NBA shouldn’t be mixing entertainment, politics
NBA shouldn’t cave to corporate agendas
In response to “Clock’s ticking on NBA’s All-Star Game decision” (July 14):
It is highly inappropriate for major corporations, e.g., Google, Reddit and PayPal, to send a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver urging him to move All-Star Game events out of Charlotte.
What does HB2 have to do with playing a basketball game or a slam-dunk contest?
If Mr. Silver decides to move the event to another city, it would set a dangerous precedent.
The NBA, NFL, etc., should not be mixing entertainment and politics to fit a certain social agenda.
Tom Creech, Charlotte
Gov., tell the whole truth about taxes
I just received a campaign brochure in the mail from Gov. Pat McCrory. It asks me to call the governor and thank him for cutting my taxes.
It brags about cutting the income tax. However, it fails to explain that the governor recovers this loss of revenue by adding sales tax to numerous items that were not previously taxed.
Sales tax is a bigger hit on the poor and working class because it takes a bite out of the majority of their annual income.
Politics is a dirty business, but Gov. McCrory has taken it to a lower level.
Mel Steiner, Hudson
Pitts drives a wedge into the racial divide
In response to “African Americans have a bigger problem than police” (July 14 Opinion):
Not surprisingly Leonard Pitts has written another venomous column that smacks of hate and racial divide and serves only to drive one more wedge in an already divided great nation.
How wonderful it would be if Mr. Pitts would channel some of his remarkable writing talent into something that unites and not divides and leave the race-baiting to people like the Rev. Al Sharpton.
Ted Hayes, Hickory
Fathers, start being better role models
In response to “Little has changed with police, blacks” (July 12 Forum):
Forum writer Sham Ostapko noted that she had to have “the conversation” about race/police with her black son that her dad and his brothers had with their parents in the 1950s and 1960s.
Today, there are fewer young men, white or black, who have a father figure in their homes.
Some of today’s fathers are so distant from their sons and daughters that the kids turn to the streets or the Internet for the advice their fathers should be giving them.
Until the fathers of these kids start taking responsibility for the families they created, nothing will change.
Hats off to the dads who are role models for their children.
Jim Collura Sr., Monroe
Assigning blame doesn’t help us heal
During the past week of sad American news, I heard two voices that gave me hope.
Both said: We must not pick sides, we must not divide into camps, we must unite and say no to violence against any human being.
Our system is broken. Let’s not hurt ourselves more by assigning blame.
Be a role model to the children: Be kind to others.
Martha Whitfield, Charlotte
Millennials, make your voices heard
Millennials, make your voices heard
With the advent of the state’s photo ID law, some students find themselves being turned away at the polls and many do not know why.
Long lines at some polling places and early voting schedules in the primary that conveniently aligned with the spring breaks of many N.C. universities have made millennials wonder why it has become so difficult to execute such an ostensibly simple task.
No matter who you are, voting should never be a burden. Millennials will do well to make their voices heard in this election and beyond.
Drew Finley, Charlotte
South Blvd. power lines negate rail art
In response to “Bury power lines; other countries are” (July 15 Forum):
The writer is a Charlotte art gallery owner.
I recall landing in Germany and wondering why the cities looked strikingly neater than my hometown, Charlotte. Then, I realized the view hadn’t been horribly disfigured by ugly power lines.
Because of a proliferation of power lines on South Boulevard, attempts to add art – like the “dirt discs” – have little impact. The art winds up looking like something the construction workers left behind.
Power lines make Charlotte look like a Third World city.
Gabrielle Shain, Charlotte
This story was originally published July 17, 2016 at 5:30 PM with the headline "NBA shouldn’t be mixing entertainment, politics."