NBA should stay out of HB2 debate
In response to “NBA’s Silver won’t draw ‘line in sand’ over HB2” (June 2):
Our sporting leagues work best when left out of politics; sports have long been a unifying force in America, not a divisive one. Unfortunately, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s threats to remove the 2017 NBA All Star Game from Charlotte over House Bill 2 have broken the barrier between politics and sports.
Commissioner Silver, I urge you to respect our system and let our politicians, legislators and courts work out HB2. Do not punish and make an example of Charlotte for a law it does not support. Instead, return your focus to the NBA itself, and if you personally oppose HB2, which it seems you do, work with the league to promote awareness and anti-discrimination policies to protect those affected by the law.
William Rhyne, Belmont
Don’t pass over U.S. technology workers
In response to “In Charlotte, foreign workers replace Americans in tech roles” (June 3):
It is beyond reprehensible that U.S. employers hire overseas workers just so they can save money. Today, parents encourage their children to major in subjects to prepare them for high-tech careers. Why bother if they are going to have to compete with foreign workers who will work for less?
For the American companies who do this – that means you, Bank of America – and the elected officials who support this, shame on you.
Shelia Bumgarner, Charlotte
Was firing a veteran necessary, TWC?
In response to “Charlotte vet says he was fired for lowering flag on Memorial Day” (June 3):
Congratulations to Time Warner Cable. Just when it looked like you might be coming out of the abyss of public opinion, you manage to jump right back in to it; firing a Marine who was trying to honor the true spirit and purpose of Memorial Day.
A simple “we do not permit anyone except for specific personnel to raise or lower the flag. Please do not do it again” would have sufficed, as tacky as it would have been. Instead, you chose to fire the man. That was so wrong.
If you were the only provider available, I guess I’d have to turn my flat screen into a large serving tray. I hope your customers share my feelings.
Joe Malcolm, Charlotte
Skeptical about state employee woes
In response to “Democrats blast state employee pay, vouchers” (June 3):
I gather that Sen. Joyce Waddell has documentation to back her comments that some State of North Carolina retirees are “having to eat cat food as a means of their meals” due to their low pension amount.
I’ve been a State of N.C. employee for about a third of my working life and known many retirees but never heard of any who were having to resort to this means to get by. Matter of fact, they seemed to be making decent livings.
Barry Stokes, Salisbury
Questions about CMS, CATS drivers
In response to “Police: Driver going too fast in school bus wreck” (June 4):
Both CMS bus drivers and CATS bus drivers transport citizens as part of a public service for the same city and county, so why are most CMS drivers female? Why are most CATS drivers male? Why do the CATS drivers all have uniforms and CMS drivers wear what they want?
If CMS is working on school assignments and desegregation, and at the same time the city wants to gut the old zoning ordinance and create a revolutionary city ordinance that allows for modern all-inclusive urban planning, can we consider the utopian idea of merging CMS school and public city busing? Can we at least put the drivers of CMS buses and CATS buses on the same standards?
Karin Lukas-Cox, Charlotte
Teacher and I have a lot in common
In response to “Teaching makes me rich, and graduations make me cry” (June 5 For the Record):
I read Gib Fitzpatrick’s piece with blurred vision, my tears streaming down my cheeks. I feel I know him well though we have never met.
He and I have much in common. After failing to get a Regular Army Commission during WW II, all I ever wanted to do as a civilian was to teach. I managed to do that for twenty years in a working career of sixty-three years. I never had more rewarding work, and I found myself very emotionally involved. Like Gib, I cried a lot.
James W. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Charlotte
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