Published Friday, April 14, 2000, in the Miami Herald
Divided Family Must Work Toward Solution.
Elian has put a face on the pain of exile.
In the four months that Elian Gonzalez has spent in Miami, no day compares to yesterday in the range of emotions this community -- and the bitterly divided families -- experienced. The tension-packed hours of the morning, when a confrontation between federal authorities and the Miami relatives
seemed imminent, gave over to the relief of evening when a federal appeals court judge granted Elian temporary protection from being sent back to Cuba.
That stay made sense and should be upheld -- and not only to cool emotions. It is reasonable that the courts ensure that Elian remain in the United States until his legal appeals are exhausted. Once returned to Cuba, no U.S. court ruling could bring the child back, and his appeal would be moot.
Still, that ruling doesn't change the Immigration and Naturalization Service's official order demanding that the Miami relatives surrender the boy. U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno rightly is determined to reunite Elian with his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez. To her credit, she came to Miami to
meet with Elian's caretakers in an effort to broker a compassionate transfer of custody. Credit her, too, for not forcing resolution yesterday, which she could have done.
Unfortunately, the differences between Elian's father and his relatives in Miami have grown into a gulf that has prevented a family meeting away from the lawyers and media spotlights. We say unfortunately because they are the only ones who can ensure what is best for Elian, that his fear of the
future and his new family bonds be considered and respected.
It would be helpful to that end if the Miami family would forswear using such media tactics as occurred Wednesday night when Elian was videotaped lecturing his father against taking him back to Cuba. That home video was released to local TV stations, which circulated world wide.
Instead of exploiting this bright boy to stake out positions, the families should use this court-ordered respite to find a way to bridge the divide. They would be wise to explore an option raised by Ms. Reno in a conversation later revealed by singer Gloria Estefan.
Under it, both sides of the family would live temporarily in a mutually acceptable place -- possibly the Vatican's embassy compound in Washington, D.C. -- where the boy could freely see his father, stepmother and step brother as well as the Miami relatives, who lovingly took him in when he was
in greatest need. The arrangement could continue until the legal process is complete, or until the families feel that Elian is comfortable with his natural father.
In the meantime, the many who have advocated that Elian stay in the United States must continue to show restraint and respect for the law and fellow South Floridians.
As we have seen these days, offering flowers and channeling protest into prayer and advocacy is more constructive than ugly scenes that only bolster Cuba's totalitarian regime.
Copyright 2000 Miami Herald |