this might fall on deaf ears, but i think the clinton administration's action in the capture of elian was justified. someone made mention of it in an earlier post, so i'll attempt to revive the discussion. their action may have been a bit overboard, but do you seriously think they could have walked in there with a set of teacups and requested the handover of elian. no way! it would have erupted into push and shove match. the only flaw in their approach was letting some media '15 minutes of fame' clown snap a picture. that dude should have been whacked. if it had not been taken, the administration would be heroes. was it the right thing to do? yes. no doubt about it. the father is the legal guardian and I don't care where he lives. if it was my son and some government (say canada or something) tried to keep him away from me because they think he would have a better life there, i would go ballistic. he's my son and how dare you keep him from me.

I Totally agree. But I would not mind if he and his father stayed here. BUT that should be no ones descion other than the father. Our present government does not believe in parental rights. No One has rights but them. In their eyes every one is so stupid we need them to help is in all things. did I say dictator?

Be sure and not smoke, wear your seat belt. and what ever you do, don't disapline your children.

Keep in mind that the goof who shot the infamous picture of the INS agent taking the kid was invited my the relatives inside before the raid...The INS didn't let the photographer in...He was already in there...I agree...It was the right thing to do..The govt gave them numerous chances to hand the kid over

well you may tout the rights of Elian's fahter here, but if you think about it, what right's does this father have, especially if they both go back to Cuba. Elian will not live happily ever after with his father, Castro made it clear already that Elian will go to a "reducation" school, apparently to reprogram him of the evil's of capitalism he experienced while in this country. Castro is using his father like everyone else is used in communists countries, as a political tool. Elian's mother gave her life to get Elian away from Cuba, which is reminiscent of families in East Berlin dropping their kids from buildings to West Berlin during the cold war. Elian's fahter is disillusioned if he thinks he will keep Elian once they get back to Cuba. And I also disagree with Reno's tactics, here I am bias, I can't stand Reno, and even the liberal elites that tote the party line have been coming out against this raid.

I will probably get smoked for this statement but here goes.....Elian was here illegally therefore all the rest is irrelevant anyway. I have to believe if you break the laws to get into this country you have basically no rights anyway.....OK guys let me have it.

blunt, but well put. We have laws in this country for reasons(some of which I am still tryong to understand), and they need to be enforced without question or prejudice. Yes, I believe the kid would have a "better" life in the USA; but he belongs with his father in Cuba. May I take the assertion I made about the enforcing of laws one step futher. It would be great is ourcountries legal system would enfoce the curernt laws, and stop making new laws that only give us more thing to charge criminals with then watch the judge reduce or dismiss the charges. futher more, once the criminal is placed in jail he should not be given all the rights as we have as law abidimg citizens. I feel he gave up a great portion of those rights when he choose to commit the crime. Jail should be a place feared and hated, not a 5 yr easy ride. Thats my rant for the night. Good night, and fat ashes to everyone. Berry

I agree, but laws are made to control you, not protect you any more. We have plenty of laws that would protect all citisens if they were inforced. So what does that tell us.

To me the worst of these newer laws is this "hate crime" business, for I think that does nothing more than make some people more valuable than others. And it seems that every day, new groups of people want to fall under this hate crime victim status, and it is pretty obvious that anyone but a white male can be covered. I mean if I am attacked in a park at the same time a gay person is attacked, why is it that the crime committed against him is more serious than mine? The saying all are equal under the law is being made a shamble of with hate crime laws. The thugs who murdered Mathew Shepard are already up for the death penalty, what the hell could a hate crime added on to that matter?

personally I think all this "hate crime" $@*% is a bunch of garbage. how many crime are not commited out of hate? just more laws.

To deport an innocent child (who broke no laws as our country does accept Cuban exiles) to a dictatorship where he'll be subjected to massive mind bending methods is very sad. This is contradictory to our freedom. Agreed, he should stay with his father, but more needs to be known about this man. Our legal system was sorting through all of the facts when "Jiggles" Reno decided conduct a raid based on bogus intel. What some have failed to realize is this:

1. The father refused to come and get the boy.

2. No court ordered Elian to be returned to his father.

3. Elian's Cuban family broke no laws.

4. An armed raid was not warranted.

This could happen to any of us.

well what about me? i'm intolerant and was born that way- I can't help it. i hate knuckleheads, irresponsible and weak-minded people who depend on the government for everything. MY INTOLERANCE IS AN ORIENTATION, NOT A PREFERENCE. am I not human? do I not bleed? in the united rainbow of benetton I demand to be accepted!! can't we all just get along??? i deserve my place in the fabric of america!!

for the love of God. Please smoke Cigars, not grass prior to posting these comments.

I have no more comments on the Elian fiasco. It happened let's go on! As for illegal aliens coming into the country...well here goes: I have worked with the government for years and have seen first hand what such things like NAFTA has done then consequences of illegal immigrants flooding the US and it's impact socially and economically. If you think that we should just open the flood gates to allow all those who feel America is the land of freedom then I say you must learn their cultures, in which you should forget yours as an American. Learn their laws and accept their strange ways of life. You think this is funny but we have already begun this here is the US...your driver license offices now cater to Spanish versions of testing! Come on, your in our country learn the damn language. Our industry sells out to cheap labor and we loose American jobs and who suffers...that's right your family and kin. Not to mention we essentially have these illegal aliens working their asses off for half the price. We do a injustice to all. How many of you think if we flooded other countries they would cater to our needs...if you say yes then you have been smoking something other than a cigar, you have hit the crack pipe too many times. Let's face it, oother countries love our money and that is all....WAKE UP AMERICA-OR AMERICA WILL SOON BE FOREIGN SOIL TO US!

😕

:-k

noob topped it and then deleted his first post ever... nice!

I heard he was banned... 😟

Is Elian back?

Is he pitching in the World Serious?

A'int we arrogant.