Editor, Times-Union: The nation is hurting from the AME church killing of nine innocent Christians. How could a human harbor such hate against another human being? You only have to read Facebook, letters to the editor or listen to talk radio on both sides of any issue. Freedom of speech has become freedom to express hate. In our own community we have white supremacists wanting to kill someone. Thank God for our police department for apprehending them before anything happened. Let’s take the Hispanics in our country and our community, for example. My family and millions of other Hispanics – we were born in the United States. Our brothers and sisters served in our military, contribute to our churches and community. Yet what do we hear on a daily basis? Not the great contributions we have made to make our country better, we hear, “send them all back where they came from.” What are you teaching your children if we do not preach acceptance and tolerance for all human beings? Statistics show there are more of us who are United States citizens than not by a large margin. The same applies to the LGBT community. No one should be made to feel that they don’t belong in their community. It is simply a question of respecting them as human beings who have much to contribute. God does not discriminate; neither should we. A solution to protect religious freedom and treat those with a different lifestyle with respect can be found if we are willing to work together, not hate one another. The next time you think of calling someone an idiot or buffoon if they don't agree with your point of view, stop and ask yourself, “What am I preaching?” I am certain you will probably read nasty letters to the editor or Facebook about my comments, which will only prove my point. Rebecca Espinoza Kubacki former state representative Syracuse, via email
