Re: Political kidnapping of 6-year-old Cuban Elian Gonzalez

I agree with Dave. This falls under Family Law and, if judged in that
regard, would never make it out of the judge's chamber to trial. In the
US, when one parent dies guardianship automatically is conferred on the
surviving parent - as long as the parent is competent to care for the
child and is not in jail or indicted for a crime. No one has questioned
the father's competency to care for his boy.
As a matter of fact, US public opinion, whatever it may be, has no
business in this matter.

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"A man who works with his hands is a laborer;
a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman;
but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart
is an artist" Louis Nizer (1902-1994)

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Judi A. Kessler
Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive, Dept. 0510
La Jolla, CA 92093-0510 USA
(858) 534-4147 or (858) 534-4503
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On Fri, 14 Jan 2000, David Smith wrote:

> Seems to me that the real issue here is whether a 6 year old belongs
> with his surviving parent or not.  National polls of the US citizens show
> that the majority think that he does and support the INS decision to
> return the kid to his dad in Cuba.  Seems to me that reasonable
> people can endorse that without any "adulation of Castro" (I doubt that
> the many of the 56 percent of Americans who agree feel this "adulation"!) 
> 
> 
> dave smith
> sociology
> uc-irvine
> 
> On Fri, 14 Jan 2000, Jeffrey L. Beatty wrote:
> 
> > If indeed the boy is sent back to Cuba (as now seems quite possible), I
> > think we should attach to him a note reading:  "Personal to Fidel:  
>Here's
> > Elian Gonzalez, courtesy of the American government of laws.  You should
> > try it some time."
> > 
> > Sorry--as a post-1960s person, I have a hard time comprehending the
> > adulation of Castro in some circles.
> > 
> > 
> > --
> > Jeffrey L. Beatty
> > Doctoral Student
> > Department of Political Science
> > The Ohio State University
> > 2140 Derby Hall
> > 154 North Oval Mall
> > Columbus, Ohio 43210
> > 
> > (o) 614/292-2880
> > (h) 614/688-0567
> > 
> > Email:  Beatty.4@osu.edu
> > 
>____________________________________________________________________________
> > ___
> > This is my quest/to follow that star/no matter how hopeless /no matter 
>how
> > far,
> > to fight for the right/without question or pause,/to be willing to 
> > march into hell for a heavenly cause--"The Impossible Dream," Man of La 
>Mancha
> > 
> > 
>