Something I wrote in last week’s column has been eating away at me and I need to apologize — to Colin Kaepernick, of all people. In the piece, I opened by writing, "Nike has now handed over the power of life and death to a failed, mediocre, former professional quarterback who holds himself up as the most noble-minded, righteous individual on the planet."

My apology is aimed specifically at the two words "failed” and “mediocre".

To all the internet commenters who fired your cannons at me regarding Kaepernick’s athletic prowess and my lack of it, your point is well taken. My professional career with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball organization was humbling and little more than a blip on the radar, so for me to belittle Kaepernick’s NFL career was nothing more than an ill-conceived cheap shot. I know better.

I more than anyone understand the incredible talent and unimaginable work ethic it takes to succeed in professional athletics. Any member of any roster on any professional athletic team — or a touring golfer or tennis player or rider in the Tour de France – is literally one of thousands who whose will and skill made their dream a reality.

So, to all the pros and former pros and pros to be, I apologize.

As far as the rest of the column is concerned, though, I take nothing back. Not a word.

As a nation, we’re being held hostage by politically correct claims of bigotry — largely false claims. Screaming racism every time an argument gets heated is doing a disservice to addressing the problem of genuine racism. The analogy to Chicken Little and the sky falling is apt. If everything we do or say is judged by something that happened over 150 years ago, how will we ever move forward? If every criticism is dismissed as racism, then the word racism loses its power.

True hatred and bigotry are diabolical and must be exposed. The Betsy Ross Flag, with the 13 stars representing the original states, does not fit that category. It is outrageous that this contention linking the flag with racism, and similar arguments, continue to dominate our local and national conversation. The constant bombardment of these misguided racial slings and arrows is beginning to wear America out.

If your great-great-great-great grandfather owned slaves, then shame on him, but that shame should not come knocking at your door. Your conscience should be clear of any guilt.

We are powerless to alter acts that happened 15 or 16 decades ago. As I said last week, slavery is the ugliest stain on our nation’s history and should never be forgotten. However, every issue that plagues this country — and for that matter the world — does not center around race. Disagreements on core issues like reparations — or immigration or education — do not have to disintegrate into mudslinging to see who can be more stained with the label of hate.

Case in point: If there were 100,000 Russians crossing the border every month instead of 100,000 Central Americans, my response would be the same — it's an invasion. The color of the invaders’ skin only becomes an issue through the efforts of the left-leaning media and agenda driven progressive politicos.

Being called a racist places an individual in an almost indefensible position. It is patently unfair. It's forcing someone to prove a false negative. Yet it has become a regular play in the Democratic playbook.

The false claim that what President Trump and his supporters really want is to "Make America White Again" is racially offensive and destructive. Washington's ultra-progressives cunningly exploit social media, television and radio to eternize the race-baiting of Main Street U.S.A.

Before all you racial warriors point fingers and prejudge the rest of humanity, ask yourselves: How many inner-city kids did you help tutor lately? How many Guatemalans do you have staying in your guest room? How much extra do you have taken out of your weekly check to help alleviate the overcrowding at border facilities?

Yes, racism still exists. Since 2015 there has been a 30 percent increase in hate-related crimes across the United States. There are well over 1,000 recognized hate groups in this country with the Klan, Antifa and the Nation of Islam representing the tip of the spear. All sides are under attack. Prejudice comes in all shapes, sizes and colors.

Blame the spike on Obama, or Trump, or the media, but don't blame it on middle America. They are not the enemy. The sky isn't falling. We live in a more accepting world today than we lived in yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today.

Lee Elci is the morning host for 94.9 News Now radio, a station that provides "Stimulating Talk" with a conservative bent.