
I’m not exactly sure when Colin Kaepernick first ‘took a knee’ during the playing of the National Anthem, but my reaction was rather visceral (especially when others began to emulate this behavior). It seemed to go against all that I’d ever learned or known and I felt was disrespectful of our nation’s flag and those who have died to protect us. That we do have problems still in this nation between ethnicities is all too true. We have made great strides in establishing a more level playing field for employment and housing, but there is much more that needs doing.
A vast majority of law enforcement are worthy of the badge and responsibility they carry (witness the recent mayhem in Las Vegas where only Veterans and police were running to the gunfire to save lives); sadly, there are many within both the military and law enforcement community who are not so honorable. The very real fear that any black person may feel, especially at night, when pulled over by the police we cannot ignore. It seems what is lacking in our sound-bite centered news cycled world is empathy. Can we not at least try to put ourselves in their place? Is it beyond the realm of possibility to recognize that this is an issue that must be addressed?

