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	Vol.7, No 61, January 24, 2000
	Boy must go back  to Cuba Elian Gonzalez, the 6-year-old Cuban boy stuck in Miami, needs to be sent back to his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez. The Coast Guard, for those who have forgotten, rescued Gonzalez last November while he was holding onto an inner tube floating in the Atlantic Ocean. Yes, the pleas of his relatives and uncle in Miami are important and should be heard. Their views, however, seem somewhat politically biased. It almost seems like affronting Fidel Castro is more important than caring for Elian. If this wasn't about Cuba, would this story even make the news? It's debatable the story would even make the metro section of a newspaper. Why aren't refugees from Haiti, Mexico or any other country given this much media attention? They're just as important as this boy is. Entire families get turned away or die on their trips to the United States. Besides, has anyone asked Elian what he feels? It's very possible he didn't even want to go with his mother and stepfather to the United States. How would you explain the trip to him? "Well, son, we're going to take a trip on a boat and hope we can float into a free country without being killed or stranded in the ocean. Let's go!" It's important for a 6-year-old to see his father. A father is the strongest influence a young male has to teach him how to be a man. Mothers are important as well, but play a different role in a boy's life. Sure, maybe Juan doesn't want to come to Miami to get his child. So what? With so much negativity between the United States and Cuba, who can blame him? Cubans get as much, if not more, negative propaganda about the United States as we get about their country. What is here for the child besides his relatives? He hasn't grown up here. Has he made any new friends other than the media? And why haven't the media asked Elian what he thinks about the situation? Because he's just 6 years old, it would be interesting to see if the child's relatives are trying to manipulate him into liking America. Hopefully the child isn't being brainwashed by his relatives. Sure, Cuba is run a little differently than the United States. But the boy will probably be treated like a celebrity in Cuba for the rest of his life. Who went against the American government system and won? Elian, that's who. Parades would be held in his honor and gifts would be showered on him for the rest of his life.		CSULB spring enrollment rises   2 busted for car burglary   Student to be honored   Carpooling program eases congestion   Fraternities, sororities at CSULB offer support   Doors to show business opened Boy must go back  to Cuba   More masturbation healthy L.B. band magnificent   2pac puts in worthy performance 49ers still running after O'Neal walks   Player quits due to ëpersonal reasons'   Men's volleyball steps on slugs; women's b-ball beats Nevada Spring 2000 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach © 2000 All rights reserved.