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Elian
North Miami Beach, Florida 3-29-2000 Aaron H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then. Opinions pro or con are welcome.
ELIAN
The only adjective I can think of to describe 6 year old Elian Gonzalez is
"pawn". I haven't said much about the situation of this survivor of a
disastrous journey from Cuba. He witnessed the death of his mother and other
"refugees" from a country that had no compassion for them while they lived
there. It is only now that Castro wants the boy back because he is a
political weapon. At least this is what I think after hearing, reading
about and seeing vast amounts of conflicting information about "Elian".
I would like him to stay here in America. I think, despite the obvious
manipulation of his status by all sides, it would be better for him to
remain in this country. It is too late for him to be removed from a loving
extended family to be sent back by dry legalistic renderings of public
policy that is unclear at the best in an ethically mixed morass. It is too
late. If he had been sent back immediately there would be none of the
passionate Cuban-American involvement, an involvement confused by their role
as opponents of the Castro regime. The pictures of him in the inner tube,
the image of him being "saved" or protected by dolphins in shark filled
waters are too sharp and raw to think of what his compatriots in that small
insufficient boat had to endure before ending their lives. His being saved
in any combination of events is truly a miracle. His destination was
America. Despite having a father in Cuba his role as a refugee seeking the
traditional better life in this country is not negated.
All sides in this struggle have committed wrongs! The little boy is being
used. He is a pawn and those who are exploiting his existence are in both
America and Cuba. Asking him now where he would like to be after a
Disney-like trip to a fabulous candy store is unfair. The United States
agencies having the power to dispose of humans are unfit to deal ethically
with the emotions and realities of victims drifting in the waters offshore.
Political decisions have mucked up the fairly straightforward stories of not
only Elian but also the Haitians, the Mexicans, the South Americans, Asians
and Europeans who have tried to flock here because America is traditionally
safe-haven for the needy of other countries. There is no question that Elian
is a pawn but what should we do about it? Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.
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