I used the Cuban-American only to keep the title short. I prefer AMERICAN of Cuban heritage.
http://x37.deja.com/threadmsg_ct.xp?thitnum=58&mhitnum=0&CONTEXT=957553592.1499791372
April 16, 2000
Mr. Dan Rather
CBS News
This is in reply to your interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez on Sunday night in your 60 Minutes Program.
As a Cuban-American, who has lived in the U.S. for 39 years, I am ashamed to admit that I have never taken the time or effort to address the media, although, God knows how often I have been frustrated and overwhelmed by the fact that nothing is unbiased or impartial about the media in this great country of ours.
It is not surprising to see how ignorant the majority of the American people are regarding world issues and the most elementary principles of democracy and human rights. Perhaps they are better informed about the rights of elephants, lobsters, whales, etc. But how can you blame them, if the ones that are supposed to enlighten them are narrow minded, ignorant, and misinformed themselves?
Has anyone told you, Mr. Rather, that when Fidel Castro took power, 41 years ago, he changed the constitution, and it is now the State (Communist Party), not the parents, who have custody of children as the American public seem to think?
What is this I hear over and over that a six-year-old child does not know what he wants and has no right to decide where he wants to be? Since when is the law so clear to stipulate that only the parents can make decisions for minor children? Isn't this the same country (and I believe the only country in the world) where children divorce their parents? Isn't this the same country where the child can accuse a parent of abuse and be removed immediately to a foster home? Isn't this the same country where children have the right to accuse the School Board of violation of their civil rights because they are asked to wear uniforms (which would only bring the much needed discipline and respect to schools)?
What kind of law is Ms.Reno trying to impose on Elian Gonzalez by denying him the chance to appear in court and settle this case once and for all?
Since you seem so suddenly moved by Elian's father's cause, let me ask you Mr. Rather, have you ever reported about the thousands of Cuban children who were sent by their parents to the U.S. in search of freedom to avoid the risk of having them indoctrinated in the worst of ideologies that is Communism?
Have you, Mr. Rather, ever informed the American public about the thousands of children, whose parents have come to Miami seeking freedom to build a better life, whose children are being detained by the Cuban Government as punishment for difference of ideology?
Have you, Mr. Rather, ever interviewed the relatives, or told the American public about the tug boat "13 de Marzo" which was sank by the Cuban patrol boats (under the same man now claiming for the unity of family) and drowned 23 children, whose bodies still remain in the bottom of the blood stained Cuban waters, since the Government, the same government who now claims Elian as a hostage of the "Cuban Mafia," has refused to dig out the remains and return to the surviving relatives to have a dignified burial.
While criticizing the Cuban relatives for what you call "exploiting the image of Elian in a video", why didn't you ask Juan Miguel about the Two Million Dollar stage built by the Cuban Government to greet Elian when he is handed to the Cuban Government as a trophy for their victory against the Imperialist Yankees?
Have you ever taken the time to listen to the rallies staged by Fidel Castro, where children are exploited to the extent that they are told to scream hysterical slogans full of hatred towards the United States?
Why are you and your colleagues now so interested in this story,when,for 41 years you have ignored the calls for freedom from the Cuban people,in and out of the island?
Where have you been, Mr. Rather, while thousands of dissidents are jailed, degraded and tortured every day for talking about freedom of expression and demanding the right to a democratic government? What happened to their children? Have you ever talked to the American public about their plight?
Why are you playing Castro's game? Don't you have some self-respect and respect for the leaders who created this blessed nation? Are you so blind to the reality that Elian is not being returned to his father, but to a cruel,decrepit, yet extremely intelligent and evil man, who has been making the U.S. the laughing stock of the world for the past 41 years?
Did you ask Juan Miguel, if the freedom he is talking about, (e.g. free medicine, education, etc.) conform to the reality of what freedom is all about? Has anybody ever told you that while there are state-of-the-art clinics for foreigners with dollars, the Cuban citizen has to take his own bedding, water and towels to check into a hospital before receiving treatment?
The typical answer from the ignorant, misinformed American public would be to blame the embargo, of course, but do you really believe there is an embargo? If the embargo is causing people to lack food, medicines, etc., how is it possible, that those same goods, which are not available to the Cuban people are offered at the luxury hotels and resorts where tourists pay in dollars in return for their enjoyment of the beautiful beaches denied to the Cuban people?
Ask Juan Miguel if he has ever been allowed the same privileges as the tourists at the place where you all claim he has a successful and well-paid job.
Have you ever told the American public, that there is an apartheid in Cuba that citizens are not allowed to visit resorts that have been built exclusively for the tourists?
