The Associated Press is uncritically reporting that Elian Gonzales sincerely hopes that Castro recovers from his unknown illness.
Elian Gonzalez sent a note Sunday wishing a speedy recovery to “my dear grandpa Fidel,” and Cuba’s vice president said the world’s longest-serving leader is recuperating well after surgery.
[…]
Gonzalez, the Cuban boy at the center of an international custody battle with family members in Miami six years ago, published a letter in the Communist Youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde signed with “little kisses” from him and his half-siblings and cousins.
“We send you this letter to let you know that we are worried about your health,” Elian, now 12, wrote. “We hope for your speedy recovery and take the opportunity to wish you a happy birthday, may you have many more.”
You know, it may very well be that Gonzales’ statements here are the absolute truth. I’m not a mind-reader, and this kid is 12 years old. And from my understanding, Castro has taken him under his wing.
However, I do think that there is some journalistic irresponisbility involved here. I mean, would it have been that difficult to have a sentence in the article mentioning that, had Elian Gonzales not wished and prayed for Castro’s health, then he likely would have been imprisoned?
I don’t know Anita Snow’s work, and I’m not about to claim that there’s any kind of bias at play here. But I do think that something that is obviously the propaganda of a nasty dictatorship shouldn’t be reported straight. You would think that some criticism would be in order.
