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By Arturo Ramos (MALD '01)
It is clear that certain members of the Cuban-American exile community in Florida have adopted Elian Gonzalez as a pawn in a cruel game to advance their own interests. The legal issue of a child's custody lies far outside the scope of international power politics and even further from the special-interest politics of organizations such as the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). Attorney General Janet Reno has done right by refusing to acquiesce to these special interests and rightfully asserting that family law and relevant U.S.-Cuban migration accords require that the child be returned to his father in Cuba. Unfortunately, Cuban-American relations are still held hostage by special interest groups such as the CANF. Despite the end of the Cold War over a decade ago and the complete absence of any threat from the island nation, the United States continues its policy of isolating Cuba. The Cuban-American exile community in Florida and their allies in Congress such as Rep. Dan Burton and Sen. Jesse Helms claim that such isolation is necessary to drive Castro and his repressive regime from power. Engaging Communist China and integrating the country into the world economic system has not only helped transform China, it has furthered U.S. interests. The same could hold true for Cuba. Fidel Castro has for some time now appealed to the rest of the world, including the U.S., for a similar integration. Pope John Paul II pleaded for the same during his visit to the island nation in 1998. Their pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears in Washington. The anti-Castro special interests have made sure such integration does not occur. Legislation such as the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (Helms-Burton) Act serve as testimony to their intent. The Act imposes sanctions on companies and nations that make use of confiscated property, allows private right of action in U.S. courts for parties whose property was confiscated and forbids the lifting of the embargo until a government comes to power that does not include Fidel or Raul Castro. The Act reads more like a vendetta than a piece of legislation. The Elian Gonzalez case has brought to light the extreme position of groups such as the CANF and demonstrates the extent to which such groups will go to advance their interests. One can only hope that Elian's ordeal will help U.S. lawmakers to refocus Cuba policy away from the interests of these groups and toward the promotion of mutual civility, openness, dialogue and cooperation. Comments? Write us at letter@fletcherledger.com |