Ask Fidel Castro and his close officials if they lack food, toiletries, and have to ride donkeys and bicycles to move around. If I am not mistaken, there is plenty of food and lots of Mercedes to entertain the fools (Reverend Cambell included) who visit Cuba to praise the wonderful Revolution and its achievements.
My question to them is, why not move to Cuba and live in paradise? Yes, perhaps we are passionate, and have little tolerance for those who think different from us. I think it is all a result of the frustration for watching you and the others responsible to mold the public opinion acting so one sided, narrow minded, and ignorant. Maybe I should give you the benefit of the doubt and think that you are naive.
Oh, by the way, one last remark about the media and what you call the violence of the Cuban community in Miami. It was four years ago that Cuban Migs shot down two Brothers to the Rescue planes and killed four human beings, 3 of them American citizens. There has been no violence from my community, even though we are still waiting for Ms. Reno to take some legal action against the perpetrators. So far, the only positive reaction came from Ms. Albright who denounced the Cuban air force members for lack of "cojones."
Oh, I would have never said that word, since it is vulgar and not lady like, but it was Ms. Albright who made it fashionable and possible for a proper Cuban lady to say it in public without shame. What happened to Ms. Albright, where is her bravado? I wonder how she would have reacted if Elian happened to be a child being returned to Czechoslovakia during the cold war with Russia?
In 40 years of Cuban exile, there have been riots in Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Liberty City, and now Washington D.C. I do not recall riots in Little Havana. I must also remind you that during the visit of Elian's "abuelitas", the media was transmitting news about the tension and bad ill in the Cuban community, but I do not recall any coverage of people holding flowers and signs of welcome.
I suggest you take some time to tell Juan Miguel Gonzalez that there is no need for him to be afraid of the exiled community. You must remind him that we live in the land of freedom, and there are no "Brigadas de Respuesta Rapida" to physically attack those who dare to attempt to exercise the most fundamental right given to an individual, which is freedom of expression.
One last word, who is President Clinton to talk about the process of law? Thank God he has made no mention regarding parent-child relationships. It would be an insult to our intelligence and moral standards to hear a man with little or no respect for his own family and daughter, to carry the indecent affair under the same roof. Perhaps, he does not want to upset Castro; after all, maybe he was enjoying a good Cuban cigar while having fun with Monica.
Clara M. Pichardo
Miami, FL
------------------
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
http://x37.deja.com/threadmsg_ct.xp?thitnum=58&mhitnum=0&CONTEXT=957553592.1499791372
April 16, 2000
Mr. Dan Rather
CBS News
This is in reply to your interview with Juan Miguel Gonzalez on Sunday night in your 60 Minutes Program.
As a Cuban-American, who has lived in the U.S. for 39 years, I am ashamed to admit that I have never taken the time or effort to address the media, although, God knows how often I have been frustrated and overwhelmed by the fact that nothing is unbiased or impartial about the media in this great country of ours.
It is not surprising to see how ignorant the majority of the American people are regarding world issues and the most elementary principles of democracy and human rights. Perhaps they are better informed about the rights of elephants, lobsters, whales, etc. But how can you blame them, if the ones that are supposed to enlighten them are narrow minded, ignorant, and misinformed themselves?
Has anyone told you, Mr. Rather, that when Fidel Castro took power, 41 years ago, he changed the constitution, and it is now the State (Communist Party), not the parents, who have custody of children as the American public seem to think?
What is this I hear over and over that a six-year-old child does not know what he wants and has no right to decide where he wants to be? Since when is the law so clear to stipulate that only the parents can make decisions for minor children? Isn't this the same country (and I believe the only country in the world) where children divorce their parents? Isn't this the same country where the child can accuse a parent of abuse and be removed immediately to a foster home? Isn't this the same country where children have the right to accuse the School Board of violation of their civil rights because they are asked to wear uniforms (which would only bring the much needed discipline and respect to schools)?
What kind of law is Ms.Reno trying to impose on Elian Gonzalez by denying him the chance to appear in court and settle this case once and for all?
Since you seem so suddenly moved by Elian's father's cause, let me ask you Mr. Rather, have you ever reported about the thousands of Cuban children who were sent by their parents to the U.S. in search of freedom to avoid the risk of having them indoctrinated in the worst of ideologies that is Communism?
Have you, Mr. Rather, ever informed the American public about the thousands of children, whose parents have come to Miami seeking freedom to build a better life, whose children are being detained by the Cuban Government as punishment for difference of ideology?
