Elian Gonzalez

* So the extremists in Miami’s Cuban community and the Republican leadership are upset at the resolution of the Elian Gonzalez saga. The family of Lazaro Gonzalez is totally responsible for this outcome. As most of the country agrees, with the exception of the Republican leadership, this child belongs with his father.

This isn’t about Cuba, Castro or communism. It’s about a boy and his guardian, his father. Period. Lazaro and his daughter should be shown the inside of a jail cell for kidnapping and child abuse for parading this youngster around like an anti-Castro trophy. Congratulations, Janet Reno, for freeing this child and reuniting him with his father.

BRYAN HAYS

Saugus

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We as Americans should be outraged and ashamed that we have allowed our country to become the totalitarian police state it has evolved into. The tactics of the Justice Department in the kidnapping of Elian were cruel, inhuman and deplorable. The best interests of this child were completely ignored. Elian, I’m sure, was traumatized by this brutal assault on his sanctuary. He will never be the same again.

Poor, poor Elian. After the storm-trooper tactics of our totalitarian government, maybe communist Cuba doesn’t seem like such a bad place after all.

STEPHEN C. PAYNE

San Clemente

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Ladies and gentleman, Elian has left the building. The show is over, please go home now.

JEFF SHIREY

Woodland Hills

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Unqualified congratulations to federal agents for returning Elian to his family from a situation in which, already a hostage, he was clearly at risk of being abducted and concealed.

Do Elian and his father really have to wait now in this country while Republicans concoct an argument why a child should be taken from a father who already had joint custody, so as to be exploited again?

MIKE BLOXHAM

Redlands

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I’m sick of all this talk about a custody battle. What custody battle? Pure and simple, Elian was kidnapped. Reno should be praised for returning the boy to his father and perhaps criticized for being too patient with Elian’s relatives.

DEBBIE COVEN

Irvine

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Don’t think that the return of Elian to his father means an end to this saga. Now we get to look forward to the endless court battles, the relatives making the TV talk show circuit, the TV movies, etc. Oh, and let’s not forget: Elian’s memoirs.

DAVID MECOZZI

Rancho Cucamonga

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Now Bill Clinton has his legacy: He sent in his thugs to kidnap a child.

MONICA FIELLO

Los Angeles

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It is my considered opinion that our government doesn’t tell us the truth about Cuba. I am sick and tired of a minority of Miami Cuban exiles setting our agenda toward Fidel Castro and Cuba. The embargo should be lifted and a policy of “constructive engagement” should be implemented.

STEVEN V. BEHM

Burbank

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Castro 1, humanity, 0.

ROBERT OLSEN

Yucaipa