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April 12, 2000
Open letter to Carl Hiaasen
I’m writing in response to some of
the questions posted by Mr. Hiaasen in his article published on Sunday,
April 9, 2000, in the Miami Herald, A FATHER AND HIS SON: TWIGS ON
BITTER TIDE.
There is no need to suppose that Juan
Miguel González was not brainwashed into loving his own child,
there’s no question that he does, and that’s why he called his
relatives in Miami to let them know the kid was coming and to look out
for his arrival.
For your information, Mr. Hiaasen, this
was not a smuggler’s voyage. The owner of the boat, whom also lost his
life, was Elián’s stepfather and the other people that died were also
relatives. Only two people on the trip contributed with expenses, and it
so happens that those were the other two survivors.
His learning in who’s care the child
was placed could not have been any surprise to Juan Miguel González
when it was he who asked “these strangers” to take care of his son
until he could make it to the United States.
As for the “political consultant” I
don’t know what you are referring to, but it doesn’t smell good.
Yes, some politicians take advantage of these calamities, but don’t
some reporters take advantage of them too? I have no problem with
politicians who look out for the best interest of a human while they
look out for their own interest, nor with reporters who lift their
mighty pen to write the truth, but it bothers me to see someone waste
his writing skills in an article that is the epitome of ignorance or
malice. As for myself, and most of the people who are struggling for Elián
to stay, is not politics. We are only looking for the best interest of
the child. And to continue to inform you Mr. Hiaasen the Elián Case is
taking a toll in our struggle for Cuba’s freedom. While the attention
is on Elián, Castro’s regime is doing atrocities to the dissidents in
the island without them getting the needed coverage. Do you know about
Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, Maritza Lugo, Victor Rolando Arroyo, etc.? You
probably don’t. All your attention is being placed on these bad people
that have sequestered Elián. I will not go into details about these non-violent
dissidents because it would take forever, but if you are interested
let me know and I would write with some information and leads to make
your investigation easier.
Now it’s time for you to suppose
Mr. Hiaasen. Lets suppose that
you are that child. You lost your mother and your stepfather while they
were trying to bring you to freedom. Wouldn’t a trip to Disney World
be nice? As a six year old, would you care if the person who took you
did it for political reasons? I don’t think so. And it seems to me
that he enjoys the puppy, the rabbit and the cameras.
Yes. It is very confusing for the
child, and he is very scared to be sent back to Cuba. Why, Mr. Hiaasen?
As for the streets filled with
marchers, I would like to point out some abysmal differences between the
marches in Cuba and the demonstrations in Miami: the marches in Cuba are
orquestrated, the demonstrations in Miami are spontaneous; In Cuba
people are taken from the work place to the marches while being paid, we
either loose those hours from work or go to the demonstrations after
work, in the tired ours; In Cuba, they take kids from school to the
marches, have we ever done that Mr. Hiaasen?
Wow! Are you asking me to suppose my
son is a mini-che? A hero of the revolution? You are asking for too
much. I cannot imagine a son of mine – and I have two whom I love very
much – as a bloody assassin like Ernesto “Che” Guevara.
The attorney’s for Elián are not
being paid by exile groups, Mr. Hiaasen, they are working pro bono. If
you haven’t done work pro bono, try it, it’s very rewarding. And by
the way, who’s paying for Juan Miguel González attorney ($800/hour or
so just for the lead man)? A Cuban worker does not make that money,
legally, in five (5) years.
These lawyers and politicians that you
refer to don’t have to go to Elián’s house in Cuba, they either
know what it is like first hand or they have done their homework, which
is what a true reporter has to do before he sits down to write an
article. And yes the kid had some things in Cuba. Things that were sent
by the “Miami relatives that scarcely knew him”.
Wrong again Mr. Hiaasen. Any father
that has lived the repression of that regime would be very happy to know
that his son is being very well taken care of and loved in a land were
you can speak your mind. This I know very well, for I am one who had to
hide one afternoon in a sugar cane field, to wait for things to cool
off, for a comment that I allegedly made during class. Can you see
yourself as an 11-year-old hiding in a sugar cane field Mr. Hiaasen?
When was the last time you talked to a
six-year-old on the phone Mr. Hiaasen? I’m sorry, but I’m going to
make it a little bit more difficult for you. Lets suppose that you are
the six-year-old boy. Are you still with me Mr. Hiaasen? I really
don’t want to loose you Mr. Hiaasen (there are many Mr. Hiaasens out
there, but you, Carl Hiaasen have a responsibility, you are a reporter,
you are suppose to inform, not dis-inform). Your father tells you
(remember that you saw your mother drown) that your mother is alive in
Cuba, that she is waiting for you. I don’t know or care what you or
anybody thinks about this Mr. Hiaasen. To me this is SICK, simply SICK.
If this kid goes back to Cuba, as is
your wish, Castro will be using him as his mini-che, as you said, then
yes, he will be warped for life as many other kids are.
The U.S. Government has negotiated the
child’s fate with Castro, that’s why they are not allowing him a day
in court. Why are you so afraid of a day in court if you are so sure of
what you are preaching?
And
when you reach America (I’m sure you mean the United States of
America): Elián is in Miami, Florida, not in Washington, D.C.,
Delaware, etc. Geographically speaking he is farther from his son than
when he was in Cuba. And speaking in terms of freedom, he does not have
any more freedom than when he was in Cuba, and you know that very well.
Can he go anywhere he wants without
being guarded? If your answer is yes and I don’t doubt it, why
doesn’t he meet with his uncle in a place other than the house of
Cuban diplomat? And why did it take him four long months to put on a
suit and come get his son? Why can’t he, his wife, and the baby come
to, say, West Palm Beach and meet with whole family there?
You made other comments that don’t
deserve answering Mr. Hiaasen, not that the whole article deserved the
honor, but as I said before, there are many Mr. Hiaasens out there.
Oh, Mr. Hiaasen, if I understood
correctly, you believe a child should be with his or her parents. Could
you be so kind as to write an article about Noemí
Herbello Cruz? She is 9 years old, has visa from the U.
S. Government to come and be united with her mother, Milagros
Cruz Cano, but Castro is not allowing her to leave the country, as
he is doing with many other children.
Sincerely yours,
Pablo Rodríguez |
