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Once again, the American people have spoken and our lawmakers have listened. During his impeachment trial, public opinion polls consistently supported President Clinton and he remained in office. Such is the government "of the people, by the people and for the people" that Abraham Lincoln referred to in his Gettysburg Address.
Elian Gonzales, the child who celebrated his 6th birthday in America and will now be celebrating his 7th in Cuba., wasn't so lucky. Elian wanted to stay. He wanted to become an American citizen. "They're going to make me an American citizen tomorrow." Elian proudly proclaimed in an interview broadcast on Radio Mambi in Miami shortly after that first reunion with his grandmothers. Childish innocence? I suppose so. He probably believed what his mother told him about America.
Although legislation that would have granted Elian's wish had indeed been introduced in congress, it was quickly derailed as politicians bowed to pressure from the Castro regime, so ably represented by the National Council of Churches, and to public opinion polls, which unfortunately for Elian, were overwhelmingly in favor of his return to Cuba. Again, the American politicians listened to the people. Now Elian is with his real father. The Marxist government of Cuba, the true father of all Cuban children.
What awaits Elian now? What price will he have to pay in the future for his impulsive remarks ? They will undoubtedly be dismissed as capitalist lies in the government-controlled Cuban press. "Granma", the official organ of the Cuban communist party, will celebrate Elian's escape from the clutches of his "mafia kidnapers" in Florida and compare him to Che Guevara, as they already are. But "Granma" will know he only said what was truly in his heart. And she will remember.
Elian wanted to be free, as do most Cubans. The Castro government tries to minimize the size of the ever-growing dissident movement in Cuba but it does exist, and will continue to do so until either Cuba is free or the last dissident is dead or languishing in a Cuban prison cell. "People love liberty, even if they do not know that they love it. They are driven by it and flee from where it does not exist.", said Cuban poet, writer-philosopher and revolutionary leader Jose Marti. Marti is venerated by all Cubans. His January 28 birthday is celebrated and his words quoted by both by the Castro government and Cuban exiles alike. How a dictatorship that routinely persecutes and jails those who dare dissent can justify the previous quote escapes me, but words are a two-edged sword. Look what we do with the Bible.
Elian will be watched closely and his indoctrination into the Communist Party will be particularly intensive. Fidel Castro still rules the island with an iron hand and when he is gone, you can rest assured another dictator is already waiting in the wings to continue the oppression that the Cuban people endure only 90 miles from the shores of the "paradise" our country represents to so many the world over.
The rickety boats overloaded with refugees will continue to sink, more will drown. The Cuban Coast Guard will intercept others and sink them as they did when the ill-fated tugboat "13 de Marzo" (13th of March) carrying 72 seekers of freedom was rammed and firehoses sprayed on the passengers July 13, 1994.
41 drowned in that incident. 8 of them children ranging in age from 6 months to 11 years old. It was reported in our press, but not to the extent of Elian's story. Protests were made by our government and various human rights groups, but an estimated 6 Cubans a day continue to die attempting to flee the "worker's paradise" that is Cuba in the year 2000.
Abraham Lincoln, who gave us the phrase "government of the people, by the people and for the people" also said, "Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it." Public opinion has again prevailed and it is we the people who denied that freedom we so take for granted to Elian Gonzales. If God is indeed a just God, and this writer believes he is.
I fear for our freedom. Sorry, Elian, we tried. At least some of us did.
Will Richardson
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