Has NASCAR crossed the line with its recent decision to ban the Confederate flag?
On NASCAR
The line has been crossed.
NASCAR has finally made its sport a political arena by bowing to driver Bubba Wallace’s request that the Confederate flag be banned at NASCAR races. NASCAR used to be my only outlet during the week to get away from all the politics.
I might as well sell my TV set.
I am done with NASCAR; I won’t watch it and I won’t spend my money on it anymore.
Steve McCracken, Columbia
On small businesses
As the owner of a small business that creates products to help businesses market themselves, I can tell you that South Carolina is still hurting. Despite the state’s recent reopening, people are afraid to come out to the local businesses they know and love.
We as a nation need to establish and embrace a “new normal,” one that is shaped by trust between businesses and customers. This can be achieved through the use of social distancing, masks, hand sanitizer and common sense. I and other business owners understand the fears that many have about establishing a new normal, but we must carry on.
The Paycheck Protection Program may help businesses like mine stay afloat, but it’s not a permanent solution. We need to do more than open up South Carolina; we need to establish a new normal.
Steve Johnson, Dillon
On the protests
After reading The State’s Opinion page’s recent editorial on the protests related to the death of George Floyd, I am not sure what you are saying. If I were on either side of the issue, I could find some things to like. It is indecisive during a time that requires decisive opinion.
First, some things about me:
▪ I was born and raised in Columbia and my family’s links to the city date back to 1763.
▪ I am a white businessman who now lives in Louisville, Ky.
▪ I am in the top 2% of Americans in terms of income.
Given my history, I know Columbia’s culture well enough to state that it has a problem. There is a large white segment of Columbia that is racially oppressive, and that reality has been and will remain dry tinder to those who are protesting the killing of George Floyd.
The recent protests were not about people taking advantage of a situation to cause damage. They were about people who have been taken advantage of by a culture that has no idea of how oppressive it has been to minorities — and remains unaware of how much rampant underlying hatred there is between the races.
Because of its history Columbia needs to do more, and the good people of Columbia need to lead the world in understanding and supporting racial equality. The State Opinion page needs to be more of an advocate in advancing that effort — and it needs to be less concerned about trying to make everyone happy.
The world needs to hear, and you need to lead.
Edward Craig, Louisville, Ky.
On racism
For the sake of my children and grandchildren — and the world that I will leave them — I am far more concerned about the pandemic of racism than I am about the pandemic of COVID-19.
The coronavirus will ultimately be conquered with a vaccine, but racism will only be conquered by a total change of heart.
One affects the body; the other affects the soul.
If you observe history and current events, you’ll know the problem of racism isn’t unique to America. In fact, our country has been regarded as a worldwide leader in standing up for human rights and against racism — including the widespread racism that continues to exist across the globe.
Is there more to do? Yes, of course. So here is my appeal to all Americans of good will, colors and creeds:
▪ Let’s join together.
▪ Let’s respect one another.
▪ Let’s resolve to do more than merely flatten the curves of COVID-19 and racism — let’s resolve to defeat both of these scourges.
Judge Dan Eckstrom, Columbia
Eckstrom is a Lexington County Probate Court judge.
On testing
It has been three months since Gov. Henry McMaster issued an order restricting public visitations to nursing homes because of the high-risk possibility of COVID-19 spreading rampantly in such close-knit communities.
As we all know, underlying conditions and congregate settings are two of the contributing factors in contracting the virus and subsequently not recovering well from it. That’s why I was supportive when the state Department of Health and Environmental Control made a vow to test 100% of the state’s nursing home residents and staff for COVID-19.
There was an ambitious goal to test all of the residents and staff at 194 South Carolina nursing homes by the end of May. Yet as of today we have not heard a peep about the results of the testing that has been completed. It is imperative that we all receive updated information as new developments emerge.
Caregiving doesn’t end when a pandemic hits, and families still are considering placement in nursing homes. However, the lack of meaningful, accurate and timely information from the state on its long-term care testing does not allow our families to make informed decisions about transitional care.
It is time for the state to immediately show us these numbers.
Macie Smith, Columbia
Smith is a Columbia gerontologist.
This story was originally published June 14, 2020 at 8:37 AM.