[McGavin999]

I still believe that the single biggest mistake the Cuban American community made was turning up at the protests with Cuban flags instead of American flags. I know that sounds silly, but in my heart I believe the whole thing would have turned out different if they would have paid attention to that little detail. It would have appealed to the patriotic sense of the American public.

Castro is going to be dead soon John. It's going to be exciting to watch what happens to that country. God willing, it'll be free.

[JohnHuang2]

Castro is going to be dead soon John.

No doubt about it, my friend. The clock's tickin' on the bearded-one. His time is short. Tragically, he's been in power for more than two generations -- that's like an eternity for the long-suffering people of Cuba.

[Deb]

They're "exiles" and are in this country because theirs was taken by force. If they had a choice they'd be in Cuba. It's not like the Mexicans who are here illegally and just want to live off our economy while they debase our culture. When they have an event there's not an American flag in sight.

The press knows the difference and would have made the point if it were honest.

[Rytwyng]

...the single biggest mistake the Cuban American community made was turning up at the protests with Cuban flags instead of American flags

True. But it wasn't their only mistake. I wish they'd had the sense to put Scripture on their picket signs:

Deuteronomy 23:15 You shall not return an escaped slave to his master.

This is the same verse by which the Abolitionists justified their resistance to the Fugitive Slave Law. Properly publicized, this single fact could have swayed the entire Religious Right and the entire Black Community into supporting Elian. No politician of either party would dare defy such a coalition. Yet not one well-known preacher (of any color or political stripe) thought to preach on this verse. Sad.

[OldFriend]

Clinton administration had determined the outcome of this case without regard to what the 'community' in Florida did or didn't do. There was NEVER a moment that Elian was NOT going back to Castro.

The problem with this story is that at first it inferred that the father applied for asylum while he was here in the States during the 'circus'. He applied before his ex wife left with the child. We always knew that and it is NOT a new revelation. It was reported widely in the media at the time of Elian's rescue.

[Rome2000]

I still believe that the single biggest mistake the Cuban American community made was turning up at the protests with Cuban flags instead of American flags

On day 3 after news of Elian's arrival in the US, I called the CANF and related that very same sentiment.

Unfortunately, either it wasn't possible to control what flag people took to the streets with, or the CANF decided against telling the people to fly a majority of American flags.The only blame to be handed out however, is to the Klinton Administration and it's leftist com-symp cast of misfits, rejects and perverts.