To: The Dallas Morning News
Date: January 7, 2000
Subject: Should Elian Gonzalez be returned to Cuba?
Result: Not printed due to limited space

Dear Editor,

Cuba is a country that we, the United States – a country that has supported many brutal dictators over the years because that served our "interests" – have condemned, maligned, and maintained sanctions against its people for a long time because we don't like their leader. Part of our campaign against them is one of public relations, whereby we incite the feelings of our people and theirs about how bad they have it.

Now we have 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez, who was stolen from his father by his mother – in response to that negative public relations campaign – and she died and he was saved and is now with his distant relatives in America. They justify keeping him and breaking asunder his relationship with his father on the grounds that he will have a much better life here than he could have with his father and the rest of his family in Cuba.  Then again, maybe he would have a better life if there weren't sanctions against his people.

On the basis of the same thinking that is being applied to this case, any rich person who wants should be able to take a child from any poor person, because the rich person can give the child more and better toys, send him or her to private schools, and provide all the other advantages that being rich entails. Of course the child is going to be saying, "All right, great toys, puppy dogs, Disney Land, the whole bit!" But something doesn't seem quite moral and right with this scenario.

And so with Elian Gonzalez, a boy whose father loves him and has done his best all the boy's life to be a good father to him. I say send Elian home, and shame on those who have tried to entice him with their toys and games.

Thank you, John Vehon