Elian Gonzalez must feel like Stretch Armstrong. It's bad enough that the fighting over his custody has lasted since November. Now, a court—ordered deadline to return the boy to his father, which was set for 2 p.m. Thursday, has come and gone.

Elian still remains with his great-uncle in Little Havana and another court has issued an emergency stay in the transfer process. Since when does a great-uncle have rights over a father's child, in any country?

Now a home video recording has been released showing the boy making a statement that he does not wish to return to Cuba. If this statement wasn't forced from him, it was certainly cajoled. After all, his treatment since arriving in America has been that of a celebrity. In Cuba, he was merely another small child, son and student.

This issue is not about politics. It is not about the 'freedom' of democracy versus the 'oppression' of communism. The only issue is parental rights, and neither a sea nor a political philosophy should interfere with the process of returning a child to his father.

Janet Reno needs to send people to take Elian back to his father and legal guardian. Every minute that Elian's father goes without his son is one that neglects parental rights as well as the needs of a child.

Elian Gonzalez does not need stardom or celebrity. He needs a dad, and this issue requires immediate and permanent closure.