Jim Stillman
Randy InmanElian Gonzalez in back in the news -- after over eight years
July 2nd 2008 20:02
A five-year old boy became the focus of a firestorm that has political effects even now. Can it be true that right-wing zealots favor allowing a foreign government to strip a child from his loving father?
Many people have read, during the past weeks, stories about how Elian Gonzalez, eight years after his repatriation with his father, has joined, with about 18,000 other teens, a Communist youth organization. The news articles have spurred articles, e-mail and many blogs revisiting the events of the Elian Gonzalez saga. Unfortunately, the recounting of the events of eight years ago leaves much out. There is much drama in the Elian story – and a corresponding amount of misinformation.
Who cares? Why is it important? Because the facts, and more important, the Legend had a profound effect on the 2000 and 2004 presidential election results and may well have a similar effect this Fall. It has been convincingly argued that, had it not been for the inflammatory recounting of the saga of this little boy, the seemingly frightening photograph that was widely circulated showing an armed Federal agent confronting the child and the focused hatred of Fidel Castro among the close-knit Cuban-Miami community, the United States and the world would have been spared the realm of Messrs. Bush, Rove, Chaney, et al.
A small amount of history
First, for those unfamiliar with the Miami milieu, the United States had friendly relations with Cuba following Fulgencio Batista’s rise to power in 1940. The United States completely dominated the Cuban economy, mostly through an increasing number of American corporations and members of organized crime. According to the United States Ambassador Arthur Gardner,
In 1959, Fidel Castro began an uprising against the admittedly corrupt Batista regime. Castro was considered by many in the United States as a brave reformer. Although the Cuban government requested arms from this country, the rebels asked that none be furnished. The United States decided to prevent sales of rifles to Batista's forces, thus changing the course of the revolution irreversibly towards the rebels. This position was favored by most of the press and, generally, the American public was sympathetic to Castro’s revolution.
The move was vehemently opposed by our State Department and one advisor summed it up:
In any event, Fidel won his revolution and, over the next years, Cuba nationalized many United States corporations’ assets and relations deteriorated between Cuba and the U.S. Each time that another U.S. company was nationalized, the United States reacted by imposing trade restrictions until there was a nearly complete embargo. Cuba was identified as a communist country and, as part of the “cold war” between the United States and the Soviets (which ended over 20 years ago), became our enemy, the subject of trade embargoes and a political flashpoint here. Ironically, Cuba is the only remaining country with which we will not trade or lift an embargo against travel based upon its communist regime.
Miami. Recepción a la nueva Cuba
After Castro had assumed power in Cuba, many Cubans emigrated to the United States, some because of political opposition to the newly formed communist government, more to take advantage of economic advantages in the United States. Over the years, more and more Cuban natives settled in Miami and created the concept of an ethnic citizen, indentified primarily by its roots. While the Cuban population prospered, there eventually was a rift between two groups. The first, older, less wanting to be assimilated into American culture, clinging to the traditions and customs and language of their old country, focused on their hatred of Castro and a wish to return to Cuba when Castro was no more. The other group was comprised of younger people who recognized that, whatever the regime in Cuba, they were doing better financially here. The latter group was less obsessed with Castro. They were fragmented and less politically potent.
Florida is a very important state politically and an increasingly large and cohesive voting block was certain to be the object of political lust. Both Democrats and Republicans courted the Cuban vote and each party catered to the most extreme segment of the Cuban population. A number of policies were put into place by each party and administration. Some hurt our own national interests and still do. For example, an embargo from selling grain to Cuba hurts our farmers, an embargo on travel to Cuba hurts our tourist industry and forbidding Americans to invest in Cuban assets hurts our financial interests. Moreover, these actions give the Cuban government someone to blame for its failures, solidifying its control.
Elian comes to America
Into this mess, a young boy enters the country. As I will explain, Elian Gonzalez became the poster child for several disparate groups, several of which didn’t care about the child other than as a means to push their respective agendas.
In the years following the Revolution in Cuba a considerable number of Cubans have tried to leave for the United States; this immigration is illegal under both Cuban and U.S. law: any Cuban found at sea, attempting to reach U.S. shores, will be sent back. U.S. policy has evolved into the current "wet feet, dry feet" rule: If a Cuban is picked up at sea or walking toward shore, he or she will be sent back by force. If he or she can make it to shore ("dry feet"), the person is permitted to remain. This is a vastly different rule applied to, for example, unhappy people from Haiti or other countries, but such is the political threat from the Miami Cuban community.
.