Have you, Mr. Rather, ever interviewed the relatives, or told the American public about the tug boat "13 de Marzo" which was sank by the Cuban patrol boats (under the same man now claiming for the unity of family) and drowned 23 children, whose bodies still remain in the bottom of the blood stained Cuban waters, since the Government, the same government who now claims Elian as a hostage of the "Cuban Mafia," has refused to dig out the remains and return to the surviving relatives to have a dignified burial.
While criticizing the Cuban relatives for what you call "exploiting the image of Elian in a video", why didn't you ask Juan Miguel about the Two Million Dollar stage built by the Cuban Government to greet Elian when he is handed to the Cuban Government as a trophy for their victory against the Imperialist Yankees?
Have you ever taken the time to listen to the rallies staged by Fidel Castro, where children are exploited to the extent that they are told to scream hysterical slogans full of hatred towards the United States?
Why are you and your colleagues now so interested in this story,when,for 41 years you have ignored the calls for freedom from the Cuban people,in and out of the island?
Where have you been, Mr. Rather, while thousands of dissidents are jailed, degraded and tortured every day for talking about freedom of expression and demanding the right to a democratic government? What happened to their children? Have you ever talked to the American public about their plight?
Why are you playing Castro's game? Don't you have some self-respect and respect for the leaders who created this blessed nation? Are you so blind to the reality that Elian is not being returned to his father, but to a cruel,decrepit, yet extremely intelligent and evil man, who has been making the U.S. the laughing stock of the world for the past 41 years?
Did you ask Juan Miguel, if the freedom he is talking about, (e.g. free medicine, education, etc.) conform to the reality of what freedom is all about? Has anybody ever told you that while there are state-of-the-art clinics for foreigners with dollars, the Cuban citizen has to take his own bedding, water and towels to check into a hospital before receiving treatment?
The typical answer from the ignorant, misinformed American public would be to blame the embargo, of course, but do you really believe there is an embargo? If the embargo is causing people to lack food, medicines, etc., how is it possible, that those same goods, which are not available to the Cuban people are offered at the luxury hotels and resorts where tourists pay in dollars in return for their enjoyment of the beautiful beaches denied to the Cuban people?
Ask Juan Miguel if he has ever been allowed the same privileges as the tourists at the place where you all claim he has a successful and well-paid job.
Have you ever told the American public, that there is an apartheid in Cuba that citizens are not allowed to visit resorts that have been built exclusively for the tourists?
Ask Fidel Castro and his close officials if they lack food, toiletries, and have to ride donkeys and bicycles to move around. If I am not mistaken, there is plenty of food and lots of Mercedes to entertain the fools (Reverend Cambell included) who visit Cuba to praise the wonderful Revolution and its achievements.
My question to them is, why not move to Cuba and live in paradise? Yes, perhaps we are passionate, and have little tolerance for those who think different from us. I think it is all a result of the frustration for watching you and the others responsible to mold the public opinion acting so one sided, narrow minded, and ignorant. Maybe I should give you the benefit of the doubt and think that you are naive.
Oh, by the way, one last remark about the media and what you call the violence of the Cuban community in Miami. It was four years ago that Cuban Migs shot down two Brothers to the Rescue planes and killed four human beings, 3 of them American citizens. There has been no violence from my community, even though we are still waiting for Ms. Reno to take some legal action against the perpetrators. So far, the only positive reaction came from Ms. Albright who denounced the Cuban air force members for lack of "cojones."
Oh, I would have never said that word, since it is vulgar and not lady like, but it was Ms. Albright who made it fashionable and possible for a proper Cuban lady to say it in public without shame. What happened to Ms. Albright, where is her bravado? I wonder how she would have reacted if Elian happened to be a child being returned to Czechoslovakia during the cold war with Russia?
In 40 years of Cuban exile, there have been riots in Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Liberty City, and now Washington D.C. I do not recall riots in Little Havana. I must also remind you that during the visit of Elian's "abuelitas", the media was transmitting news about the tension and bad ill in the Cuban community, but I do not recall any coverage of people holding flowers and signs of welcome.
I suggest you take some time to tell Juan Miguel Gonzalez that there is no need for him to be afraid of the exiled community. You must remind him that we live in the land of freedom, and there are no "Brigadas de Respuesta Rapida" to physically attack those who dare to attempt to exercise the most fundamental right given to an individual, which is freedom of expression.
One last word, who is President Clinton to talk about the process of law? Thank God he has made no mention regarding parent-child relationships. It would be an insult to our intelligence and moral standards to hear a man with little or no respect for his own family and daughter, to carry the indecent affair under the same roof. Perhaps, he does not want to upset Castro; after all, maybe he was enjoying a good Cuban cigar while having fun with Monica.
Clara M. Pichardo
Miami, FL
------------------
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.