Letters: Conservative agrees with liberal — direct anger at Hamas, not people of Palestine

Reader Terri Quint normally takes quite liberal views and has done so for years. For once, however, I’m in agreement with her latest letter on the distinction between the Palestinian people and Hamas.

Calls for a two-state solution were first introduced in 1947 with the UN's initial charter to establish a Jewish ancestral homeland following the Holocaust. Jews agreed, but Arab countries rejected the decision and immediately embarked on war following Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948.

The Communist Party of America could be a meaningful contrast to Hamas in Gaza. Begun in 1919, it grew to 75,000 members in the 1940s.

American Communists were not militant or openly aggressive in their tactics to initiate unilateral political and cultural change. Nor did they hijack the education of a generation of children to instill vehement hatred of another ethnic group.

Hamas uses most of its funding to devise and implement covert, subterranean offensive military capability at the expense of its citizens' well-being. They inhumanely took people hostage when they attacked.

In American democracy, the Communists were one voice among many. After taking power with a mere plurality, Hamas immediately suspended future voting. They retain power using an iron fist on their own people.

Earlier this year, Israel illustrated democracy in action with massive protests over its government’s attempt to curb the power of its judiciary. Hamas apparently misunderstood this as a vulnerability to exploit.

We have come to a point in our own culture where collective considerations and cultural dialogue can no longer be defined as Democrat or Republican, progressive or conservative. In this desperate, defining time it is increasingly clear that we are facing a dilemma of knowing what is right and what is wrong.

The future will be forever changed if hate takes over and democracy is lost in the balance.

Rob Richardson, Jacksonville Beach

Fighting child obesity starts in schools

Obesity is among the most important public health challenges in the United States — resulting in increasing prevalence of associated health problems, including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and sleep apnea.

Children’s eating habits are crucial in the development of both childhood and adult obesity. Thus, addressing this issue necessitates a focus on childhood obesity, particularly in relation to the food provided in our schools. It is important to ensure that the food served in our schools contributes positively to the physical well-being of our students.

Ideally, this would involve proving a balanced diet with a focus on fresh, locally sourced produce and minimizing the presence of highly processed, sugary and fatty foods.

Our schools can also serve a primary role in shaping children’s eating habits and dietary choices. Childhood habits often persist into adulthood, influencing long-term behavior. By fostering an environment that encourages nutritious choices, we can empower our youth to make better decisions about their diet, setting the stage for a healthier adulthood.

With the commitment of Mayor Donna Deegan to improve our community’s health, this is an excellent opportunity for our community to work with Duval County Public Schools to optimize the nutritional value of school meals. It could be considered a down payment on the health of children and the adults they will become.

Prioritizing the health and well-being of our children is not just an investment in their immediate future, but a commitment to building a healthier community for generations to come.

Dr. Ghadeer Hoos, pediatrician, Jacksonville

High schoolers help Rotary give back

In November there was an outstanding response to a request made for donated materials as holiday care-package gifts. The donated items came from many Jacksonville organizations, including First Coast High School.

These students took the lead in supervising grade-school children by having them prepare some very creative and artistic handmade holiday cards. Under the leadership and resilience of North Jacksonville Rotarians and the Veterans’ Council of Duval County, a large contingent of volunteers collected, sorted and packed these festive gifts.

These items were boxed for the crew of the USS Carney ― a Navy destroyer homeported in Mayport, now deployed in the Middle East ― and sent to its skipper, with more than 325 sailors on board.

North Jacksonville Rotary has been a participant in other active-duty military and veterans’ outreach initiatives. They perform volunteer duties in the Military Lounge at Jacksonville International Airport. They also have programs for the Jacksonville National Cemetery (Lannie Road), the National POW-MIA Memorial and Museum (Cecil Field) and the Veterans Memorial Wall (adjacent to EverBank Stadium).

These Rotarians actively participate in health and wellness programs administered for the needy. These include oral health care and nutrition services for many retired military veterans in facilities near Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Additionally, they are active in “Not One More Victim” programs, which help empower students to combat child trafficking in Florida and worldwide.

