Editor's note: The following are letters to the editor published in the Sept. 14 edition of Tire Business:
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Really? No surprise when Goodyear said it was OK for employees to wear Black Lives Matter but could not wear any other political statement.
Blue Lives matter. I take offense to a company banning American flags and anything else but pandering to a group that is Marxist and pushing segregation of people.
If a company wants to take away employees' rights ... where have Americans freedom gone? I back the law enforcement officers, and I support our flag and our country.
Pamela Staab
Wilson, N.C.
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I'm a former Goodyear employee (nine years) and a major competitor (32 years), now considered by Tire Business No. 2. All was spent in the commercial segment of the industry.
Fortunately and thankfully, the Goodyear CEO quickly and clearly defined the company's position and tacitly implies a rogue employee responsibility.
No doubt, however, the company would appreciate your accompaniment ("Defending the Industry," page 6, Aug. 31 edition of Tire Business), on many future sales calls on commercial dealers and fleets.
I'm thoroughly disappointed in Crain Communications.
Michael J. Drury
Houston, Texas
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As a 46-year veteran of the tire industry, and second generation, I feel a need to respond to this subject.
I am a Trump supporter because of what he stands for, not because he is always so professional. But I do feel like your publication is maybe giving him a little harder rap than he deserves.
He has been attacked from every side since the day he took office. The government that he is in charge of buys millions of dollars worth of tires from (Goodyear).
Even I was upset when I saw the slide (a Goodyear) employee put up on the screen. The first thing I thought, was look at how many government, state, police and first responder vehicles are riding on Goodyears in this country, and Goodyear has the nerve to post that.
I really wish Trump would have known the whole story before he tweeted, but I can't blame him. Maybe Goodyear needs to own this a little better, than making Trump look like the bad guy!
Steve Mills
Dunn, N.C.