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Elian Gonzalez Would Like to Visit U.S.

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Mon May 18, 2015 at 11:52:08 AM EST
Tags: Elian Gonzalez (all tags)
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Elian Gonzalez is all grown up in Cuba. In his first U.S. interview (which took place in Cuba), he says he is grateful to the U.S. and would like to visit one day.

He said while he disagrees with his mother's decision to leave Cuba, he feels she fought hard to keep him alive on the boat and is grateful to her for saving his life.

Elian is now 21 and engaged to his high school sweetheart.

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    Elian Gonzalez Would Like to Visit U.S. | 34 comments (34 topical)

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    Thanks (none / 0) (#1)
    by FlJoe on Mon May 18, 2015 at 12:55:20 PM EST
    again Clinton and Reno for ruining  his life in such a terrible way. Baseball? High school sweetheart? Oh the horror.

    And Thanks to Obama... (none / 0) (#2)
    by ScottW714 on Mon May 18, 2015 at 01:11:46 PM EST
    ...he might actually get to visit the US of A.

    I can't believe that he is an adult.  Doesn't seem that long ago to me.

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    ¿Cómo? (none / 0) (#3)
    by RickyJim on Mon May 18, 2015 at 01:13:05 PM EST
    Are you doing a Fox News caricature or do you really have evidence that Elian's life was ruined by Clinton and Reno?


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    I think it was sarcasm (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by jbindc on Mon May 18, 2015 at 01:30:21 PM EST
    All those folks who wrung their hands about him having to be sent back to his father proved have now been shown that it was the right thing to do.

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    Definitely sarcasm. (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by oculus on Mon May 18, 2015 at 01:38:00 PM EST
    Though I do wonder if he has PTSD after the raid.

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    Prophetic image,,, (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Mon May 18, 2015 at 01:58:02 PM EST
    a machine gun in the face of a child...the dawn of the police state as we know it?

    20 years ago it was a shocking image. Today...all in a day's work in law enforcement.

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    I blame his family (none / 0) (#10)
    by jbindc on Mon May 18, 2015 at 02:53:55 PM EST
    I get they wanted him to stay, but when the government tells you it's time to go, and the family makes this a made for TV story, then sorry, they don't get to cry about "the big, bad police with their guns".

    The family knew the LEOs were there abs THEY ALONE put Elian's (and everybody else's) safety at risk.

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    Of course you do... (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by kdog on Tue May 19, 2015 at 09:16:39 AM EST
    the family was outta line, but so were the feds and we should demand better of the feds.

    They went in their like the family was strapped up by the CIA to pull another Bay of Pigs or something...a couple agents with holstered sidearms coulda done the job instead of the paramilitaries.  Hold the PTSD for the sake of the child.

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    I'd have thought that he'd have PTSD from ... (none / 0) (#9)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon May 18, 2015 at 02:17:07 PM EST
    ... being the only survivor or a harebrained escape attempt across the Florida Straits, rather than the raid on his great-uncle's house in Miami.

    I'm very glad to hear that Elian Gonzalez is doing so well, and that this story has had positive outcomes. Attorney General Janet Reno absolutely made the right call fifteen years ago.

    And on another bright side, Elian's right-wing jackass relatives had used up their fifteen minutes of fame and thankfully we never saw them or heard from them again, after the boy was literally snatched from their clutches and returned to his father.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    yep (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by FlJoe on Mon May 18, 2015 at 01:38:17 PM EST


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    I think somebody left his sense of humor ... (none / 0) (#8)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon May 18, 2015 at 02:07:01 PM EST
    ... on the bathroom counter this morning.

    ;-D

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    um... (none / 0) (#11)
    by thomas rogan on Mon May 18, 2015 at 09:05:30 PM EST
         Do you kind of think that the regime made sure that Elian Gonzalez had an especially good upbringing just because he had escaped and was the subject of publicity?  
         Regardless, would he ever dream of ruining it by biting the Castro hand that feeds him?  
         It would take more guts than most of us have to be a resident of Castro's Cuba, love a resident of Castro's Cuba, have your and your girlfriend's families mostly residing largely in Castro's Cuba, and actually say, "I wish I had never returned to Cuba when I was a child."
         

    Well It's Actually... (none / 0) (#12)
    by ScottW714 on Tue May 19, 2015 at 09:03:51 AM EST
    ...Raul's Cuba, since 2008.

    The rest is silly guesstimating.

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    Not all that speculative: (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by oculus on Tue May 19, 2015 at 10:16:32 AM EST
    Fidel and Elian

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    So let me get this straight (none / 0) (#16)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue May 19, 2015 at 11:33:16 AM EST
    after having an upbringing probably better than the majority of his fellow Cubans, he would like to come back to America to visit, and somehow, this reflects badly on us, not the Cuban government.

    Interesting hypothesis.

    Parent

    I posted the interview (none / 0) (#17)
    by oculus on Tue May 19, 2015 at 11:51:59 AM EST
    to point out Elian's life in Cuba is not comparable to that of most Cubans.  

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    And yet he wants to come here (none / 0) (#18)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue May 19, 2015 at 12:27:00 PM EST
    butt somehow that reflects badly on America, according to what some people say these days.......

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    Because Castro... (none / 0) (#19)
    by ScottW714 on Tue May 19, 2015 at 12:28:31 PM EST
    ...showed up on his Bday ?  So everyone that meets a US President is not living comparable lives to you and me ?

