Future leaders
Elian Gonzalez is back in the spotlight.
The official Cuban media reported on the weekend that the boy who made headlines around the world eight years ago following his miraculous rescue at sea and his eventual and highly controversial return to Cuba, has been chosen to join the Union of Communist Youth.
He is one of 18,000 teenagers across the island hand-picked by the regime to become "militants" in the organisation, known by its Spanish initials as UJC.
It means Elian, who is now 14, joins a very exclusive club: the next generation of Communist leaders to be indoctrinated by the Castro regime.
Not that any of this should surprise anyone, of course.
It was obvious from the very beginning that having won the propaganda war surrounding the world’s most famous balserito - with some help from the US judiciary - Havana was going to milk the Elian victory for all it was worth.
They have been doing it for years, ensuring that the boy is photographed regularly with one or another of the Castro brothers and other senior Communist Party officials at birthday parties, school functions and political events.
In line with expectations, the teenager told a ceremony held in his home town of Cardenas that he was thrilled by the "great honour" of being invited to join the UJC, and promised to be an outstanding example for other young Cubans.
“I won’t let Fidel and Raul down,” Elian was quoted as saying.
It sure is a long way from Disney World.
The official Cuban media reported on the weekend that the boy who made headlines around the world eight years ago following his miraculous rescue at sea and his eventual and highly controversial return to Cuba, has been chosen to join the Union of Communist Youth.
He is one of 18,000 teenagers across the island hand-picked by the regime to become "militants" in the organisation, known by its Spanish initials as UJC.
It means Elian, who is now 14, joins a very exclusive club: the next generation of Communist leaders to be indoctrinated by the Castro regime.
Not that any of this should surprise anyone, of course.
It was obvious from the very beginning that having won the propaganda war surrounding the world’s most famous balserito - with some help from the US judiciary - Havana was going to milk the Elian victory for all it was worth.
They have been doing it for years, ensuring that the boy is photographed regularly with one or another of the Castro brothers and other senior Communist Party officials at birthday parties, school functions and political events.
In line with expectations, the teenager told a ceremony held in his home town of Cardenas that he was thrilled by the "great honour" of being invited to join the UJC, and promised to be an outstanding example for other young Cubans.
“I won’t let Fidel and Raul down,” Elian was quoted as saying.
It sure is a long way from Disney World.
posted by Luis M Garcia at 11:17 am
1 Comments:
Poor, poor unfortunate child
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