As a parent and CMS teacher, I worry about the lack of accessible COVID testing

A lack of accessible COVID testing

As a parent of a teenager and CMS teacher, I’m concerned about the lack of accessible COVID-19 testing in the Charlotte area.

My son presented with symptoms on Friday. After learning the earliest appointment at an Atrium Health drive-through clinic was July 17, it took me another two hours to find same-day testing. With insurance, the visit cost $70 at an urgent care facility.

Will families without insurance or resources be forced to wait a week or more for a drive-through appointment, while symptoms worsen?

At last Wednesday’s press conference, Dr. Mandy Cohen indicated she was particularly concerned about Charlotte. Given the shortage of available testing, it is imperative that citizens mask up. The life you are saving could be your own.

Lori Carter, Indian Land

Rule of law is dying under Trump

The cases of Trump associates Michael Flynn and Roger Stone are instructive. Apparently it is now alright to lie to the FBI if you are a friend of the president and obstructing justice to protect him. After being convicted in a fair trial by peers, as everyone is entitled, the commander-in-chief will overrule the jury and change the outcome.

In addition to helping a buddy, this encourages future co-conspirators not to be honest. The rule of law is dying.

Vincent Keipper, Concord

Confederate flag was an overt threat

The Confederate battle flag represents far more than the Lost Cause. It was an overt threat, in plain view, used by the worst of us against the most vulnerable.

The flag flew in the streets of Birmingham in September 1963 when four young girls died in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church. It was there in February 1956 as an angry mob threw eggs at Autherine Lucy while shouting “Let’s kill her” for the sin of enrolling as a student at the University of Alabama. It was displayed and carried by jubilant citizens of Sumner, Miss. after an all-white jury acquitted two men for torturing and murdering 14-year-old Emmett Till.

If, as some contend, the flag is but a symbol of our proud heritage, what possible relevance does that flag have to acts of torture, murder and bigotry?

Bill Sitton, Charlotte

Pitts overlooks acts of Trump protesters

Regarding “America faces difficult days, no matter election result,” (July 9 Opinion):

In Leonard Pitts’ list of polite presidential changeovers, he omits the nasty reaction to Donald Trump’s victory, starting the day after the election and the demonstrations and riotous behavior in D.C. on Inauguration Day. He forgets the public declarations of blowing up the White House and the relentless drumbeat for impeachment. Instead, he warns the president and his supporters might act the same way as anti-Trump protesters did back then.

Philip Ruggiero, Charlotte

SC needs a statewide mask mandate

How many more cases and deaths from COVID is it going to take S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster before he wakes up and does something?

The CDC can’t stress enough how important masks are, yet the governor either isn’t brave enough or smart enough to take this seriously. South Carolina is right up there with Florida and Texas percentage-wise for number of cases. How many more lives need to be affected before McMaster makes wearing a mask mandatory statewide?

Bobbie Spooner, Fort Mill

Use this time to clean up city streets

As I drive around our beautiful city, I cannot believe all the litter that is accumulating not only on our roads and interstate exits, but in our neighborhoods.

With time on our hands due to COVID isolation, why can’t we clean up? Why isn’t the city employing more people to clean up roads? Better yet, why isn’t it promoting neighborhood clean-ups? It only takes a few people and they can socially distance.

People are prouder when their city looks nice. This may even lead to better acceptance of our neighbors as all part of a caring community. City Council, how about a Charlotte Clean-Up Day in the near future?

Jackie Stone, Charlotte

Can’t muster much sympathy for coaches

I adjusted my glasses and reread the article about college basketball coaches taking their second pay cut. I’m a sports fan of sorts, so I wonder how I missed this ridiculousness? College basketball coaches are “feeling a financial pinch” because their salaries are being cut. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski made $7-plus million to coach college basketball. Other coaches are taking a cut from their $2.6 million, $1.5 million, etc. salaries. Worse than all that? Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh will drop from $7.5 to $6.75 million. Poor, downtrodden fella.

I now know this country really is in trouble. I’m not kidding. Worse than ridiculous.

Dabney Vigor, Charlotte