A critic, not a great U.S. citizen

Boston: Re Colin Kaepernick’s being named GQ Citizen of the Year for 2017: NFL games are seen by millions worldwide and are the perfect stage (or stadium, in this case) to stage a largescale and high-impact protest. Kaepernick took advantage of this opportunity to protest against the oppression of people of color — more specifically, police brutality and racial profiling in the United States — by refusing to stand during the playing of the national anthem. However, Kaepernick and his fellow kneelers disrespected the flag of their nation, disrespected the people who risk their lives to protect it, and disrespected many of their teammates and other players.

The prestigious title of Citizen of the Year, in my opinion, is one that should be given to a proud citizen of the United States, not someone who goes against the institution of their own country, taking it far enough to disrespect the flag and the many servicemen and women who have died to protect it. Eliza J. Garry

Who’s who?

Manhattan: Now that Andy Byford has been added to the MTA, I am utterly confused as to the agency’s structure. A couple of months ago, Chairman Joe Lhota posted a PowerPoint slide at a Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee meeting that outlined all of the major players at the MTA. It listed each individual’s areas of responsibility, who they reported to, and who they worked in tandem with. Could the Daily News create a similar graphic so citizens have an inkling as to where to start when identifying problems and seeking solutions?

Kristin Kligerman

A stranger above & beyond

Bellmore, L.I.: On the late afternoon of Oct. 19 my husband, Anthony Forchelli, was walking down the street in Queens and suffered a massive heart attack and eventually died. At that exact moment, Brett Asher from Franklin Square was driving by and saw this. He pulled over, jumped out and saw my husband was not breathing. Immediately, with no mask and my husband’s face covered in blood (he broke his nose when falling), he performed mouth to mouth and CPR. Then, knowing it was a heart attack by the way Anthony’s fists were clenched, Brett called the ambulance back to say it was a heart attack and they needed to go to Elmhurst Hospital because even though it was a little further, they had the better trauma center. Brett then followed the ambulance to the hospital and waited for me and then sat with me until late that evening. He visited two more times during Anthony’s 10-day stay. Brett is an angel and a hero. Suzie Ryan

Brooklyn blues

South Farmingdale, L.I.: So Brooklyn College, folding like a cheap camera, is caving to student demands to keep cops out of sight? The students do not feel comfortable around cops? The cops are allowed to use some filthy broken facility on the edge of the campus? I tell you what, let these student leeches, going to a taxpayer-funded school, pay all of their own tuition, then let them throw their hissy fits. This is a total waste of time and energy, just a little power play to get some needless attention. Mike Pedano

Think about it

Carmel, N.Y.: Those of you who believe Hell exists and is run by the devil should rethink your belief. If Hell is a punishment, you should believe that God ordains and rules over it. In that case, Charles Manson and all evildoers most definitely would suffer the endless agony it imparts. On the other hand, any satanic entity would gladly welcome and honor these mostly psychopathic miscreants. Either way, may the soul of Manson be forever cursed!

Sue McCormack

Understand every murderer

White Rock, B.C.: Whenever a large-scale atrocity is committed, I feel that society must look beyond the perpetrator’s atrocious act and towards his or her motivation for committing the act, however abhorrent. Our goal should be learning enough to prevent a recurrence someday from another societal monster. According to a TV documentary I viewed recently on the subject of how such monsters are created, as a toddler Charles Manson sought to bond with his mother, but to no avail; instead — amongst other instances of abandonment — she sold him for a pitcher of beer at a bar. As politically incorrect as it is to suggest this, especially when the monster is male, we need to extensively investigate all of the Manson-type cases for deeper understanding of such troubled tormented psyches, rather than simply reactively cry out for death penalty vengeance. Frank Sterle

Deranged and dangerous

Summerfield, Fla.: It has been my opinion for quite some time that President Trump is a sick individual. The fact that he is a bully came from his wealth; since I’m not a psychologist, I cannot say where his other horrible, sick traits come from. But my biggest horror occurred when I realized that there are people in our country who believe his lies. All I could think was how our country needs to better educate our citizens. How come so many people in other countries could see this man for who he really is? Almost from the beginning I was comparing him to Adolf Hitler, and then little by little I saw how other people were thinking the same. If Americans would only read the history of how Hitler rose to power starting in the 1930s, they would see the similarities. Most of the people he has chosen for his cabinet are totally wrong for the jobs they are supposed to do. So what does that say? To me that says that he definitely wants to tear our country apart.

Nancy Sheehan

Apples and oranges

Flushing: Voicer David Gonzalez seems to equate President Trump’s saying that he would date a 10-year-old girl in 10 years (when she’d be legally an adult of 20) with Roy Moore’s assault on underage children. I am no fan of Donald Trump. I did not vote for him and find his behavior in many instances to be appalling and abhorrent. However, fair is fair. If Gonzales had mentioned the incident, also caught on camera, of Trump claiming that he grabs women by their genitalia, I would agree with him wholeheartedly. But in this case, I do not believe his comments are warranted.

Chaya Wiesman

Moore is less

New Hyde Park, L.I.: So President Trump now backs Roy Moore. It’s true, birds of a feather flock together! Why? Well, because he needs his vote on the disastrous tax reform bill. Great reason, huh? Bruce L. Hecht

Thanks, science

Manhattan: It is the season to be thankful for all the gifts bestowed on us. In addition to being grateful for having a wonderful family, friends, home and an optimistic view of life, I cherish the fact that I am here to see and utilize the many strides in technology, science and research available to make day-to-day living with Type 1 diabetes almost a cakewalk. First on my list is Dexie, an affectionate name for the continuous glucose monitoring system Dexcom, which really has changed my life in so many ways.

Judith Jones-Ambrosini

Custom babies

Bethesda, Md.: The Nov. 15 article “U.S. scientists try 1st gene editing in the body” rightly points to an inchoate revolution in genetic medicine. But there’s another half to the story. As the science matures longer term, gene-editing with tools like CRISPR and follow-on technologies won’t be limited just to preventing or fixing health disorders. Controlling for a baby’s traits (“designer babies”) — a choice made freely — may be humankind’s irresistible future, encompassing an expanding range of cognitive and physical qualities. No one wants a Wild West of gene editing. The public, ethicists, policymakers, and scientists will need to debate regulations — and rights and obligations — as part of family planning and the advancing science. Keith Tidman

Topsy turvy

GETTY Far Rockaway: The United States of America is the most hypocritical, contradictory nation in the history of the world. First, it’s the only country that has mass shootings on a regular basis and does nothing about it. Certain groups of people are targeted by law enforcement 24/7. These same groups are criminalized only for having different opinions about how they are being depicted by the media. Meantime, base sexual and graphic behavior by white people is glossed over like there’s some kind of justification for these actions. Case in point, when Bill Cosby was accused of sexual assault, public opinion and media had him guilty before trial. The women were believed outright. With Roy Moore and other powerful white men, accusers were disbelieved because of their position in the country.

Divine Smith