I Still Think of Elian

Jewish World Review ^ | April 29, 2003 | Nat Hentoff

[William Wallace]

As soon as Fidel Castro seized power in 1959, I saw on television the firing squad execution of an array of political prisoners, which he ordered. He then began filling his brutal prisons with Cubans whose sole crime was a desire to breathe freedom after the Batista dictatorship -- only to find themselves in another totalitarian quicksand.

At one point, interviewing the already legendary Che Guevara -- an international Cuban revolutionary icon -- at the Cuban mission to the United Nations, I asked him if he could foresee, anytime in the future, free elections in Cuba. Crisply dressed in his military outfit, Guevara burst out laughing at my callow naivete.

Having interviewed Cubans who survived Castro's gulags, I have never understood or respected the parade of American entertainers, politicians and intellectuals who travel to Cuba to be entranced by this ruthless dictator who, for me, has all the charisma of a preening thug, akin to any killer on "The Sopranos."

These Castro-philes are among those who discredit liberalism because they're unable to recognize and be repelled by unbridled evil. Consider Steven Spielberg, who has developed impressive resources through his Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation to keep alive the horrifying presence of the Holocaust. Yet, as quoted in the April 11 Wall Street Journal, Spielberg described his audience with Castro last November as "the eight most important hours of my life."

Was Spielberg's life that barren until those gloriously transcendent hours with the chief warden of Cuba's prisons?

From time to time, I still think of Elian Gonzalez, so vivid a free spirit here until condemned by Janet Reno and Bill Clinton to a land where schoolteachers must keep a record of any signs of their charges' lessening fealty to the relentless light of their lives. I wish the American press would pay more attention to the ongoing lawsuit alleging that Doris Meissner -- head of Clinton's Immigration and Naturalization Service -- ordered the destruction of evidence that would have contradicted the Clinton administration's forcible removal of Elian to Castro's continuation of Stalinism. Judicial Watch in Washington has the information on that lawsuit.

In any case, the next batch of fawning celebrities and members of Congress who party with Castro, will try to evade the recent show trials of independent journalists, human rights advocates, poets and other dreamers of democracy who have been sentenced by Castro's kangaroo courts to punishments of up to 27 years. Britain's Economist magazine notes that "since many of the dissidents are aged between 50 and 60, in practical terms they are being put away for life."

One prisoner of conscience packed into the gulag is the internationally respected independent journalist Raul Rivero, director of Cuba Press agency, and a board member of the Inter American Press Association. In the Castro courtroom -- from which foreign journalists and diplomats were barred -- Rivero, suffering from phlebitis and other ailments, was sentenced to 20 years for being an independent journalist.

"This is so arbitrary for a man whose only crime is to write what he thinks," his wife, Blanca Reyes, said in an April 8 New York Times article. "What they found on him was a tape recorder, not a grenade."

The Clinton administration -- which has so much to answer to history for -- promoted "people-to-people" trips to Cuba, which have continued. The American tourists and the participants in educational and cultural exchanges will not be able to engage in person-to-person visits with Raul Rivero, and other Cubans whom the Castro "justice system" has turned into non-people. Not even such an eminence as Spielberg will be free to show Rivero videos of Holocaust survivors.

Spielberg, immersed in pre-production of his next film, was not available for comment on Castro's latest eradication of dissenters. But his representative, Andy Spahn of Dreamworks, told The Wall Street Journal that Castro had been "provoked" to order the crackdown, because the head of the American mission in Havana, James Cason, had been meeting -- can you imagine? -- with Cuban dissenters in their homes last February.

And if an American official had, however discreetly, been meeting with Jews in Berlin who still hoped that the world would come to their rescue -- if it only knew of the design for the Final Solution -- would that diplomat have exceeded his responsibilities to humankind by "provoking" Hitler?

HBO has wisely cancelled the May showing of Oliver Stone's Castro-admiring "Commandante." During production, says the Journal, Fidel was "given the power to stop filming at will."

The show would have been a fitting complement to HBO's "The Sopranos."

[Luis Gonzalez]

[AbsoluteJustice]

I say we repeal the Cuban Adjustment Act of 66. Fair is fair. If Mexicans, Asians, Thai, Chinese all must come through normal channels and be MADE to go through the immigration process then so be so must all that come here to include Cubans. This is not the 60's Cuba again and that policy is long over. I find the 1.83 million $$$ to be way over the top and that is a testament to how Congress leads this country. It should have been no more than 2500$$ for a meal and a plane ticket and for good measure a check up from a doctor.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Oscar D. Gala stands on the street where Elian Gonzalez lived three years ago Tuesday, April 22, 2003, in Miami. Gala was protesting the way the federal goverment siezed Gonzalez and returned him to Cuba. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)

[Luis Gonzalez]

"I'm tired of MY TAX Dollars supporting others. And oh about the family and the family supporting him. Do not think for one second our tax dollars would not support this child."

