Our nation suffering from a huge divide

Sunday's Daily Herald editorial was titled, "Consider the disquieting death of Eric Garner." On the one hand, we want to support our police and trust in our judicial system. It is easy to sit in judgment of those who would torch their own neighborhoods. On the other hand, something is wrong that we as a society need to take seriously and address.

This is not just an individual situation but symptomatic of something much larger, something many feel compelled to protest - hopefully peacefully. Not only should we be left asking whether justice was served in this one man's case or in other recent deaths but is justice being served when we have the highest incarceration rate of any modern nation?

Living in the suburbs as we do, it is easy to think that there is just one America, one in which basic fairness prevails if you will only play by the rules. But if you are poor and disadvantaged, another much harsher and less-reliable America exists, and playing by the rules does not necessarily work. That is what recent protests are about.

For those interested, Michelle Alexander's book, "The New Jim Crow," is an exceptional expose on the regrettable impact of the war on drugs that helps us better understand this divide in this country. Your editorial was sensitive and caring about this most complex issue. Thank you.

Alan Heigert

Mundelein