Isn the fundamental issue in the Elin Gonzalez case the rights of Elins father?
No, the fundamental issue is Elin’s rights.It is not who can speak for the child, but what the best interests of the child are.The fundamental question in the Elin Gonzalez case: is communism physically harmful to human life? Life in totalitarian Cuba, after all, is life in slavery. A parent has the right to determine his child’s upbringing — but not to inflict physical harm. A parent has no right to beat up a child, or to keep a child imprisoned in a cell. That becomes a violation of the child’s individual rights. But a communist state is simply one huge jail, where the citizens are under the physical control of their wardens. That is what Elin faces if he goes back, and this is why he should not be sent back.Elin’s right to his own life — a right that does not exist in Cuba as a matter of law — takes precedence over all other rights. Elin is not a piece of property — but is a human being with his own interests.Elin’s mother willingly risked death on a desperate voyage to liberty.
No, the fundamental issue is Elin’s rights. It is not who can speak for the child, but what the best interests of the child are. The fundamental question in the Elin Gonzalez case: is communism physically harmful to human life? Life in totalitarian Cuba, after all, is life in slavery. A parent has the right to determine his child’s upbringing — but not to inflict physical harm. A parent has no right to beat up a child, or to keep a child imprisoned in a cell. That becomes a violation of the child’s individual rights. But a communist state is simply one huge jail, where the citizens are under the physical control of their wardens. That is what Elin faces if he goes back, and this is why he should not be sent back. Elin’s right to his own life — a right that does not exist in Cuba as a matter of law — takes precedence over all other rights. Elin is not a piece of property — but is a human being with his own interests. Elin’s mother willingly risked death on a desperate voyage to libe
