Miami Tragedy

The mother and Elian were attempting to escape Cuba. If they had both landed, I would have welcomed them with open arms. This, however, is not what happened. Elian was rescued off the Florida coast turned over relatives in Miami. From here, the story gets sad.

As Attorney General Janet Reno let deadlines pass in an attempt to meet the constantly changing demands of the Little Havana relatives, I am sure that she finally realized that they would not give up the child willingly. The only course of action was to take Elian by force.   Why were the INS agents armed? In addition to the fanatical activism in the Cuban community in Little Havana, there was the risk of armed members of the community around the house.

I am personally disgusted by the fact that the Gonzales family had an Associated Press photographer present in the home just in case something would happen. If this does not smack of cynicism and manipulation, I don't know what does.

The relatives also speak of Elian's desire to stay in the United States. What six-year-old child wouldn't want to stay when toys surround him? How are we to expect Elian to make a clear and rational decision on asylum, if he can't grasp the implications of the request?

Even the media has been a willing accomplice in this debacle.

They say that a crime has been committed. They are correct. The crime has been committed by people whose political views have completely obscured the simple fact that a father wants to be reunited with his son who was miraculously rescued from the sea. Can't we set rhetoric and outmoded Cold War politics aside and just do the right thing?  Can't we just give Elian back to his father?

Kerry Bromberg is a public relations major.