General Discussion

kpete

(72,029 posts) Thu Apr 23, 2015, 10:27 AM Apr 2015

Elian Gonzales.

Where is the 21-year-old now?

An avid supporter of Fidel Castro and member of Cuba’s Militant Union of Young Communists, he is studying Industrial Engineering at the University of Matanzas near his home in Cardenas, about 90 minutes outside Havana.

The Cuban media reports that Elian practices karate, swims, goes to the movies and hangs out with friends. He even has a Facebook page.

In a recent interview with ABC News, the Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez said Elian is “a terrific student right now, having a very happy and normal life ... like any university student in Cuba.”

http://abcnews.go.com/International/elian-gonzalez-boy-middle-us-cuba-tug-war/story?id=

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/04/is-it-irresponsible-to-speculate-it-is.html

10 replies

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Highlight:

Elian Gonzales. (Original Post) kpete Apr 2015 OP

I was in South Florida during that time. cwydro Apr 2015 #1

"the raid with the guns etc.; ugh, there had to have been a better way." yellowcanine Apr 2015 #7

You're right, of course. cwydro Apr 2015 #9

kpete Diclotican Apr 2015 #2

do I see onethatcares Apr 2015 #3

That family should've been arrested geomon666 Apr 2015 #4

or kidnapping after they disobeyed a judge's order. yellowcanine Apr 2015 #8

I always thought "The Miami Relatives" Ron Green Apr 2015 #5

I'm with a co worker who's son was 5th in that house A HERETIC I AM Apr 2015 #6

studying engineering unlike the criminal relatives in miami JI7 Apr 2015 #10

cwydro

(51,308 posts)

1. I was in South Florida during that time.

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Thu Apr 23, 2015, 10:40 AM

Apr 2015

Miami was in an uproar.

The family who refused to let him go to his father loved the publicity, and they were making a bundle from the Cuban-American community and news media.

It was a no-brainer that he should be with his dad, but the raid with the guns etc.; ugh, there had to have been a better way.

Very glad to see that he is a happy young man.

yellowcanine

(35,703 posts)

7. "the raid with the guns etc.; ugh, there had to have been a better way."

Reply to cwydro (Reply #1)

Thu Apr 23, 2015, 11:51 AM

Apr 2015

Easy to say now. As I remember it, there were a lot of Cubans around that house who were armed and dangerous.
And the "Miami Relatives" were clever enough to know not to leave the house with the boy and make it easier for the FBI to grab him. The crowds were biggest during the day so a late night raid when the family was not expecting it was the most likely to be successful. And it was, despite the pictures and despite the implicit threats issued by the Miami relatives. No one was hurt, except for the feelings of the Miami relatives and their enablers.

cwydro

(51,308 posts)

9. You're right, of course.

Reply to yellowcanine (Reply #7)

Thu Apr 23, 2015, 01:15 PM

Apr 2015

But that pic was in all the papers the next day and it hurt me to see that child's face.

The Miami relatives were awful, imo. They already had him decked out with gold chains, every toy in the world...they were set to make a bundle off him.

I worked with a lot of Cuban-Americans. It was an ugly time in south Florida. Opinion was split based on one's national origin.

Diclotican

(5,095 posts)

2. kpete

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Thu Apr 23, 2015, 10:50 AM

Apr 2015

kpete

I guess he was, after all better of with his dad on Cuba -rather than hold, more or less as a hostage in Miami Florida where it is possible might as well would have been given a whole different upbringing - as a result of the family who wanted to use him as a symbol for everything what's wrong between US and Cuba....

Diclotian