I normally dont join in threads, especially of a political nature, but being a NON-CUBAN resident of Miami I of course have opinions about the Elian controversy. My wife and I disagree in our feelings about the controversy. We both feel we want the best for Elian.

The difference in our feelings is, She feels the boy should go back to the father, I feel that he should stay here in the states. The best thing would be for him to be returned to his father and his father and his family should remain in the USA making peace with his relatives in Miami. But that is as far fetched as Castro letting Cuba be a Democratic country.

The majority of Cuban people in Miami are a group of people who have suffered directly at the hands of Fidel. Not hearsay suffering but directly personal suffering. My "adopted" daughter and her family ran from Castro's treatment of the people.

No I dont agree with what the "children" running amok in the streets are doing, But there is no way in hell that I could condone the use of armed force force to take a child, no matter what. Janet Reno and the INS have lowered us to the tactics used by Hitler, Stalin, Castro and the rest of the dictators of this world.

They said Reno has walked the extra mile in the negotiations. I am sorry, she should have walked two to three extra miles to achieve a quiet peaceful transfer. She should have had the brains to outthink them rather then muscle them. REno says she has the Law on her side. Yes she does have the written law, but she doesn't have the law of common decency NOT to lower us to the dregs of garbage.

I sit here and listen to people of different enthnic cultures voicing their opinions against the passions of the Cuban people for their actions. I dont see a condemnation of the Blacks for standing up for their beliefs, nor of us that are Irish that have been standing off the English in conflict for 450 years, or the Jewish people for standing off the Arabs for their homeland, the Canadians in Montreal who won't speak English only French.

Condemnation of a group of people without walking a mile in their shoes is totally wrong. AFter all Jesus Christ was the one who said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." I am not casting any stones at anyone,but like the rest of us I too have an opinion and I feel that a little bit of tolerance for other peoples passions should be given. WE should not listen entirely to what the idiots in the Media put out to sell papers.

My apologies if I have stepped on anyones toes or egos. I just felt it necessary to voice MY opinion. IF any one wants to take me to task my email is danhealy@prodigy.net. Please feel free to use it.

By the way Mudcat is a great place to be and event though I ride in the background, I enjoy and learn a lot from some very knowledgeable people, about many subjects