(Chicago, IL) -- The double standard this nation imposes is appalling.  A young boy named Elian Gonzales, came to the US a while back after escaping from Cuba with his mother.  His mother, who was trying to provide a better life for her child in the Land of Opportunity died in her attempts to make it here and he was rescued from an inner tube floating in the Ocean.

The policy of the US government is that if a Cuban refugee makes land, then they will be granted asylum.  This is of course, because even though the Berlin Wall has fallen, even though the Iron Curtain has been mothballed years ago, we are still vigorously fighting Communism with our last breath. It doesn't seem to matter that the Cold War has been over for 12 years.

Who are we fighting?  A little island nation with neither the resources nor the desire to infect this nation with its Marxist ideals.  I will grant that it has a dictator president, who perhaps doesn't treat his people in the manner to which we in this country has become accustomed. But, the United States has a storied history of providing support to dictators (i.e. Hussein, Noriega) when it believes its best interests are involved.

Would it not make sense to work toward normalizing relations with this nation which sits so close to our borders?  If we work to strengthen Cuba as we have every other former communist block nation, perhaps its citizens will see hope for the future within their own borders instead of ours. I will not lie here and say that it would be an easy road to travel, but I believe it is a journey we must undertake to further ensure the security of our nation and the future of the citizens of Cuba.

Normalizing relations, including permitting travel between the two nations, unfreezing Cuban assets, diplomatic exchanges, etc., will have a profound effect on both countries.  No longer will out best baseball players have to be great swimmers.  We will be able to get Cuban cigars without the high-priced Canadian markups. They will be able to develop industry and McDonald's franchises that will help to create a stable economy and a stable member of the world community.

Turning to the side issue in all of this... why is it that Cuban's are granted asylum in the United States, but not Haitians?  My belief is that if someone is willing to risk their life by rafting to this country in the hopes of a better life, then they should have that chance if they are successful.  I do not believe that this great nation will suddenly be over-run by immigrants as Pat Buchanan might suggest. Some will argue though that why stop with Cuba and Haiti?  Why not Mexico?  Quite simply... their life is not at risk in trying to make it to this country.  People willing to lay down their lives deserve a chance.  Those who try, fail and can try again don't need the same courage... they need cross-traning sneakers.  And thanks to NAFTA.. they manufacture them.

The era of the double-standard must come to an end.  Either allow Haitians access to the United States or pack up Elian in a FEDEX box and ship him back to his home country.  The cold war is over and as the surviving superpower, we have taken it on as our responsibility to normalize relations with these remnants of the former Soviet Union. Cuba should be no exception.