QuickDraw Web Log Thinger

Wacky Cubans, wack Americans
Hey, what's up with this Elian Gonzalez thing anyway?

There's plenty of Guatemalans and Haitians and yes, even Mexicans fleeing state repression. But you don't see our government getting all bent out of shape over that.

If Elian Gonzalez went back to Cuba? He'd have a higher life expectancy. He'd be in a school system that produces a higher level of literacy. He'd have cradle-to-grave free health care. And he'd have a statistically lower likelihood of being a victim of violent crime.

Of course, he wouldn't have any freedom of speech. And he wouldn't have a real vote in their political system. Which raises the question - if an isolated, poor, totalitarian state can accord such benefits to its people, then why can't the richest democracy do the same?

Why does the world's greatest military power consider Cuba such a threat?