We own Miami, bought it with our own hard-earned money, and the sweat, blood, and tears of a million backs bent to whatever job we could land.

We don't need your dollar, we have more than enough our own.

[AbsoluteJustice]

This child would have needed assistance in the form of English immersion or as today's society would have it English sensitivity classes more aimed at Elian not forced to learn English if his parents did not deem neccessary. DO NOT GET ME WRONG PLEASE. The child is the innocent bystander here and I do have sympathy for him I am directing this at the current legal system mainly and this child just so happens to be the target of such an argument. In regards to other services that the child would require IE health care and legal expenses I am speculating that the family would not have been able to afford this as the condition of their home and the uncles occupation (fisherman?). Legal expenses would have risen in the thousands. Speculation....Good to hear from ya again :)

[Luis Gonzalez]

"I could care less what the law states..."

And your name is AbsoluteJustice?

[Luis Gonzalez]

That child had free private schooling for the rest of his life, given to him by a friend of mine who owns over 20 private schools. Pre-K through High School.

[AbsoluteJustice]

Let me let you in on a little unknown fact you may not know. After all taxes were paid in 2001 by the immigrant community in our country it still cost the American tax payer billions of dollars in special services medical dental and any other special programs that is out there for immigrants. That was legal immigrants. This does not include illegals. So no YOU may not need OUR money as an immigrant but studies show the majority or at least a great number do.

[AbsoluteJustice]

I stated above I do not like the law and feel it is outdated as these are different times and 66 was a WAY different period in time.

[AbsoluteJustice]

You could go on and on about this and that and charity but the fact still remains legals and illegals take more from our country than give back. These are facts. Our whole immigration system needs revamped.

[Consort]

[AbsoluteJustice]

I respect others opinions in here as I have been wrong at times but my convictions are what they are in regards to immigration and I will not let my emotions guide me on this issue. Do I feel sorry for this child? HECK YES I do!! I have a child and know how I would feel but I stand by the decision to send him back not the method though.

[JoeSchem]

Castro is just one more living proof that Leftists worship their rulers as living Gods. They have no heaven and no God, so they kiss the Pharaoh's toe and cringe before his power.

I think there's a demonic force at work, under which unbelievers are vulnerable. That Spielberg could gush 'the most important x hours in my life' after meeting with a third-rate, corrupt has-been dictator tells you that something -- someone -- was reaching inside his mind and turning a dial, just like the Mule in Asimov's Foundation series.

[Consort]

You sound slightly confused. And nothing is absolute; neither is there justice. I can't help you on any of those accounts.

[AbsoluteJustice]

No not confused just at work and have to write very quickly. At least I know what I am trying to say :) If I had the time I'd be able to elaborate clearly and more thoroughly.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I think you overlook the fact that his mother was fleeing a brutal dictatorship and died as so many have trying to escape. I think we should have allowed him the hearing but Clinton, Reno in their usual ham-handed way couldn't see anyway out but to tear a small child away from his American family and put him back in harm's way. I'm sure you don't have any personal story of divorce and child custody that has shaded your opinion, so I'll chalk up our disagreement on this to your anti-immigration point of view.

[FairOpinion]

So you don't see any difference between communist countries and all the rest, right?

Cubans do go through the immigration process, they are considered refugees, as those from other communist countries like the Soviet Union and E. Europe used to be considered.

You are lumping those in with everyone else.

And since when do Mexicans go through normal channels? Millions of them just walk across the border.

[AbsoluteJustice]

Not anti-immigration just I just want our immigration process to be more stringent. We are going broke as a nation on immigration legal and illegal. Costing us billions. Make it harder to get into our country. Ensure the person coming in has a valid and productive skill or trade. It is funny how most immigrants today can receive scholarships at most universities based on their ethnicity. I have said I do not like the way the situation was handled, anything with Clinton's hands on it was shady. Never been divorced and no no child custody issues. Just had my 1st 7 months ago :) I just do not think that there should be exceptions any longer as to where you come from as most that come here today either 1) are fleeing a dictatorship or 2) want a better life.

[carlo3b]

This thread brings back a lot of memories, some better than others, some just plain sad. Couldn't read a Elian thread and not think of the little one..and Angelique. Thanks

[FairOpinion]

It is unfortunate that uninformed people lump all immigrants, legal, illegal and from the various countries all together and blame all of them for problems that are caused by poor US laws and the lack of enforcement of those laws (hence illegal immigration, hence all the laws providing benefits for illegal immigrants, etc.)

As for the Cubans they have my sympathy and admiration. Unfortunately many people in the US have no clue what it's like to live under a dictator like Castro, and don't know that most Cubans are more loyal to the US than many who were born here.

I also am grateful to the Cuban Americans, they helped elect Bush. Without them, we may have Gore. :::shudder:::

At least that is "Elian's legacy".

I hope Cuba will soon be free, and little Elian will be free to come and go. That in no way erases the monstrosity of the Clinton administration in kidnapping Elian and sending him back to Castro.