Was the seizure of Elian Gonzalez from his Miami Relatives in the best interest of Elian.com poll, 59% of Americans think the boy should be returned to his father and sent back to Cuba. Parental rights have been the number one argument for those in favor of having the boy returned to his father. Senator John Warner of Virginia stated in a letter regarding the Elian case, "that unless Elian"s father is proven to be totally unfit or unable to care for Elian, preserving the relationship between a parent and child must be our foremost responsibility". .

             Most people in favor of Elian"s return to his father must believe that Juan Miguel is a fit and caring father. Furthermore, if these people genuinely care about his well being, they have to believe that Cuba"s not a bad place to raise a family. As long as he has his father, young Elian will be OK. Let"s take a closer look at the Country where Juan Miguel Gonzalez wants to raise his son and then decide if this is really a place where a fit and caring parent would raise a child. .

             Each year the State Department and Human Rights Organizations continue to blast Cuba for Human Rights violations. Cuban citizens including children who voice their disagreements with Cuba are routinely threatened, defamed, tortured, beaten and imprisoned without trials and children are separated from their parents to be raised by the state. What if Elian decides to voice his discontent with the Cuban government in any way, shape or form? The Cuban Constitution states that all legally recognized civil liberties can be denied to anyone who actively opposes the "decision of the Cuban people to build socialism." In a 1997 report, the U.S. State department stated that "The State has assumed the right to interfere in the lives of all citizens, even those who do not actively oppose the Government and its practices. The mass organizations' ostensible purpose is to "improve" the citizenry, but in fact their goal is to seek out and discourage nonconformity".