The fate of the Cuban boy, Elian Gonzalez, which was delayed by the clash of USA politics, caught the attention of the world. Before drowning in a sinking craft, the boy’s mother placed him in an inflated inner tube, cast
The fate of the Cuban boy, Elian Gonzalez, which was delayed by the clash of
USA politics, caught the attention of the world.
Before drowning in a
sinking craft, the boy’s mother placed him in an inflated inner tube, cast him
adrift, and told him he would survive.
From some distance, Florida
fishermen were later to notice a school of dolphins frolicking in one
particular area of the sea. The fishermen steered their boats in that direction
hoping to spot the catch-of-the-day destined for Miami’s restaurant
tables.
They found instead a greater prize. The dolphins had gathered about
the little Cuban boy.
In some respects the youth of Hawai’i are as
symbolically adrift as Cuban youth are, for unintended similarities between
Cuba and Hawai’i have long existed.
In 1959 the Communist Party took power
in Cuba under Fidel Castro’s leadership. About three years later Hawai’i’s
Democrat Party came to power with the defeat of Republican Governor Quinn by
Democrat John Burns and the defeat of Republican Ben Dillingham by Senator
Inouye.
Both political parties have been in power for a long four decades.
Both parties always win elected majorities and continue to have their men as
top state leaders.
However, many young citizens vote by fleeing from their
island homes instead of using the local ballot box. The longest-running
parallel shared by Communist rule in Cuba and Democrat rule in Hawai’i is their
major export: LOCAL PEOPLE.
As reported in the O’ahu press, early census
data shows that Hawai’i’s population continues to decline. The wealthy new
arrivals, Caucasians from mainland USA and Hong Kong and Vancouver Chinese, do
not offset, numerically, the flight of born-and-raised local young
people.
Cuban Communist rule and Hawai’i Democrat rule results in
substandard economic conditions, forcing young, bright, and ambitious citizens
to leave home for better schools and better livelihoods on the USA mainland,
especially Florida and California.
There is yet no way to see a time when
Communists do not control Cuba and Democrats do not control the political life
of Hawai’i.
What is certain is that the 1990s economic health of mainland
USA did not extend to Castro’s Cuba or the Democrat Party’s Hawai’i. Both
establishments were too busy raising taxes and denying growth and economic
liberty to their citizens.
Douglas E. Rapozo
Kapa’a
