Please, local businesses, make masks mandatory for customers to prevent spread of COVID

Local businesses must insist on masks

Do local businesses want customers back? Your customers very much want to support your business. But your customers do not want to contract a preventable disease.

We know how to prevent contracting COVID-19. Help your employees and your customers do so. Please, please, please, insist on masks (properly worn), social distancing and constant disinfecting. Let’s keep each other safe and do business.

Jeanie Frye, Cornelius

Mayor Lyles has it right on RNC

Speaking about the Republican National Convention, Mayor Vi Lyles said: “And whatever decision they make, that’s when we start talking about how the contract works.”

She has it exactly right. The convention was never (or should never have been) about Republican vs. Democrat, or liking President Trump vs. hating President Trump. It was a business deal. Sometimes deals go south, and that’s when you better have a good contract. We’ll see how well the City of Charlotte and the host committee did in that regard.

Steven Nesbit, Charlotte

Health of NC was Cooper’s first priority

Regarding “Blame for loss of the RNC lies with Cooper,” (June 16 Forum):

If we are to place blame for the loss of the RNC, it does not lie with Gov. Roy Cooper. When speaking to President Trump, our governor conveyed that he did indeed want the RNC in Charlotte, but it had to be conducted in a safe manner, with social distancing and masks. Trump on the other hand, would not entertain anything other than a mask free, full capacity coronation, regardless of a pandemic.

Cooper has consistently exhibited a responsible, cautious reopening guided by science and data. Let’s be thankful for a governor who put our lives first and didn’t succumb to Trump’s recklessness.

Denise McDonnell, Mooresville

These 2 leaders are both in the wrong

The governor exempts protesters from having to wear mask or socially distance while protesting. For more than two weeks, they’ve been gathering and returning to their respective communities. Meanwhile, the president is going to have an indoor rally in Tulsa with nearly 20,000 participants.

I strongly suspect both actions will lead to increased positive tests as attendees return to their communities.

The COVID-19 virus has no political agenda. It does not discriminate based on political party, event attended, or other variables. It follows the scientific principles of person-to-person transmission, regardless of other variables. I expect better from our political leaders, who claim the safety and security of the American people is their top priority.

Walter Hopkins, Mount Holly

My question for Rep. Larry Pittman

Regarding “Lawmaker calls protesters ‘vermin,’ ‘domestic terrorists’,” (June 17):

I can’t in good conscience call Rep. Larry Pittman of Cabarrus County a “pastor.” I have four words to say to him: What would Jesus do? The opposite of what Pittman says.

Holly Saftner, Charlotte

Bolton missed his chance to be a patriot

I am fascinated by excerpts I’ve seen from John Bolton’s new book about the corrupt administration in the White House. He reveals details of what, if we think objectively, we all really know: In the Trump presidency it has always been “Trump first,” never “America first.”

But I won’t be buying Bolton’s book. He is every bit a money-hungry politician and narcissist as Trump. As far as I am concerned, he and Robert Mueller passed on their opportunities to be true patriots. I, for one, refuse to participate in Bolton profiting from putting himself before America.

Bruce Hendee, Shelby

I disagree with young activist’s idea

Regarding “Activists agree on call for change but differ on how it would look,” (June 17):

Abolish the police department! I love it! Though I suspect 17-year-old youth activist Claire Tandoh will be less than thrilled with her idea once she or someone she cares about is the victim of a crime because the criminal had no deterrent. God help us if this is an example of the logic of our future leaders.

Tom Spencer, Waxhaw

People ‘take a knee’ for many reasons

People take a knee during the national anthem for different reasons. Taking a knee during the anthem may reflect concern about the failure of the country to live up to its ideals.

If people who wrap themselves in the flag would actually work to ensure that the flag truly represents “liberty and justice for all” and that “all men are created equal,” we’d have a better country. The call to live up to our ideals is, in fact, honoring the flag and our country.

James Cook, Charlotte