ELIAN.off topic

[Asbel Jonathan Corrales]

It is quite obvious that you (Paul S. Larudee) have swallowed (along with 
millions of other people) the image that Castro is trying to portray to the 
world, especially now after 40 years of repression.  He (Castro) has exceled 
in his portrayal to the world by doing things like letting the U.S. citizens 
go anywhere they want to in the island and have them acquire anything they 
want with American dollars.  What you are seeing today is the result of 40 
years of dictatorship regime.  The people have had to adapt to the system; 
otherwise, the system will eliminate them as it has done with so many in the 
past.  People are not free to be themselves and make choices, as we are in 
this country, and this, along with many other aspects (which I won't take 
the time to list here since this list pianotech is not made for this), are 
the ones that us Cubans in the U.S. stand against!  That's one of the 
reasons why we defend the cause to not return Elian to Cuba.  And, although 
the fight might not seem important to others or might not seem worth the 
effort for just one little boy, the principal behind this whole thing is the 
backbone and what drives the efforts being made and demonstrated in Miami.

Unfortunately, anyone that has not undergone an experience like the one that 
Cubans have gone through, living in a country that was free and presented 
many opportunities for its people, to then moving to a regime like Castro, 
cannot possibly understand what is it that is being defended and fought for 
in the case of Elian as well as many other cases and situations.  That's why 
in 1980, when Castro opened the doors for many people to leave (and as a 
switch off, sent us many of his criminals from his jails), many people fled 
from Cuba(by the way...this is one of the reasons why you didn't see too 
much crime - the system is harder on criminals than it is here.  
Unfortunately, this works against those that have been unjustly accussed of 
a crime as they are sometimes held in prison unjustly or for an extended 
number of years; others are never let go, and their crime did not merit such 
force.).  They saw that (El Mariel) as the only opportunity to get away from 
the system and they figured that it was worth the risk, even if there was a 
trick behind the whole thing (in which case, there wasn't a trick for them - 
it was a trick for the U.S. by Castro emptying out some of his prisons).  
This is why many people, still today, risk their lives (as in the case of 
Elian and his mother) in search of a better life and system - they are tired 
of being manipulated and are willing to take the 90-mile risky road to this 
country.  This is what Elian's mother was trying to do for him - get him to 
a better system as she has lived the horror there.  Most of the people in 
Cuba have a desire for something better as well, but they don't want trouble 
with the system, therefore, they keep their mouths shut.  Castro provides 
you with free education, but you can't take advantage of that education as 
you would like to, and the education is manipulated by making certain types 
of education available to certain people.  When is the last time that you 
have heard of any successful story about anyone in Cuba and the education 
they have received?  Have you heard of any advanced research or 
technological improvements that have come from Cuba in the last 40 years?  
You don't hear anything coming from this country that's benefiting the rest 
of the world and the people there are able to openly share with the world.

As a new father of a 10-week old baby, I can understand the feeling of 
wanting to have my son beside me, regardless of any marital or family 
problems that may come my way, therefore, from that perspective, I can 
understand Juan Miguel's position as a father, and my sympathy is with him 
in this situation.  I do wonder about the unanswered questions that exist 
regarding the relationship breakdown that exists between the Miami and Cuba 
families, the marriage of Juan Miguel and his late wife, etc., etc..  So I 
sympathize with this father because, although the people in Miami are 
looking out for Elian so that he doesn't have to be a part of the regime 
anymore, his father might genuinely be longing to be with his son.

I disapprove of all the gift-showering acts that were done with Elian.  I 
don't believe that this shock was good for him either, most especially if he 
ends up going back to Cuba.

As a Cuban, I can see why it's been such a struggle for everyone to 
understand this situation - it's almost impossible for anyone to fully 
understand it unless they assess the issue through a Cuban's eye.  As a 
lover of my heritage, I can understand both sides and I find that there 
isn't any specific answer that is right or wrong, just simply one that might 
be better than the other.  If this issues would have been resolved within a 
few days of Elian's arrival, emotions and interests would have not escalated 
to this degree and Elian would have been just another name we heard in the 
media one day, but now he is someone we will always remember.  One thing is 
for certain - the strength and roots and loyalty of the Cuban community as a 
people has been demonstrated, but it has also been enhanced by other 
cultures, races ,and people, who have joined in this effort to fight for a 
cause that we believe in and will continue to believe in - that the Cuban 
regime has suppressed our people from excelling like they could and living 
free lives as God intended for mankind to have and enjoy.

I know I've said too much.  Regards to everyone and thanks for your 
patience.  :-)

A.J.

From: "Paul S. Larudee" <larudee@pacbell.net>
Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: ELIAN.off topic
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 09:28:14 -0700

List,

Anyone wishing to find out what Cuba is like is welcome to come with us on 
the
next Send A Piana To Havana brigade.  Is it a poor country?  Yes, but the 
burdon
is shared.  There are no homeless and everyone has access to free education 
and
health care.  Unlike almost all third world countries, no one has to worry 
about
sheer survival and everyone has at least a decent standard of living, though 
in
many cases not much more.  I never found a part of town where I couldn't 
walk
safely.  And unlike many of the former Iron Curtain countries, visitors are
absolutely free to go wherever they want.

It is not Paradise.  It is a one party system without open elections.  But 
it is
also relatively free of corruption.  Even the man at the top doesn't care 
about
enriching himself, although most people are rather tired of him being in 
charge.
Repressive?  To a degree, but not as much as many third world countries,
certainly not as much as the former Iron Curtain countries, and probably a 
lot
less than Miami.

Paul S. Larudee


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