In any event, Elian’s mother, Elizabeth, and father, Juan, separated in 1997 and shared custody of their son. The arrangement was that Elian would live with his father and spend alternate days with Elizabeth. The events of Elian’s departure from Cuba and much background material, one can visit here:
Really Long Link
Elizabeth had a boyfriend who lived in Miami, making a living by smuggling Cubans into the United States. She decided to come to the U.S. presumably to be with her friend and decided, unilaterally, to take son Elian with her. As soon as Juan realized that the son who spent most of his week with him was gone, he telephoned relatives in Miami to ask that they keep a watch for his son.
During the voyage from Cuba, the small boat, with no meaningful safety or survival equipment, capsized. Elizabeth died along with ten others. Elian was found washed ashore on a Ft. Lauderdale beach. Under both Cuban and United States law, the child should have been returned to his remaining living parent without delay. At six, he would have been considered too young to make a decision on seeking political asylum; that decision would be made by his surviving parent. Instead, the Elian affair became a media circus as relatives (and strangers and politicians) used the child as a pawn.
While Juan was in constant communication with the Miami relatives expressing a desire to have the child returned forthwith, the anti-Castro uncle and cousins refused on the ground that the child would be better off and happier in the United States. Over six months of litigation followed in the Florida and Federal courts
Elian’s Father and grandmothers came to the United States, the grandmothers visiting with Elian and then going to Washington to plead for the child’s return. Letters from governments around the world issued statements requesting the reunification with Juan. Ultimately, the Florida courts dismissed the custody petition of the Miami relatives and there were no longer any justification for keeping the child here.
During all during this period several constants existed. First, Juan wanted his son back with him in Cuba and, second, Elian wanted to return to his hometown and his family. The Miami relatives offered Juan a home and car if he came to the United States to live; he rejected the offer. They showed Elian what the average [sic] child in America enjoyed: unlimited toys, trips to Disney World, ice cream and endless pizza. Elian did not waiver, he wanted to return to his father. Conservatives wanted Elian to stay here on the ground that life in Cuba would not be as pleasant for the child.
The situation prompted a poem by Calvin Trillin:
“Yes, any Cuban kid would thrive right here.
At Disney World he'd surely have a ball.
And over there he lacks what we revere.
So maybe we should simply snatch them all.”
Elian goes home, raid and controversy.
The situation was boiling over. The Florida Family Court terminated the temporary custody of Elian’s uncle and awarded the custody to Juan who had come to the United States to press his position. The Federal Courts had directed that Elian belonged with his father. The Immigration and Naturalization Service had directed that the child could return to Cuba and the Congress had refused to intervene. Nationwide polls reflected that 70% of Americans favored the interests of the remaining parent.
In accordance with the law, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno announced that the child would be returning to Cuba. The relatives and the anti-Castro activists, on the other hand, refused to end what became a siege, a mob surrounded the home in which the child was living and it was announced that any attempt to remove Elian would be met by armed force, nearly everyone in the Miami Cuban community had a gun.
There was no reason to doubt the exiles. They had come to the United States seeking freedom and, in our tradition starting with the Pilgrims and Puritans, proceeded to decry it in anyone else, As soon as they arrived, they denied freedom to anyone who, in their minds, was “soft” in hating Castro.
On April 22, 2000, pursuant to an order issued by a federal magistrate, eight agents of the U.S. Border Patrol approached the house, knocked, and identified themselves. When no one responded from within, they entered the house. Pepper-spray and mace were employed against those outside the house who attempted to interfere. Nonetheless, a stool, rocks, and bottles were thrown at the agents. However no one was injured and Elian was successfully taken from the home a delivered to his father. The press and public were split. An interesting study of press reporting can be found at
Really Long Link
Fanning the flames was a frightening photograph of an armed Federal agent facing an obviously overwhelmed child.
Finally, Elian was reunited with his immediate family, returned to Cuba and has resumed a normal (for Cuba) life. He made the news, after years of keeping a low profile, by joining the Young Communist Union, along with some 18,000 other young people. To the people in this country who are totally focused on their hatred of the Cuban regime, this is a fate too horrid to imagine, but news reports by American reporters indicate that Elian is loved and cared for by his father and step-mother and is doing well.
Richard Cohen wrote in the Washington Post:
“… Elian and Juan Miguel Gonzalez, son and father. The former is an innocent child, the latter a man whose boy was taken from him. Elian has behaved like a typical 6-year-old, Juan Miguel like a typical father. And most of the politicians like typical fools."
And that’s the story and the facts.
There have been many myths that have arisen over the years, many born of political wishes; some created cynically with knowledge of their inaccuracy and others the product of unfamiliarity with the facts. In a later post, I’ll discuss these myths and show how in many cases before Elian’s, the child was returned to a loving parent with cooperation of courts and countries, regardless of the popularity of the countries involved.
