Colin Kaepernick has sparked a national discussion

Dear Editor, Colin Kaepernick has sparked a national discussion by refusing to stand for our National Anthem. He was calling attention to the plight of poor blacks in our country. Our founders and our military have fought and died to give him the freedom of expression. It is a freedom guaranteed to all Americans. If we step back and look at the situation objectively, we can understand his frustration. Poor blacks often suffer lousy schools, high unemployment, high crime neighborhoods and, he argued, disproportionate police brutality. Trouble is, he still lives in the best country in the world, even with our problems. As is often the case, he is laying the blame in the wrong place. Failing to show respect and pride for our country is hypocritical. Worse, it is a big fat middle finger to our military. We absolutely need a discussion about improving neighborhoods for people of all colors. We need to return education to the states and do away with Common Core. We need welfare reform that puts adults to work. We need to lock up violent offenders for the full length of their sentence. We need to offer low level or first time offenders rehabilitation and drug or alcohol treatment. We need to stem the free flow of drugs into our country and take a hard line on gang activity. We need economic development and job training. We need to support local law enforcement and expand community policing. And we need to empower minority communities to take responsibility for their own neighborhoods. If all stakeholders are not on board, nothing will work. I hope that those criticizing Kaepernick will understand his concern for his community and I hope Kaepernick will come to understand that people died for his right to express that concern. Those heroes deserve for him to get on his feet.