Don't be fooled; vote in person
The polling places will be following the CDC's guidelines, so how come the Dems say people are afraid to vote in person when those same people are not afraid to go out shopping, to beauty shops, nail salons, bars, etc.? Would love to see the schedules of those people in their daily life.
Even most of the seniors put on their masks and take the necessary precautions to go out every week or so for groceries and prescriptions.
If one follows strict protocol, how can going to the polls be any different? It is not!
Vote in person - so your vote will be counted.
S.W. Monroe, Soddy-Daisy
Cartoonist's work sparks needed COVID-19 debate
Recently there have been several letters taking issue with Chattanooga Times cartoonist Clay Bennett's funeral home back-to-school sale cartoon. While I do not question the sincerity of the critics, Bennett's cartoon seems to me to be a wake-up alarm.
There is a segment of the public which apparently feels the most important thing in the current phase of the COVID crisis is to resume normal activities as quickly as possible. The apparent truth of the matter is that there is not going to be any likelihood of a return to normal life until an effective vaccine is developed and has widespread implementation.
To ignore the reality of our current situation is placing the well-being of our students, teachers and staff at risk. I sincerely hope that I am wrong about this, but I cannot ignore the possibility of dire consequences resulting from a premature rush to normalcy.
I commend Clay Bennett for inaugurating a much-needed conversation from which we can all benefit.
Paul Thomas
Greeson too cavalier on 'codified racism'
In his column last Saturday, columnist Jay Greeson writes about the traditional ice cream truck jingle changing. His final sentence took me aback: "Still, who knew getting an ice cream sandwich back in the day was so controversial?"
The fact that none of us white folks thought twice about racist songs and stories is exactly the point that Black Lives Matter is trying to make. The reason we didn't give them a second thought is because we lived with, and tacitly approved, codified racism, such as red-lining in real estate and Jim Crow laws.
Our own president was cited in court for racial discrimination in his rental properties. I grew up in northern Virginia, where the state song is "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny." As I was taught it in school, the song included the words "massah" and "darkie."
Sixty years later, I now have several Black members in my extended family, including two wonderful great-nephews who have to worry about things my son never had to worry about.
Every time someone with a big voice ridicules political correctness as having gone too far, I would remind them that until every person feels safe to move about in their own skin, we haven't gone far enough.
Lisa Erlendson Scott, Dayton, Tennessee