Many people have read, during the past weeks, stories about how Elian Gonzalez, eight years after his repatriation with his father, has joined, with about 18,000 other teens, a Communist youth organization. The news articles have spurred articles, e-mail and many blogs revisiting the events of the Elian Gonzalez saga. Unfortunately, the recounting of the events of eight years ago leaves much out. There is much drama in the Elian story – and a corresponding amount of misinformation.
Who cares? Why is it important? Because the facts, and more important, the Legend had a profound effect on the 2000 and 2004 presidential election results and may well have a similar effect this Fall. It has been convincingly argued that, had it not been for the inflammatory recounting of the saga of this little boy, the seemingly frightening photograph that was widely circulated showing an armed Federal agent confronting the child and the focused hatred of Fidel Castro among the close-knit Cuban-Miami community, the United States and the world would have been spared the realm of Messrs. Bush, Rove, Chaney, et al.
A small amount of history
First, for those unfamiliar with the Miami milieu, the United States had friendly relations with Cuba following Fulgencio Batista’s rise to power in 1940. The United States completely dominated the Cuban economy, mostly through an increasing number of American corporations and members of organized crime. According to the United States Ambassador Arthur Gardner,
“Batista had always leaned toward the United States. I don't think we ever had a better friend . . . he was doing an amazing job.
The move was vehemently opposed by our State Department and one advisor summed it up:
"I know Batista is considered by many as a son of a bitch... but American interests come first... at least he was our son of a bitch."
In any event, Fidel won his revolution and, over the next years, Cuba nationalized many United States corporations’ assets and relations deteriorated between Cuba and the U.S. Each time that another U.S. company was nationalized, the United States reacted by imposing trade restrictions until there was a nearly complete embargo. Cuba was identified as a communist country and, as part of the “cold war” between the United States and the Soviets (which ended over 20 years ago), became our enemy, the subject of trade embargoes and a political flashpoint here. Ironically, Cuba is the only remaining country with which we will not trade or lift an embargo against travel based upon its communist regime.
Miami. Recepción a la nueva Cuba
After Castro had assumed power in Cuba, many Cubans emigrated to the United States, some because of political opposition to the newly formed communist government, more to take advantage of economic advantages in the United States. Over the years, more and more Cuban natives settled in Miami and created the concept of an ethnic citizen, indentified primarily by its roots. While the Cuban population prospered, there eventually was a rift between two groups. The first, older, less wanting to be assimilated into American culture, clinging to the traditions and customs and language of their old country, focused on their hatred of Castro and a wish to return to Cuba when Castro was no more. The other group was comprised of younger people who recognized that, whatever the regime in Cuba, they were doing better financially here. The latter group was less obsessed with Castro. They were fragmented and less politically potent.
Florida is a very important state politically and an increasingly large and cohesive voting block was certain to be the object of political lust. Both Democrats and Republicans courted the Cuban vote and each party catered to the most extreme segment of the Cuban population. A number of policies were put into place by each party and administration. Some hurt our own national interests and still do. For example, an embargo from selling grain to Cuba hurts our farmers, an embargo on travel to Cuba hurts our tourist industry and forbidding Americans to invest in Cuban assets hurts our financial interests. Moreover, these actions give the Cuban government someone to blame for its failures, solidifying its control.
Elian comes to America
Into this mess, a young boy enters the country. As I will explain, Elian Gonzalez became the poster child for several disparate groups, several of which didn’t care about the child other than as a means to push their respective agendas.
In the years following the Revolution in Cuba a considerable number of Cubans have tried to leave for the United States; this immigration is illegal under both Cuban and U.S. law: any Cuban found at sea, attempting to reach U.S. shores, will be sent back. U.S. policy has evolved into the current "wet feet, dry feet" rule: If a Cuban is picked up at sea or walking toward shore, he or she will be sent back by force. If he or she can make it to shore ("dry feet"), the person is permitted to remain. This is a vastly different rule applied to, for example, unhappy people from Haiti or other countries, but such is the political threat from the Miami Cuban community.
.
In any event, Elian’s mother, Elizabeth, and father, Juan, separated in 1997 and shared custody of their son. The arrangement was that Elian would live with his father and spend alternate days with Elizabeth. The events of Elian’s departure from Cuba and much background material, one can visit here:
Really Long Link
Elizabeth had a boyfriend who lived in Miami, making a living by smuggling Cubans into the United States. She decided to come to the U.S. presumably to be with her friend and decided, unilaterally, to take son Elian with her. As soon as Juan realized that the son who spent most of his week with him was gone, he telephoned relatives in Miami to ask that they keep a watch for his son.
