A "Possession of Cuba"? : Why Elián Must Stay

by Charles Colson

Since last November, America has torn itself apart over the case of Elián Gonzales, the bright-eyed six- year-old who was found bobbing in the ocean off the Florida coast.

Like many Americans, I've been ambivalent. On the one hand my commitment to family values made me believe that Elián's place was with his dad. But Castro is a ruthless tyrant, and nobody ought to be sent to Cuba.

Last Thursday, my ambivalence ended. I believe Elián should not be turned over to his father, and I believe his father agrees with that.

In last Thursday's Wall Street Journal, we learned that on November 22, Elián's father, Juan Gonzales, called Miami relatives to tell them Elián and his mother were on their way to America. A collect telephone bill proves the call was made. Three days later, fisherman rescued Elián off the Fort Lauderdale coast.

The boy was taken to a hospital, where his Uncle Lazaro confirmed his identity, and he called Elián's father to let him know that his child was safe. A relieved Mr. Gonzales asked his uncle to care for the boy.

At no time did Elián's father demand his return--that is, not until the Cuban government got involved. On November 27, Cuban authorities demanded the child be returned to Cuba. As the Wall Street Journal put it, "Not until that Monday did we hear from the boy's father, who was quoted as having had second thoughts about Elián and now concluded that he had been kidnapped."

Now, I agree with my friend Rep. Steve Largent, and others, who argue that the sovereignty of the family should be respected. I agree: parents, not the state, should decide what's best for children. And I agree with those who say that if the boy had come from, let's say, Caracas, we wouldn't hesitate to send him back.

But that's exactly the point. Elián does NOT come from Caracas. He comes from Cuba, which means his father is not a free agent. With Cuban authorities watching and listening, Mr. Gonzales cannot speak freely. It is Castro who is speaking.

And there isn't an issue of the sovereignty of the family involved in any event: In Cuba, the child belongs to the state.

Even if we didn't have the telephone call from Elián's father, asking Miami relatives to hang onto his son, we have the dramatic testimony of Janet Reno's friend, Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin, whom Reno appointed to mediate the negotiations between the boy's grandparents and the Cuban relatives in Miami. Sister Jeanne originally believed the boy should be sent back to Cuba. But she changed her mind after meeting Elián's grandmothers--and their Cuban handlers.

She may have seen something very unstable about the grandmothers. Or perhaps she received a signal from them--and realized Elián would be better off in America.

So now, the issue is clear: Does the United States give asylum to this boy, allowing him to stay where he wants to stay, in the country his mother died bringing him to? Or do we hand him back, not to his father, but to Fidel Castro? Remember, Cuban authorities claim that Elián is a possession, not of his father, but of the Cuban government.

And for me, that makes the decision easy. Elián should stay.

END

Chuck Colson

Prison Fellowship Ministries
BreakPoint Commentary # 000410
4/10/2000

"BreakPoint with Chuck Colson" ("BreakPoint") is a daily commentary on news and trends from a Christian perspective. Heard on more than 425 radio stations nationwide, BreakPoint transcripts are also available on the Internet. If you know of others who would enjoy receiving BreakPoint in their E-mail box each day, tell them they can sign up on our Web site at http://www.breakpoint.org. If they do not have access to the World Wide Web, please call 1-800-457-6125.

-----------------En español----------a continuación-----------

¿Una "Posesion de Cuba"?: Él porque Elian debe quedarse.

por Charles Colson

Version al español de Jose Luis Fernandez.

Desde Noviembre pasado, America se ha dividido sobre el caso de Elian Gonzalez, el alegre niño de seis años que fue encontrado flotando en el oceano cerca de la costa de La Florida.

Al igual que muchos americanos, Yo he estado indeciso. De un lado mi apoyo a los valores familiares me hicieron creer que el lugar de Elian era con su papa. Pero Castro es un despiadado tirano y nadie deberia ser enviado a Cuba. El pasado jueves, mi indecision termino. Yo creo que Elian no debia ser entregado a su padre y creo que su padre esta de acuerdo con ello.

Por la edicion del Wall Street Journal del pasado jueves hemos conocido que en Noviembre 22, El padre de Elian, Juan Gonzalez, llamo a sus familiares en Miami para decirles que Elian y su madre estaban camino de Miami. Una cuenta de la llamada por cobrar prueba que fue hecha. Tres dias mas tarde, un pescador rescato a Elian frente a la costa de Fort Lauderdale.

El niño fue llevado a un hospital, donde el tio Lazaro confirmo su identidad y llamo al padre de Elian para dejarle saber que el niño estaba a salvo. Un aliviado Gonzalez le pidio a su tio que cuidara del niño.

En ningun momento el padre de Elian demandó su regreso- esto es, no hasta que el gobierno cubano se envolvioó en el asunto. El 27 de noviembre las autoridades cubanas demandaron que el niño fuera devuelto a Cuba. Como el Wal Street Journal menciona: "No fue hasta el lunes que supimos del padre del niño, de quien se dijo que habia pensado lo der Elian dos veces y ahora concluia que habia sido secuestrado".

Ahora bien, estoy de acuerdo con mi amigo el Representante Steve Langent y otros, quienes argumentan que la sovbrania de la familia debia ser respetada. Estoy de acuerdo: los padres, no el Estado, deberia decidir que es lo mejor para sus hijos. Y estoy de acuerdo con quienes dicen que si el niño hubiera venido, digamos, de Caracas, no hubieramos vacilado en enviarlo de regreso. Pero ese es precisamente el punto. Elian NO vino de Caracas. El vino de Cuba, lo que significa que su padre no es un agente libre. Con las autoridades cubanas vigilando y escuchando, el Sr. Gonzalez no puede hablar libremente. Es Castro quien esta hablando.

Y no hay tal soberania de la familia envcuelta en ningun momento. En Cuba, el niño pertenece al estado. Aun si no tuvieramos la llamada telefonica del padre de Elian, pidiendo a los familiares de Miami que se quedaran con su hijo, tenemos el dramatico testimonio de la amiga de Janet Reno, la Hermana Jeanne O'Lauglin, a quien Reno nombro mediadora en las negociaciones entre las abuelas del niño y sus familiares en Miami. La Hermana Jeanne originalmente creia que el niño debia ser devuelto a Cuba. Pero ella cambio de idea despues del encuentro de las abuelas de Elian y sus manipuladores cubanos. Ella debe haber visto algo inseguro acerca de las abuelas. O quizas ella recibio una señal de ellas y se dio cuenta cuenta que lo mejor para Elian es quedarse en America.

Asi que ahora, el asunto esta claro: ¿Le dara Estados Unidos asilo a este niño, permitiendole quedarse donde el desea estar, en el pais que su madre murio para traerlo? ¿O lo devolveremos, no a su padre, sino a Fidel Castro? Recuerden, las autoridades cubanas reclaman que Elian es su propiedad, no de su padre, sino del gobierno cubano. Y para mi eso hace la decision facil. Elian debe quedarse.

FIN

Chuck Colson

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