LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

This year’s Fourth of July will be a somber event

What a difference a year makes, huh? Our last celebration of Independence Day included parades, fireworks and family picnics. And even though we were a divided nation, we collectively embraced summer’s biggest event.

This time around, we’re all hesitant to leave the house or gather in large groups, because of the pandemic. And even the wearing of face masks has become a political issue.

What’s more, with 40 million jobs now lost, a true sense of security for ourselves and our family is scarcer than a bottle of sanitizer at the convenience store.

Tragically, so many of our fellow citizens have died, and so many more will never observe another Fourth of July event.

As we quietly commemorate the holiday, it seems only appropriate that we remember all those who lost their lives in silence this year.

Bob Ory, Elgin

Cops are still doing their job

Contrary to your sensational headline on Wednesday, Chicago police officers have not stopped performing their sworn duties, they are just going about it differently.

Out of a strong sense of fairness, the officers are not generating the “activity” numbers demanded by the out-of-touch bosses at headquarters, since that can only be done by stopping compliant people and citing them accordingly. This is unfair because the noncompliant community will always fight, flee and/or resist, and actions taken to subdue them are increasingly frowned upon.

Officers are still present in all neighborhoods, and are always available if help is needed. Oh, and by the way, Wednesday also marked three years without a new FOP contract — where was the headline about that?

David L. Milligan, Portage Park

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