In Elian's Best Interests?
The situation involving Elian Gonzalez has escalated into much more than just your average immigration issue.
The six year old boy was found at sea by fisherman in November after the boat he was traveling on sank. He was then brought back to Florida and placed with some of his mother's relatives. Since then, a lot of people have claimed to know just what is in his best interests. However, what seems to be happening is that everyone's opinions of Elian's best interests are more a validation of their own beliefs than what the boy needs.
Bill Clinton has been repeatedly asked about how the situation should be handled. He continues to downplay the issue, saying it should not become a political issue. He feels it is up the INS and the courts in Florida to decide the matter. This sounds good but lets look at this a litle further. We have an understanding with Cuba that specifically says that any Cubans found at sea will be returned to Cuba. If they make it to Florida, then they can stay. Elian was found at sea floating on an inner tube. Clinton is refusing to touch this situation because he is well aware of the fact that a majority of the Cuban population in America votes democratic. By sending Elian back to Cuba immediately, as per the agreement, he risks alienating a large segment of voters with a presidential election on the horizon.
Elian's mother had some family here in America. They feel it is in his best interests to stay here. They claim he will have a better life here than he would have in a communist Cuba. He has been showered with gifts from the Cuban population here. They took him to Disney World before he had even been here a week. Is it really in his best interests to give him all of these presents when he will only have to leave it all behind if he is sent back home? They made the decision to come here and they may feel that they have a better life now because of it. But how can anybody expect Elian to react, to all of the toys and special attention, in any way other than to want to stay here.
The family's lawyer has filed a request with the US government for political assylum, claiming Elian is facing persecution back home in Cuba. This is a ludicrous notion. Castro's orginized protests have made Elian a celebrity in his own country. They have been marching in the streets demanding his return.
Elian's father is still in Cuba. He claims that he didn't give permission for his mother to take Elian to America and he just wants him returned home to him.
So a month after his arrival in the US, Elian's future is still in question. His aunts and uncles are trying their best to impress him with all the wonderful toys in America. Clinton still is refusing to honor our agreement with Cuba because he is afraid to hurt Gore's presidential campaign. Fidel Castro is still bussing people into town to have them fill his protests. Throughout this whole spectacle, a little kid is just caught in the middle.
So, who really knows what his best interests are? Who can really say where he would have a better life? Who can really say what qualifies as a better life? Can anyone answer these questions without being somewhat biased towards their own situation? What it usually amounts to is that most people's opinion of better is whatever validates their style of living. After you peel away the political advisaries, after you peel away the material excess of the US what aspects of Elian's life are left to consider? All he really has in this world are the relationships with the people in his life. The impact that a parent has on a childs life is undenyable. Elian's father has a legitimate claim for demanding his return. Elian Gonzalez belongs back in Cuba with his father.
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