Colleges a reflection of society at large
I totally agree with Kyle Wingfield in “Why Republicans soured on America’s colleges,” Opinion, July 13. The incidents he describes are appalling. But by focusing on the colleges, we are missing the point. It is even more appalling to see what is happening across our entire country; why should we not expect colleges to reflect what is going on in society?
I have been an avid reader of editorials of all types, liberal, conservative and neither, since I was 14 — 60 years ago. I am a slightly right-of-center independent. But, I have close liberal relatives who won’t talk issues with me at all because they consider me a conservative nut job. I also have a close conservative relative who won’t talk issues with me because he considers me an outrageous “libtard.”
Like I say, with these kind of divisions and total unwillingness to consider each other’s views, why would anyone think colleges would be isolated from this phenomenon?
FRED HOLLINGER, SMOKE RISE
Airlines increasingly treat us like cattle
Numerous recent events just underscore the obvious: airline customer service has been gliding toward a nosedive. Early in my career, I flew almost weekly to destinations all over the eastern United Sates. I enjoyed full meals and relative roominess in the cheap seats. It cost nothing to check my bag, and if I opted to bring it on board, there was always room for it without a struggle.
Then airlines started gradually squeezing services and room. They also put me on an unwelcome diet. They started charging for bags and extras. Younger flyers today don’t know what they have lost — paradise in the sky. They expect to be charged more and treated like cattle. All you get to chew on is your cud. No wonder business suits gave way to flip-flops.
ROBERT REDMOND SR., CANTON
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