The Saga Of Elian Gonzalez :: essays research papers fc

The Saga of Elian GonzalezMore and more people sail away from Cuba to the United States every division. Theusual reason is to move from Fidel Castro and his rules, although many other reasons atomic number 18obviously important enough for them to risk their lives a reason like trying to escapefrom her ex-husband and landing with tragedy. A choice has to be make while dealingwith all of the Cuban frustration do I live or risk my life along with thirteen others? Among the heart racking events which happen worldwide every year, few flummox comeclose to the well-known saga of Elian Gonzalez and his family.In 1999, many Cubans left Cuba to sail to the United States. The Coast cautionpicked up more than 1,300 rafters more than double the number in 1998. The distancebetween Cuba and the mainland is less than 150 miles(Ramo 62). Most fleeing Cubansmake the trip from Cuba to the States the hoar fashioned way in a rickety craft with weakmotors. A good trip takes about ten hours, while a blighted trip goes on for days. Sailing theAtlantic could be eternal during a storm, as Cubans are swept away. At least sixty peoplehave paid the price of venturing each year(64).Caught up in freedom fever was Elisabet Gonzalez, who had been datingsmall-time Cuban hustler, Lazero Munero, since 1997. During the summer of 1998,Munero and three friends made the trip to America on a tiny boat. That fall he went backto Cuba because he was heartsick from his family and Elisabet. A few months after hisjail release for escaping, he began persuading Elisabet to give him on a second getaway. He also began to advertise the trip to others in their town at one thousand dollars ahead,then he began join up an old boat and envinrude fifty horse power outboard motor. When they set out that Sunday, Munero packed rations of water, bread, cheese, and hotdogs for his fifteen passengers. At four 30 A.M. they set to sea with hopes of arrivingin Miami before the next sunrise. After less than a mile, th e engine failed and Muneroreturned to shore, while passenger Arianne Horta nervously put her five year old daughterback on land. The group, now fourteen strong, set off again the next morning, but thatnight during a storm ripe south of the Florida Keys, the motor failed again. It left the boatmore vulnerable to the tumbling seas. The group decided they would be better off by