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The Story
For
months negotiations have been a crucial factor to the Elian Gonzales
case. U.S. officials
claim that they have done nearly all that they can to keep their
interest focused on what is beneficial to the child.
With the political and social relationships involved,
however, it is proving very difficult for the negotiators to resolve
the problem of where and with whom the boy shall raised.
Nonviolent actions of obtaining the boy has always been the
intent of the United States Government according to officials.
Last week drastic measures were finally taken in order to
reunite Elian and his biological father.
It is crucial for the boy to meet with his father, it is
said, so that U.S. officials will know what is in his best interest.
Many negotiations have included proposals which involve plans
for the father to move to the United States.
While it appears to be nonviolent, this action produces many
questions about the importance of the United States� relationship
with Cuba and it�s leader, Fidel Castro.
Political and Social Relationships
Political
power is dependent on the cooperation of the people whom they are
ruling. The family that
Elian has been staying with for the past few months have been very
resistant to the United States government.
While they have agreed to attend negotiations, they have
never given into a proposal that has been made.
This resistance has pushed the U.S. government to the next
level. After months of
using nonviolent tactics, officials feel that they
were forced to seize Elian by entering the house where he has in
a sense been sheltered.
The
Six Sources of Political Power
One
source of political power known as the �authority� describes
whether or not the people feel that the rulers have a right to
control or govern them. In
the Elian Gonzales case, the nonviolent acts that the government
initially attempted did not appeal to the family that was keeping
the boy. The authority
did not acquire achievement until they implement a forceful attempt
in retrieving Elian.
�Human
Resources� refers to the number of people who recognize this
�authority.� The
family that Elian was staying with were not the only people who
chose not to recognize authority during the nonviolent and violent
stages of this case. Many
protesters still stand firm outside of the house today, nearly a
week after the raid. It
is apparent that violent acts produce more of a resistance against
the authority in out country.
The
United States attempted many �skills and knowledge� approaches
in this case. They
tried to keep the boy�s best interest while also keeping in good
standards with the family that has been keeping him.
This is a very important factor in the nonviolence stage.
When the raid took place, on the other hand, it is apparent
that the �skills and knowledge� attempt was thrown out when the
nonviolent attempts were not working.
The
�intangible factors� were highly focused on during the
negotiations. It is
very hard to communicate efficiently on important issues when
cultural and moral beliefs have to be considered.
The most intangible factor that the U.S. has faced is whether
or not the boy should be considered a citizen, keeping with the best
interest of his mother�s wishes.
�Material
Resources� have played in important part in the question of where
to keep Elian once he has been reunited with his father.
While Elian was in a safe home in Florida, the press,
protesters, and by-standers have made it into an environment that
may not be best for the young child.
The U.S. has secretly taken the father and son to a secluded
place where media and protesters cannot be present.
The
�sanctions� issue is one that is of major importance to the
future of Elian Gonzales. Fidel
Castro is widely known for his resistance to America.
While the U.S. has offered
the choice of living in America to the father of Elian, Juan
Migel Gonzales, it has not proven to be an affective offer.
It has been recently found that Juan Gonzales has been in
close touch with Fidel Castro, and will do all his power to please
his ruler. The United
States must keep in mind the bond that Juan Gonzales has with Castro
when negotiating where the boy shall call home.
The
Power of the People
The governing power
rests in the hands of the people.
Without their participation and willingness to obey the law,
the law can be overturned.
They must agree to comply with what the government and
authority stand for, or the government cannot properly do it�s
job.
Nonviolent solutions are always attempted, however are not
always found to be sufficient enough in doing what is right for the
citizens
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