During the voyage from Cuba, the small boat, with no meaningful safety or survival equipment, capsized. Elizabeth died along with ten others. Elian was found washed ashore on a Ft. Lauderdale beach. Under both Cuban and United States law, the child should have been returned to his remaining living parent without delay. At six, he would have been considered too young to make a decision on seeking political asylum; that decision would be made by his surviving parent. Instead, the Elian affair became a media circus as relatives (and strangers and politicians) used the child as a pawn.
While Juan was in constant communication with the Miami relatives expressing a desire to have the child returned forthwith, the anti-Castro uncle and cousins refused on the ground that the child would be better off and happier in the United States. Over six months of litigation followed in the Florida and Federal courts
Elian’s Father and grandmothers came to the United States, the grandmothers visiting with Elian and then going to Washington to plead for the child’s return. Letters from governments around the world issued statements requesting the reunification with Juan. Ultimately, the Florida courts dismissed the custody petition of the Miami relatives and there were no longer any justification for keeping the child here.
During all during this period several constants existed. First, Juan wanted his son back with him in Cuba and, second, Elian wanted to return to his hometown and his family. The Miami relatives offered Juan a home and car if he came to the United States to live; he rejected the offer. They showed Elian what the average [sic] child in America enjoyed: unlimited toys, trips to Disney World, ice cream and endless pizza. Elian did not waiver, he wanted to return to his father. Conservatives wanted Elian to stay here on the ground that life in Cuba would not be as pleasant for the child.
The situation prompted a poem by Calvin Trillin:
“Yes, any Cuban kid would thrive right here.
At Disney World he'd surely have a ball.
And over there he lacks what we revere.
So maybe we should simply snatch them all.”
Elian goes home, raid and controversy.
The situation was boiling over. The Florida Family Court terminated the temporary custody of Elian’s uncle and awarded the custody to Juan who had come to the United States to press his position. The Federal Courts had directed that Elian belonged with his father. The Immigration and Naturalization Service had directed that the child could return to Cuba and the Congress had refused to intervene. Nationwide polls reflected that 70% of Americans favored the interests of the remaining parent.
In accordance with the law, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno announced that the child would be returning to Cuba. The relatives and the anti-Castro activists, on the other hand, refused to end what became a siege, a mob surrounded the home in which the child was living and it was announced that any attempt to remove Elian would be met by armed force, nearly everyone in the Miami Cuban community had a gun.
There was no reason to doubt the exiles. They had come to the United States seeking freedom and, in our tradition starting with the Pilgrims and Puritans, proceeded to decry it in anyone else, As soon as they arrived, they denied freedom to anyone who, in their minds, was “soft” in hating Castro.
On April 22, 2000, pursuant to an order issued by a federal magistrate, eight agents of the U.S. Border Patrol approached the house, knocked, and identified themselves. When no one responded from within, they entered the house. Pepper-spray and mace were employed against those outside the house who attempted to interfere. Nonetheless, a stool, rocks, and bottles were thrown at the agents. However no one was injured and Elian was successfully taken from the home a delivered to his father. The press and public were split. An interesting study of press reporting can be found at
Really Long Link
Fanning the flames was a frightening photograph of an armed Federal agent facing an obviously overwhelmed child.
Finally, Elian was reunited with his immediate family, returned to Cuba and has resumed a normal (for Cuba) life. He made the news, after years of keeping a low profile, by joining the Young Communist Union, along with some 18,000 other young people. To the people in this country who are totally focused on their hatred of the Cuban regime, this is a fate too horrid to imagine, but news reports by American reporters indicate that Elian is loved and cared for by his father and step-mother and is doing well.
Richard Cohen wrote in the Washington Post:
“… Elian and Juan Miguel Gonzalez, son and father. The former is an innocent child, the latter a man whose boy was taken from him. Elian has behaved like a typical 6-year-old, Juan Miguel like a typical father. And most of the politicians like typical fools."
And that’s the story and the facts.
There have been many myths that have arisen over the years, many born of political wishes; some created cynically with knowledge of their inaccuracy and others the product of unfamiliarity with the facts. In a later post, I’ll discuss these myths and show how in many cases before Elian’s, the child was returned to a loving parent with cooperation of courts and countries, regardless of the popularity of the countries involved.
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Comment by Randy Inman
Comment by Jeff Musall
Secular Humanity
Comment by Jim Stillman
Opinions of a curmudgeon
Political Certainty
In my next post on this subject, I'll discuss how other children are reunited with parents and how the U.S. and other countries usually abide by existing treaties and international law and return children to their native lands, even where we disapprove of the foreign leaders.
Nearly always the return is done without any adverse publicity. The Miami Cuban population is as different as it is politically powerful.