It's OK to protest;
do it respectfully
My flag, national anthem and pledge of allegiance do not represent any governmental entity, political agenda or ruling institution. They represent ideas and concepts such as freedom, liberty and personal choice.
People have died trying to ensure these ideas and concepts are actually rights for the citizens of the country these symbols represent.
Patriotism does not mean you agree with everything that is happening within your country. Patriotism exists despite the things you disagree with.
My flag, national anthem and pledge are representations of patriotism and the ideal of what America stands for, not some corrupt entity that appears to oppress any given demographic.
To disrespect my flag, pledge or anthem is disrespecting the people who have died for what these symbols stand for. To not show respect - to protest, burn the flag or refuse to participate - is saying that the sacrifices of our military, first responders, innocent victims and their families meant nothing.
It is because of these sacrifices that you are allowed the freedom to protest, so protest away; have your voice heard. But do it respectfully and don't confuse patriotism with agreement or political correctness.
Sabrina Haid, Dayton, Tenn.
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Airport pickup should be improved
Before my complete retirement around the first of the year, I flew in and out of the Chattanooga airport almost once a week for several years.
The worst part was always coming home to the agonizingly slow baggage claim and the dance you had to do to get around all of the vehicles stacked up in the street out front waiting to pick up passengers.
The mess in front of the terminal is an easy fix. Every airport of any size at all in the U.S. has a "cellphone lot" where drivers go and sit until their passenger calls and says they have their bags and are ready to be picked up. In and out quick; no cars stacked up three deep and way less frustration.
It would be fairly easy to do at the airport - the far south end of the long term lot is practically unused; add a couple of concrete barricades, two curb cuts off the entry road, some directional and informational signage, and voila, cellphone lot. A little friendly persuasion by a uniformed officer would also help streamline the process.
This is an easy, inexpensive fix.
Roger L. Bewick, Cleveland, Tenn.
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Trump wisely relents on journalist ban
I am writing about the Associated Press article, "Trump campaign to stop barring some journalists from his events," published Thursday on page A5.
From early in his campaign Trump has banned certain journalists from his events, ostensibly because they had or might say something "untrue" about him or something he didn't like.
Despite what he might have hoped, banning some journalists didn't silence them from saying things he didn't like nor did it make friends of journalists.
"I figure they can't treat me any worse!" said Trump in rescinding the ban on some journalists; hopefully, he is now on the path to realizing that banning journalists on account of personal animosity is close to infringing on one's freedom of speech.
Courtney Calvert, Collegedale