Fatherhood should take precedence over political ideology
Letter to the editor
While I do not particularly care for the histrionics displayed by Elián's Miami family, I do oppose the recent INS action against the same. From a legal standpoint, the recent "search and seizure" carries far reaching implications, not just for Cubans, but for all immigrants who are or will one day come under the hegemony of the INS.
The action becomes particularly ominous upon one's realizing that 1) Elián was a petitioner in good standing; 2) there were ongoing negotiations, or at least the appearance of the same with key players in place; 3) the controlling legal authority never declared the petitioner to be unlawfully held (the fact that the court is unwilling to award custody to the Miami family after the seizure of Elián is irrelevant, once the seizure is understood to have been "tolerated" as opposed to "ordered"); 4) the INS is an administrative agency with no power to set legal precedent; 5) the power and resources available to any government agency, including the INS, far outweigh those available to the average citizen; 6) other (peaceful) means were widely and readily available to implement the transfer of Elián; and 7) the distinction drawn by Janet Reno between "the show of force" as opposed to "the use of force" is a crock and a specious distinction, because any "show of force" can potentially become a use of the same.
Americans who have failed to make the connection between family values and politics have conveniently forgotten about King George. Fatherhood should take precedence over political ideology, as long as that ideology is not threatening to the same. Those whose political system poses no such danger have no need to question it. Without their realizing it, their very words draw their power from the political context or frame in which they are spoken. The frame goes unnoticed or is taken for granted because it is part of the set stage. It is not until one has to give up or sacrifice something that one realizes that something much bigger than self or even family, exists.
The "something bigger," or in this case, freedom, becomes the condition precedent to the merely incidental. Not that fatherhood is merely incidental. However, if you would have asked a Jew or an African American whether he'd preferred a native son to be with his father at Auschwitz or the plantation or not, I'm sure they would have much rather preferred the latter. Posterity demands such a price.
I think that Juan Miguel Gonzalez knew, long before coming here, probably at the time of Elián's recovery, or shortly thereafter, that any petition for asylum filed on his behalf would probably be turned down. And that's because this present administration is not willing to pay the cost of another Mariel for an Elián. Knowing that the U.S. government's denial (despite its manufactured sensitivity) would have ultimately lead to his untimely death upon his return to Cuba, Mr. Gonzalez has acted reasonably within the face of danger.
As Cuban Americans, we have to do two things. First, we have to do a better job of painting the big picture. So far, our emotions have gotten the best of us. And finally, we need to realize that somewhere in that picture, there are similar cultures and peoples, although somewhat different (a rainbow of colors), but just as beautiful nonetheless, whose circumstances bear a striking resemblance to those of our own.
Manny Losada, Ph.D.
Miami, Fl.
April 29, 2000
All Viewpoint Stories for Monday, May 1, 2000
