Melvin's blog

Nshima & Curry

Melvin's  Blog

Nshima & Curry

CUBAN BOY SHOULD BE WITH HIS DAD

Two months ago, hardly anyone knew Elian
Gonzalez. He was just an innocent Cuban
boy, about to join his mother on a risky boat
ride to America. Today, it's safer to shout
"Fire!" in a crowded room than to mention
Elian's name. Not only would a riot break
out, people might start burning pictures of
Fidel Castro and Bill Clinton. And before
you know it, the Iraqi government would be
denying responsibility.

Elian is only 6, but his cute face has already
appeared on more T-shirts than Elvis. He
has already received more media attention
than Oprah's diets. And he has already
sparked more protests than Jesse Jackson.

Elian, whose mother drowned when their
boat sank, was lucky to be rescued by
two fishermen. But who will rescue him
from all the people trying to decide his
future?

His relatives in Florida and other Cuban
Americans want him to live in America,
arguing that his mother endangered her life
to bring him here. But people in Cuba -- as
well as U.S. immigration officials -- want
him sent to his father, Juan Miguel
Gonzalez,  who was divorced from Elian's
mother. That seems to make sense,
considering Gonzalez's close relationship
with Elian. Why deprive the little boy of his
surviving parent's love?

But Elian's interests have almost become
secondary to political concerns. Cuban
exiles don't want to send Elian to a
communist country ruled by a tyrant. They'd
feel more comfortable sending him to
Michael Jackson's house.

Almost every American has an opinion. In a
recent national poll, 41% want Elian
returned to Cuba, 29% want him to stay in
America, 17% want him to go to Canada,
and the remaining 13% want to adopt him.
(Did I mention that he's cute?)

Elian's case needs to be decided soon.
Not in Congress, not in court, but in a more
effective forum. Yes, it's time for Elian to
appear on "David Letterman." If Hillary
Clinton can do it, so can he.

Letterman: "Welcome to New York, Elian.
How do you like the Big Apple?"

Elian (through interpreter): "It's tasty. Better
than the ones they grow in Cuba."

Letterman: "No, I meant how do you like
New York?"

Elian: "It's nice. I especially like the huge
picture of me on Times Square. And the
bright sign on the Statue of Liberty that
says, 'Keep Elian here! Send Hillary
home!' "

Letterman: "Yes, it's a nice sign. You're
more popular here than Monica Lewinsky.
But let's get serious, Elian. It's time to ask
you the big question: Who do you prefer,
Al Gore or Bill Bradley?"

Elian: "I don't like Mr. Gore, because he
wants to send me to Cuba. Just because
I'm not old enough to play professional
baseball."

Letterman: "But your father lives in Cuba.
Don't you want to be with him?"

Elian: "I like my father. I want to live with
him. But I wish we could both live in
America. I like America, because it's a
free country. I've received a lot of free toys.
And one of my cousins showed me how he
gets free cable."

Letterman (laughing): "Well, not all kids get
free stuff, but you're special. You're even
famous in Cuba. By the way, do you know
who Fidel Castro is?"

Elian: "Yes, my relatives in Florida have
told me many times. He is the devil."

Letterman (laughing): "No, he's definitely
not the devil. The devil is much more
popular in America."

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