As an African-American living in New Hampshire, I often find myself critical of the treatment of African-Americans. Many of my thoughts on that subject have been printed right here in the ConcordMonitor.

Yet I find myself at a crossroads when it comes to the Kampf family from Maine, who allegedly kidnapped their daughter. Their daughter was in college and apparently pregnant by an African-American, who is now in jail.

I am going to have to go against the grain and side with the parents. As the father of a young lady, I can almost feel the pain of these parents, who have raised their daughter and given her everything she needed to become a young adult. They gave her the opportunity to go to college and get a head start in life.

Then comes what appears to be a person who is obviously on a different path in life. That person has the potential to throw off track everything you and your child have worked for all her life. She is blinded by love, lust or whatever.

It is obvious these parents taught their child that people are people and we all live in one world. These are great parents in my book. So I understand why the Kampfs did what they did - if they did it, of course.

If this guy had his feet planted solidly on the ground and was trying to carve out a legal future for himself and their daughter, only then would I have a problem with what the parents allegedly did.

The Kampfs saw their daughter spiraling headfirst into a brick wall. As a parent, I understand that. The Kampfs should keep their heads up. There are people out here who are behind you.

J.R. CURTIS

Concord