[pcx99]

There was no "disregarding" of the family. Elian had his family in Florida, who clearly wanted him. What was not clear, and could not possibly have been clear due to the nature of Castro's rule, was that Elian's family in Cuba truly thought the boy ought to be returned there. To believe what the father and aunts did and said while their family was being held hostage back in Cuba is the height of naivete.

Excuse me but are you prepared to argue that your brothers and sister's in-laws can come take your child because you're a republican and they're democrates?

[MitchellC]

Excuse me but are you prepared to argue that your brothers and sister's in-laws can come take your child because you're a republican and they're democrates?

The ability of the GOP and Democratic parties to exist is due to the nature of this nation, so no, they would have no justification for doing something like that. This is a freedom vs. no freedom issue, something entirely beyond quibbles and disputes between two parties that exist in freedom. To equate it to such displays a profound ignorance.

Furthermore, parental rights do not and have never superceded all other rights; parents have never had such a scope of control over their children that they can place them in harm's way and have justification for doing such a thing. Are you next going to argue that all abused children should be returned to their parents?