuba. The passions that have been stirred in Miami are rooted in the exiles' conviction that the boy should not endure the sufferings from which they have fled. Thousands of Cubans choose to risk their lives every year as they attempt to traverse the Florida Straits on makeshift rafts...
Despite these good intentions, one might argue that Cuban-Americans wish to deny the reunification of father and son for solely political reasons. But let us be perfectly clear: Our contention is not to keep Elian from his father. We believe Juan Miguel Gonzalez is a good man and we do not doubt his love for Elian. But perhaps, in this case, the father may not be fit to decide the best interests of his son: Juan Miguel is the product of a communist regime. Who knows what kind of strongholds Castro may have over the father--what relatives...
...allow an impartial family court to decide the best interests of the boy. In the Los Angeles Times, Frankfurter Professor of Law Alan Dershowitz explained that there is precedent for a six-year-old child to receive individual legal representation in a court of law. We firmly believe that Elian deserves his day in court...
...minds, the Gestapo-like tactics employed by Reno were absolutely unnecessary. Such tactics are reminiscent of the Castro government. Reno did not extinguish all her options: she should have obtained a court order that would have held the relatives criminally negligent if they did not return Elian. The negotiators for the family were nearing an agreement that morning with Reno at the exact moment the raid was executed. Quite simply, there was no need to have an automatic weapon in the presence of six year-old child that has been already been through so much suffering...
Despite our anger concerning the mishandling of the Elian situation, our love for the United States remains as strong as ever. We will be forever grateful to this country for having opened her arms to our families and providing us with all the blessings of liberty. But we strongly urge you to consider this matter from all sides and to not discount the Cuban-Americans' viewpoint. Perhaps they are the only ones who can see what nobody in America...