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I did hear about this story all over talk radio, which I listen to a lot when I drive. Both left and right wing stations were ablaze with this "controversy," which you've summed up quite nicely. This story is utterly and completely uninteresting to me. Sadly for me it was virtually impossible to avoid. Though I don't mind talking to you about it I would not elevate Kaepernick to the level of Tommie Smith and John Carlos. What those Brothers did took actual heart, as well a tremendous athletic ability to put them in the once in a life time situation. But it gives the media something to talk about, meanwhile it is hitting the fan in the middle east as the U.S. and Russia back opposing factions. The U.S. really helped make a mess of things in the middle east, but like little children we are easily distracted by talking about Kaepernick's inconsequential gesture--get back to me when he does something substantive. Now a story that really interests me is the one which suggest the potential for the possibility of the discovery of a hugely advanced alien civilization based upon a signal received! I heard the tail end of a news story about the subject and I could not believe my ears. I have not had a chance to lookup additional coverage yet-but what a story!

Th U.S. is one big cesspool of contradictions, a fascistic democracy comparable to a crazy quilt made up of different ethnicities and opposing political persuasions. If aliens from another galaxy began to observe Earth, they'd probably be fascinated by the indications of what lies ahead for America.

Cynique I think your experience is more typical of most Americans. If it was not their experience, it is what they aspired to. I'm 30 years behind you and grew up in an urban ghetto, but I can relate to everything you wrote--especially the last paragraph. I think this, for those of us who experienced it, is what we miss. Some call it "hope and change," others calling it making "America great again." At the end of the day, we all know America can do better... because we have. When I was a kid a common pastime was to sit around a crack jokes on each other. We called it, "snappin'." Later, as an adult, I learned others called it "playing the dozens." Today I look back on the activity and think, on one hand it steeled us for the harsh reality of streets and the larger white dominated world, but on the other hand if probably adversely effected our self esteems. This may be one reason I have zero sympathy for anyone whose feelings are hurt by something someone, they don't even know, wrote about them on social media. But when I was a kid, I could always go home and the snappin' would end. Today people live on social media 24/7, so when it social invariably turns on them they, perhaps, feel as if there is no escape. The "snaps" spread far and wide, transcending both space and time, and never go away. So while I did not experience the potential for a constant barrage of insults as a young person, the difference does not make me anymore sympathetic to the Leslies or Gabbys of the world, because they can always leave Twitter. Besides, despite the hype of Twitter and facebook there are still other communities where people like Leslie or Gabby can post picture and share their experiences without having to worry about the constant ridicule of others. But again the failure of people to recognize that they don't need Twitter is what gives Twitter so much power to do us harm #tohellwithtwitter

My peers. Maybe not my entire generation, but my associates and I were fortunate enough to have gone to excellent schools that provided a liberal education. Time brought change and the quality of public schools deteriorated. Nowadays private schools undoubtedly offer good educations but those who attended, or are attending them do not blow me away. Also my generation was not immersed in the sense of entitlement that seemed to characterize those who came after us. We were grateful for any privilege that was bestowed upon us. We didn't have TV, computers, VCRs, CDs or cell phones. So we tended to be more creative and better able to improvise and amuse ourselves. Above all, reading books was a common way to pass the time.