It’s more than ‘just a hat’

In response to David Paperd (“A hat is just a hat,” July 16):

It seems Mr. Paperd lacks an understanding of symbols and what they represent to some people in our country. By your logic, the Jewish Holocaust survivors should not be bothered at all by a swastika symbol; after all, they are just some geometric lines on a flag or shoulder patch. I’m sure it wouldn’t be an issue if I had a swastika decal made to place on your car window since it’s just lines.

As well, the American flag is a just a piece of cloth with stars and stripes, but people seem pretty upset when it gets burned in protest. I’m guessing the ire that it causes for most war veterans goes beyond not having a burn permit. The professor in this case (“Professor: MAGA hat symbol of racism,” July 11) sees the MAGA hat as something more personally hurtful to him and other segments of society.

When some people rally around an ideology and use a symbol such as the MAGA hat to display support for that set of beliefs, it becomes more than just a few geometric lines, a piece of cloth, or as you contend, just a hat.

Mike McGinnis

Spokane