Chicago visitor moved by 'No Kings' rally: 'Always try to stand on the right side of history'

Sometimes history begins to write itself in the street and in the people who dare to step out holding signs that read, "Stop war on Iran!" or "No war" or "This is not OK."

On that same street, beneath a green traffic light, another sign suddenly takes on a different meaning: "Begin one way." I look at it and feel it says much more than signaling the beginning of a unidirectional street.

One of the “No Kings” rally signs I saw this weekend in Chicago read, "The power of the people is greater than the people in power." Another sign, a warning that echoes strongly, said,"Don’t make me repeat myself. Signed: History."

I am just a visitor. It is not my country. It is not my war. Yet I am left with a heavy heart, because there is something that belongs to all of us: the ability to recognize injustice.

History does not always repeat itself, but we glance at it sideways, aware that too often we end up doing what we already know is wrong.

Today, as so many times before, some raise their voices. Others of us watch, moved, aware that this is not a distant conflict.

Perhaps the path forward is not only for those holding the signs, but also for those who stop being spectators — like the young woman to my left who suddenly began to cry; or the older woman who, after talking about blues music, felt the need to tell me that this is not good for anyone.

Stop war. Begin one way.

May we always try to stand on the right side of history.

Lidia López García, Madrid, Spain

Cut delivery robots some slack

Dear Chicago,

You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs, and you certainly can't deliver an omelet without destroying public property. Fortunately, we at Coco and Serve robotics have committed ourselves to safety and our patented design keeps your meal safe from all debris.

Please keep in mind that while our recent shard-ridden peccadilloes with assorted bus shelters are indeed unfortunate, we are technology pioneers bravely trailblazing an incredible future where you can have food from a nearby restaurant brought to your doorstep (well, near your doorstep. In fact, actual doorsteps-or steps of any kind, really-present a bit of a problem, but with another funding round I'm sure we can solve it). The point is this is a new paradigm, and you, Chicago, should be grateful to have a front row seat to our collective ascendance! This is disruption. It’s uncomfortable, but like pretty much all other technology it’s gonna be great and awesome and definitely work exactly the way it’s supposed to with no unforeseen consequences.

Frankly, I don’t understand the ire we delivery robots seem to receive. We are out here every day doing something that no one has ever done before, something no one else can do. If we aren't delivering stuff, then who? So we broke a bus shelter or two. I honestly don’t understand why that's a big deal. If anything, it just shows the tireless dedication we have getting burritos to your home or office (or, again, as near as we can get to it, you’ll have to come outside if there are steps), and I can’t stress enough how little glass was in the food!

Here in Silicon Valley we move fast and break things, and I don’t even move that fast, so I’m not even doing the whole thing, and I wish you all would just relax because your food is here! Can you come down and get it? There are steps.

Eddie Lehwald, Logan Square

Getting the show on the road isn’t easy

I enjoyed Elly Fishman's piece that ran in the Sun-Times about Chicago Symphony Orchestra flutist Emma Gerstein taking her baby on tour and writing about it in her diary.

I often comment on how the general public has no idea what musicians go through to perform their art. I've been playing music professionally since my days in the Lane Tech High School orchestra and band 62 years ago. I remember thinking during a study hall class at Lane Tech that "going on the road with a band or orchestra has to be the most fun thing in the world."

A few years later, I got to do short road trips playing with famous bandleaders and a few celebrity singers. When onstage and performing, it was the most fun thing. But the driving, rehearsals, etc., were hard work. And the CSO musicians have to always be in top musical form.

The Sun-Times article on Gerstein's experience during the seven-day tour was so well written that the readers almost felt like they were part of the tour. Thanks again for having an article about great musicians and a great orchestra.

Steven Cooper, La Grange Park

Thanks for the voter support

Since Sun-Times reader Larry Craig is against mail-in ballots and adamantly supports only in-person voting, I would like to ask Larry to take my 86-year-old sister — she'll turn 87 on Friday — to her polling place. But please be careful taking Connie down her front steps, and please do not take her in an SUV, as she isn't able to get up into the front seat. Hopefully, there isn't snow on the ground, as her wheelchair isn't equipped with snow tires.

My sister has been an educator all her working life and prides herself in carefully evaluating the candidates running for office who will uphold the Constitution of this great nation.

Larry, let me know your availability this November.

Tom Metz, Oriole Park