Elian Gonzalez

[Black Diamond Bay]

Anybody else feel a little sick when they read this?

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...=latin_america

[FMCoug]

This brings up an interesting question. If someone believes sending Elian back to Cuba was wrong and also believes that taking away the FLDS kids was wrong, how would one reconcile that?

[Tex]

Originally Posted by FMCoug

This brings up an interesting question. If someone believes sending Elian back to Cuba was wrong and also believes that taking away the FLDS kids was wrong, how would one reconcile that?

Do you really believe the situations are congruous?

[FMCoug]

Originally Posted by Tex

Do you really believe the situations are congruous?

Not completely, but the argument is the same. Beliefs others consider "crazy" vs. parental rights.

[Indy Coug]

Maybe I'm an ignorant Westerner, but I don't think communist membership requires hooking up with middle-aged men.

[Black Diamond Bay]

I don't see a need to reconcile anything. You're referencing two completely unrelated issues.

Elian's mother died trying to escape from a tyrannical dictatorship, and we shipped him right back to what she had risked their lives to escape. For a country who supposedly believes in "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" that just didn't add up. Maybe it really was the best thing to do to avoid some sort of international incident, but it still doesn't seem right.

The FLDS children were taken from their mothers without just cause, or due process in a nation that supposedly allows for freedom of religion.

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

Elian's mother died trying to escape from a tyrannical dictatorship, and we shipped him right back to what she had risked their lives to escape. For a country who supposedly believes in "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" that just didn't add up. Maybe it really was the best thing to do to avoid some sort of international incident, but it still doesn't seem right.

So fathers essentially have no rights. Was there some compelling evidence that Elian's father wasn't fit, other than his choice of national residence?

[FMCoug]

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

I don't see a need to reconcile anything. You're referencing two completely unrelated issues.

Elian's mother died trying to escape from a tyrannical dictatorship, and we shipped him right back to what she had risked their lives to escape. For a country who supposedly believes in "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" that just didn't add up. Maybe it really was the best thing to do to avoid some sort of international incident, but it still doesn't seem right.

The FLDS children were taken from their mothers without just cause, or due process in a nation that supposedly allows for freedom of religion.

Why do the FLDS parents have more parental rights than Elian's father?

[Black Diamond Bay]

Originally Posted by FMCoug

Why do the FLDS parents have more parental rights than Elian's father?

Uhhh...no, I'm not playing this game again. I'm sure you can figure that out all on your own. I can't participate in any of these useless little arguments. I'm out.

Have a nice day everyone.

[FMCoug]

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

Uhhh...no, I'm not playing this game again. I'm sure you can figure that out all on your own. I can't participate in any of these useless little arguments. I'm out.

Have a nice day everyone.

What game? My argument is based on parental rights. You can't pick and choose those rights based on what you think of the parent's beliefs (political or religous).