Really you should focus on bigger issues. The children, elementary school pupils about 9 to 11 years old were examples of the unique Cuban educational system of combining studies with physical work. This commitment to working for the good of the country remains after graduation. Elian is a symbol that could be your child in that freedoms are being lost without protest. First off, the tyranny isn't as bad as you claim it is, although it is bad.
Children arn't discouraged to worship god.
Spirituality is much higher in Cuba than in the US-percentage wise, not in numbers. Children are worked from an early age as well as taught in schools the communist veiws-the latter what we here in the states do. If thats brainwashing, go complain to the president that he's brainwashing out children into thinking capitelism is good. As soon as castro dies, everything's gonna be hunky dory, unless someone else with Castro's charisma comes along shouting facism. One day, if I have the time, I hope to post some quotes from a book by Tom White, head of Voice of the Martyrs, telling about persecution of Christians and his own imprisonment for speading the gospel in Cuba.