    I seriously don't get where his life is different beyond meeting Castro in that article.  Not to mention that seems unlikely considering Castro's health issues.

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    Come on Scott, not just one birthday (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Militarytracy on Tue May 19, 2015 at 02:25:13 PM EST
    Every birthday.  He says he views Castro as a father too.  Somehow I don't think he has had an average Cuban boys life.  Why does everyone get so pi$$ed when oculus puts up a link that clarifies something?  I don't understand this dynamic around here sometimes :)

    Parent
    of course (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by FlJoe on Tue May 19, 2015 at 03:50:31 PM EST
    he got some perks, you can bet your bottom dollar that everybody In Cuba knew the story back in 2000. Fidel played it like any dictator/politician would, whatever. Over here it would probably be movie rights, possible affluenza, hanging out with Justin Bieber, whatever.

    Maybe we should all just be thankful that this young man seems to have survived terrible ordeals and come out fine, no matter what path got him there.


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    Well, it's rather obvious that ... (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue May 19, 2015 at 04:28:04 PM EST
    ... Fidel Castro took a shine to Elian Gonzalez. And why not? He's not the cartoonishly cold-hearted Red automaton of Cold War propaganda, whom we came to know and loathe for decades. Even "evilee" commie basterds have a heart, too, you know.

    Elian's saga likely moved President Castro, much as it did lots of people, and if "Tio Fidel" chose to mentor Elian and take an active interest in the boy's upbringing and education as a result, so what? It certainly sounds as though Elian is genuinely appreciative of that interest, and is likely cognizant that he enjoyed an advantage over other Cuban youngsters in that regard.

    That's simply the way the world works, because we're creatures of emotion and it's in our nature to care about individuals. I think it's fair and safe to say that we've all gone out of our way at one time or another to assist a child or young person who is not necessarily a blood relation, but of whom we've nevertheless become fond.

    I daresay if we didn't, we wouldn't be human.

    Parent

    Why is it that you often expound on your (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue May 19, 2015 at 05:00:31 PM EST
    insight into the coldly calculating hearts and minds of so many US politicians, yet you posit that Uncle Fidel's interest in the exceedingly politically-charged Elian Gonzalez is as pure as the driven snow?

    Parent
    Okay, (none / 0) (#32)
    by sj on Tue May 19, 2015 at 05:12:44 PM EST
    a little hyperbolic on both descriptions in my view. My personal opinion is that he is not skeptical enough of Dem politicians. But both you and I are just stating opinions. And everyone has them.

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    I Wasn't Saying He Didn't... (none / 0) (#31)
    by ScottW714 on Tue May 19, 2015 at 05:10:31 PM EST
    ...just that his assertions are hardly proof of anything.  Yeah Jim claimed everyone he knew hated Obama, I mean seriously.

    I didn't get pissed, just pointed out the obvious.

    Tell me exactly how that article shows:

    Elian's life in Cuba is not comparable to that of most Cubans.

    I am not saying he didn't, only that the article doesn't include any of these perks, unless knowing Castro is some sort of perk that separates commoner from the privileged.

    There is no dynamic, I would have replied the same to whomever posted.

    Parent

    Why (5.00 / 3) (#33)
    by FlJoe on Tue May 19, 2015 at 05:52:07 PM EST
    should  even we be looking for motivations and calculations. The cold war is long over people. The Castro brothers know it Obama knows it everyone knows it. There is no logical reason for this relic to even exist.

    Parent
    Exactly. (none / 0) (#34)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri May 22, 2015 at 01:01:13 AM EST
    Looking at everything through a political lens tend to warp one's perspective. This is a human interest story, nothing more. It really has little or nothing to do with communism.

    Parent
    No U.S. Pres. Has showed up (none / 0) (#20)
    by oculus on Tue May 19, 2015 at 12:55:27 PM EST
    for my birthday or that of anyone I've ever known or met.

    Parent
    That's because ... (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue May 19, 2015 at 01:12:16 PM EST
    ... you never invited him. ;-D

    Parent
    For all we know (none / 0) (#22)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Tue May 19, 2015 at 01:43:32 PM EST
    Elian wants a visit here just around the time of his next birthday.  😃

    Parent
    No head of state has (none / 0) (#23)
    by sj on Tue May 19, 2015 at 02:10:32 PM EST
    ever showed up to a wedding of anyone I've ever known or met, either. But photo ops are far from uncommon.

    Heads of State are people, too. And they do things.

    Parent

    Castro showed up for every one of (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Militarytracy on Tue May 19, 2015 at 02:28:25 PM EST
    Elian's bdays.  It would be like Jimmy Carter showing up at all five of my father's weddings :)

    Parent
    Your father's five weddings stand ... (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue May 19, 2015 at 04:33:20 PM EST
    ... as testament that hope springs eternal in the human breast.
    ;-D

    Parent
    okay, that's a little different :) (none / 0) (#26)
    by sj on Tue May 19, 2015 at 03:50:11 PM EST
    Can't blame him though, I guess.

    Parent
    And it's Communist Cuba... (none / 0) (#14)
    by fishcamp on Tue May 19, 2015 at 09:37:10 AM EST


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    Elian Gonzalez Would Like to Visit U.S. | 34 comments (34 topical)

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