- Fanning the Flames

I am sure most of you have been reading the numerous articles and editorials written lately about the custody case playing out in a Miami court involving a four-year old Cuban girl, her mentally unstable mother, the “wealthy” foster family who wants to adopt her, and her Cuban father who is here in Miami and wants to take her back to Cuba. As expected, none of these reporters are questioning how this poor farmer from Cuba is paying for his attorneys or his expenses while here in Miami. Even though it is obvious that the dictatorial monarchy in Cuba is funding him, no mainstream reporter has found this important or a relevant fact worthy of mention. Nevertheless, plenty of information abounds in regards to the foster family’s economic wherewithal and rarely are they mentioned without the prerequisite “wealthy” or “rich” connotation attached.

What really seems to be bothering these journalists, however, is that no matter how hard they try to incite a reaction from the Cuban-American community regarding this issue, their efforts have come up empty. They are sitting at their desks scratching their heads in befuddlement over the fact that the Cubans in Miami have not poured out into the streets to protest another “Elian-like custody battle,” as they are touting it. They are so baffled by the apparent acquiescence of the Cuban-American community that they are throwing out anything they can think of to try and get a reaction.

Some are saying that perhaps the Cuban community in the US has matured, or maybe we all learned our lesson from the Elian custody battle and do not want to be cast in the same negative light. Not one of them, though, mentions the fact that this little girl is receiving her constitutional right to have her case heard in court. Elian never received his day in court. Instead, his case was decided by an Attorney General who circumvented the constitution and took the law into her own hands. It was that gross violation of the US Constitution, my dear friends in the mainstream media, which got the Cuban-American community incensed, and rightfully so.

The only similarity this case has with the Elian tragedy is the Cuban despotic monarchy that is backing it. Otherwise, it is completely different from the Elian tragedy. I am sorry to inform the journalists out there that smell blood that regardless of the judge's decision in this case, you will probably never see Cuban-Americans pouring into the streets in protest. All we wanted was for Elian to have his case heard in a court of law. Fortunately, this little girl is receiving that chance.

If I may be so bold, I would advise all the journalists out there seeking out a juicy headline to delve a little deeper into who is financing this legal battle for the father. There, I am sure, they will probably find some interesting characters lurking in the shadows. It really is not that difficult: Just follow the money.