As you undertake your unprecedented tour of Cuba, President Carter, there is a question I would like answered: What happened to Elian Gonzalez, the boy we deported to Cuba?
As June 28 nears, the two-year anniversary of Elian’s forced return to Cuba, I can’t help but wonder what really became of the little boy who won the hearts of Americans and Cubans alike.
The story of little Elian haunts me still.
On Thanksgiving Day 1999, 5-year-old Elian was found clinging to a life preserver drifting off the coast of Florida. His mother and 10 others drowned, yet Elian still clung to life. Miraculously, after 44 hours at sea he was rescued and brought to American soil, the land of freedom, which his mother had risked — and lost — her life to reach.
Images of Elian’s teddy bear-like face are forever seared into my memory and into my heart: Elian playing outside his Miami relatives’ home; riding a yellow bike.
But the one picture of Elian that haunts me is that of his face scrunched up in absolute terror as he is faced with a commando’s assault rifle when government officials forcibly removed him from the Miami relatives’ home.
We betrayed Elian. His mother died to achieve the dream of freedom for her son, and we sent him back to grow up under the oppressive dictatorship of Fidel Castro.
So if it’s not too much trouble, Mr. Carter, as you visit the bioresearch facilities, talk with dissidents and meet with Castro, would you check on Elian’s welfare for all of us in the United States who still care and are worried about his mental and physical well-being?
When the United States and Cuba were battling over Elian almost two years ago, Castro promised that upon his return, Elian would return to his hometown in Cardenas and return to a normal life with his father, stepmother and baby half-brother.
And Elian did return to his father’s house in Cardenas in central Cuba. It is green and by standards of the community, not a bad house to live in.
Elian is now a third-grader and attends a neighborhood school. Elian’s favorite subject in school is mathematics.
From the outside looking in, Elian’s life seems normal.
But things are far from normal.
Elian has a 24-hour bodyguard who keeps away anyone the party officials (read as Castro) don’t want Elian to interact with, in order to safeguard his “”normal life.”” Those denied access are the press and any political officials from the United States who aren’t on Castro’s invited list.
Elian even has his own museum. Castro dedicated the museum to the custody war over Elian and to celebrate Cuba’s victory over evil capitalism. It is located in his hometown of Cardenas and is called the Museum for the Battle of Ideas.
But really, it is Elian’s museum, charting how Cuba defied U.S. aggression and ensured the safe return of their son Elian. The museum is made complete with a statue of Elian; made to his exact likeness, courtesy of Castro.
Elian, though only eight, has become a permanent fixture in Castro’s politics. Elian is paraded in front of political rallies, with the caring and grandfatherly Castro right by his side.
When Castro addressed a million Cubans on the May Day celebrations, standing among the invited dignitaries at the front was Elian Gonzalez, the guest of honor.
At his seventh birthday party last year, Castro dropped in with Thabo Mbeki, the South African president. Both leaders took the time to ruffle Elian’s hair.
Up next for little Elian is to accompany his protector Castro to a meeting with Mexico’s head of state President Vicente Fox.
Clearly, Elian has become the political poster child of the triumph of communism. Castro flaunts Elian as his prize in his victory against capitalism and the evil America.
So when exactly is Elian allowed to be a “”normal”” child? When Castro is dragging him to political rallies as the guest of honor or meeting with foreign heads of state?
Yeah, right.
Castro obviously doesn’t give a damn whether Elian has a “”normal”” life. Elian is being exploited in the worst possible way. Castro has robbed Elian of a childhood in order to further his own political communist aspirations.
Yet, no one seems to care what is happening with little Elian.
We sent Elian back there, thus it is our responsibility to ensure Elian lives as normal of life as possible.
That is why it essential, President Carter, for you to visit Elian. Not just a quick hello in the presence of family, Castro or Elian’s bodyguard. Alone. Where you can meet with him and speak with him privately to find out if he is O.K.
Castro has given you a virtual free reign of his island, allowing you to meet with anyone you please.
For Elian’s sake, make the call.