It is comforting to observe the sensitive response that three of our four representatives in Washington have toward the prospect of legislation regarding which country the 6-year-old Cuban boy, Elian Gonzalez, should live in.

Sen. Susan Collins cautions that no legislation should “solely preclude reuniting him with his father in Cuba.” Rep. John Baldacci says they should preserve “the father-son relationship.” Rep. Tom Allen, calling “this whole debate an embarrassment,” says “he should be home by now — with his father and his grandparents.”

Not surprisingly, Sen. Olympia Snowe sticks with her Republican leadership crazies in hesitating to come to a sensible conclusion in the matter and opposing any further efforts to make this tragedy into a political football. Tom Schroth Sedgwick