From a Raid, a Reunion Elian Gonzalez wasn’t seized; he was rescued from a set of selfish, opportunistic relatives who thought they were above the law, and from a community that attempted to exploit a 6-year-old to further its own political agenda (“Raid and Reunion,” U.S. AFFAIRS, May 1). Now that he is finally back with his father, where he always belonged, I hope and pray that this family, which has endured so much anguish and uncertainty during the past six months, will be allowed to return to Cuba as expeditiously as possible, to get on with their lives in peace. Judy Lind Riverdale, New York
This is not a tale of two countries or an issue of differing political systems. This is about family rights. The act of keeping a child from his surviving parent who loves him and wants him home is known as kidnapping. Lilian Loh Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A child should be with his parents, communist or not. The Cuban-Americans are in the United States now and should leave their old animosities behind. That such a question should tie up the government and the attorney general is a disgrace. T. Golan Stockholm, Sweden
What surrealism! I doubt if Bunuel or Dali could have come up with images of an armed squadron raiding a private home to ensure that a 6-year-old is reunited with his father. But it was probably the only way to do the right thing. American society is sick. Rene Gardea Prague, Czech Republic
It is ironic that Janet Reno, who has been so sharply criticized for her action in retrieving Elian Gonzalez from his Miami relatives, was one of the few people involved in the situation who demonstrated that her sole and complete concern was for the little boy himself. Amid the political frenzy on all sides, her constant focus on Elian’s well-being was remarkable. It’s no wonder she wept when she finally did what she had to do. Robert L. Trezise Sr. Lansing, Michigan
I had to laugh at New York mayor Rudy Giuliani’s comments on the operation that reunited Elian with his father. Giuliani should know a lot about storm troopers–after all, his “troopers” killed an unarmed man standing in front of his own home. Andrew Sukirtharaj Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I am not a fan of the United States, but I feel the time has come to express some gratitude to the attorney general, who has done a terrific job in a very difficult situation. What the Miami relatives did was a criminal and self-serving exploitation of the child. And look what it’s costing the American taxpayer. D. Ben-Chayil Jerusalem, Israel
Why wasn’t Juan Miguel Gonzalez taken straight to a secret location in Miami to negotiate directly with the family? If the negotiations had fallen through, he would at least have been nearby when the federal agents forced their way in. That way, the poor child would at least have had a familiar face waiting for him as he was carried out, terrified, from his great-uncle’s house. Cindy Craker via internet
Attorney General Janet Reno and President Clinton deserve a lot of praise for their handling of this case and the arrogant and lawless behavior of the Cuban-Americans. Let us hope that Elian will soon be back home with his father. Cuba is certainly not the worst place in the world for a child to grow up. Haukur Kristinsson Bottmingen, Switzerland
Many young children are in far worse situations than Elian is, and they don’t get anything like the same amount of attention. Why is such a fuss being made over this one little boy? Is it because of the problematic relationship between Cuba and the United States? Jacques de Patoul Brussels, Belgium
Why were there so many people in front of the Miami house every day? Didn’t they have to go to work? And who financed the two uncles and the hysterical cousin Marisleysis? Patrick Bauer Luxembourg
I wish I had the money to bring a lawsuit in Elian’s case for multiple charges of child abuse: a youngster from a broken family, half-orphaned by irresponsible sea adventure, paraded by freaks as a political/religious symbol, kidnapped at gunpoint in the name of Old Testament “blood ties,” media exploitation for profit, etc. Does Elian have any human rights left that have not been ruthlessly violated? Laszlo Bartosiewicz Budapest, Hungary
What a farce all this coverage about Elian is! If it is not merely a propaganda ploy, and if there is a genuine desire to save millions of Elians living in poverty and oppression all around the world, then approach their fathers and they will willingly give away their Elians for your promises of a better life. There are numerous other serious problems in the world that need immediate attention and solution. Suresh Rattan Aarhus, Denmark
I’m sure that the three minutes of “terror” it took to remove Elian from his great-uncle’s house were a lot less traumatizing for him than the five months during which the little boy was used as a sideshow act. Jim Sisk East Fallowfield, Pennsylvania
Mirabile Dictu I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the editors of NEWSWEEK for their dedication to a subject of unparalleled importance that usually receives unworthy coverage: religion. First, your story a couple of months ago on Jesus Christ’s effect on the world was phenomenal–and now you have published a gem in “What Miracles Mean,” (SOCIETY & THE ARTS, May 1). As a student majoring in religious studies, I’m delighted to see that society’s most prominent persuader is finally receiving its due attention. In addition, your writers have taken special care to represent a variety of major religions without bias in a nation made up of many biased readers. Give yourselves a pat on the back and keep up the good work. Matthew Tisdale Young Harris, Georgia
Thanks to Kenneth L. Woodward for the May 1 book excerpt, “What Miracles Mean,” which described reasons that members of different religions believe so strongly in acts of divine intervention. Instead of belittling miracles as the manifestations of extremists, the story portrayed them as signs of strong faith. Woodward put into words what I have known my entire life: miracles occur every day. I also enjoyed the author’s emphasis on the unity among the world’s diverse cultures. I’m grateful that this article prompts increased appreciation for the connections among our varying beliefs, instead of fueling arguments over our differences. Anne Ryan Rockville Centre, New York
I want to thank you for the excellent article on miracles. It is both timely and appropriate in the midst of the new spiritual awareness that American people are experiencing at the juncture of the millenniums. As a Muslim, I particularly want to mention that the bold coverage of Sheik Hisham Kabbani, representing the Islamic Naqshbandi Sufi tradition of hundreds of years, was very much appreciated. Indeed, Sufis are playing a major role in shaping the lives of millions of Muslims and are attracting new converts into the religion all around the world. They embrace a peaceful way of love and tolerance, as opposed to the extremist fundamentalist approach more often noted by the media. Your positive portrayal of Islamic spirituality alongside the other major world faiths will surely contribute toward building much-needed bridges between Muslims and the Western mind. Zeeshan Ali Austin, Texas
