Bring on the Air and Water Show, and celebrate those who protect our rights

As we get ready for one of the best events of the summer where millions will come to frolic at the lakefront — the Chicago Air and Water Show — I am reminded of the irony that there will be protesters at the show.

Just what will they be protesting? They claim each year that the show is a commercial for war, that it is a bad thing.

But what they don’t realize is that those very fighter jets actually protect their right to protest their own government. They forget that in much of the world, such protesters would be banned by their government or worse, killed.

Yet here, because of these powerful machines protecting us, they can protest. It should remind us all that a beautiful Constitution with beautiful rights doesn’t mean much without Uncle Sam’s muscle when needed.

To which I say, bring on the roar.

William Choslovsky, Lincoln Park

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CORRECTION:

A letter from a reader that was posted online for several hours on Thursday incorrectly stated that Koch Foods is associated with Charles and David Koch, the majority shareholders of Koch Industries. Koch Foods is, in fact, an independent, privately held company that specializes in the processing of poultry. It is not affiliated with the Koch brothers, Koch Industries, Koch Companies or any other organization that uses the Koch name.

Releasing elderly inmates not in their best interest

Regarding the recent op-ed on releasing elderly inmates: Where are they to go? With many having been incarcerated for decades, family ties may be weak at best. We already have a tremendous problem with our social services system.

If they qualify for Social Security, they’ll get a lower payout since they haven’t worked very much to pay into the system.

I understand the injustice of these inmates not having access to the parole system. However, setting them out on parole or setting them free at this most vulnerable time in their lives with a little medical support, which would still be paid for by the state, and the possibility of homelessness seems like a further injustice to me.

Lisa Yario, Lombard