Padraic E. “Pat” Mulvihill, Jacksonville

Good compromise on Confederate monuments

I wish to commend Michael Crocetta for his truly concise and articulate Nov. 25 letter on the issue of Confederate monuments. It covered both sides of the debate — either removal or letting them stand.

To quote the solution in his letter: “Leave the monuments where they stand and replace their bronze inscriptions with truth, so they may remind us of what we have overcome, inspire us to become better people or bring us to tears over grave mistakes that cannot be repeated. The most courageous thing we can do is to be accountable as a nation and remain resolute to learn from our errors.”

The total military casualties for the Civil War were approximately 700,000, the most U.S. losses in any of our wars because every casualty (whether Union or Confederate) was an American. Specifically, the North lost approximately 320,000 white males and approximately 40,000 Black males.

We should all think hard about the fact that hundreds of thousands of white men gave their lives to unite the Union and abolish slavery by killing hundreds of thousands of other white men.

So, my solution is to rededicate the monument to “All the Widows and Orphans of the Civil War” and add a monument to the 40,000 Blacks who died in this conflict. Then rename the space Unity Park.

William C. Kurtz, Jacksonville

Mental health merry-go-round

I read, with heartbreaking sadness, the Nov. 19 column from Richard and Kathleen Marquis concerning mental illness and their tragic personal experience. I've followed their situation over the years through their letters.

I've seen it up close not long ago, as some friends and I tried to help another friend who spiraled downward until she finally became homeless. She was only a threat to herself and would not accept the fact that she had problems. We didn't know what to do. She finally was found dead of a heart attack in the bathroom of a local store.

My son also recently tried to help a bipolar friend he met in a small Bible study. He's realized how the system to get help is maddening. My son was so happy to get the friend a referral for some real outpatient psychiatric help, only to be turned away when he took him there. They were the "wrong" agency and couldn't help.

It appears this gentleman isn't a threat to others, and he gives money to anyone on the street who asks. But he needs serious professional help and it's a merry-go-round of "wrong" agencies.

I thank God that mental illness is not present in our family. However, I do often say: "There but for the grace of God, go I."

Bonnie Allen, Jacksonville

All should oppose Black’s bill

One of Jacksonville’s state legislators, Rep. Dean Black, has introduced legislation that would "protect" historical monuments and memorials from removal, damage or destruction. The bill would also levy fines and enable the governor to remove local officials for taking such action on monuments.

First, the bill continues the state Republican movement to destroy local control. The Republican Party I used to belong to supported local control; now it wants the state to dominate and dictate.

Second, it proposes to keep monuments that celebrate traitors in public spaces. Those who supported the Confederacy took up arms against the United States ― the classic definition of treason. What if Germany put up a statue of Adolf Hitler, on the argument that they were just “recognizing their history?”

We should all be against this proposed legislation. In addition, our City Council and Mayor must act immediately to remove the remaining statues.

Roberta Fost, Atlantic Beach

‘Better angels’ among us

Altruism is defined as the selfless act of helping others without expecting anything in return. It is considered one of the defining characteristics of what it means to be human.

There really are “better angels” among us. My family experienced the goodness of strangers after our car was rear-ended on Black Friday. We never got a chance to thank those who risked their well-being by stopping traffic to allow us to move to safety; the nurse who held my daughter until rescue arrived; the off-duty police officer who kept her alert; and the couple who brought water and comforted my grandchildren.

With all the crises and negativity in our stressful world, it is good to remember Fred Rogers’ words: “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Karen Adler, Jacksonville

Taxpayer funds should not go to Trump

I just read the Nov. 19 column on how Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis is proposing “Defending Freedom Fighters Fund.” This would establish a state law to use Florida taxpayer money to fund legal fees for any Florida presidential candidates, specifically Donald Trump.

Trump always touts how wealthy he is, so he obviously doesn’t need Florida taxpayer money. Besides, he already has his PAC paying legal fees from donor contributions. This is an example of a politician out of touch with the needs of the citizens. If Patronis feels there is taxpayer money available, then those dollars should be used to help Florida residents with such issues as housing, food, health insurance and homeowners' insurance affordability.

Doug Diamond, Jacksonville

Where’s the praise?

Months ago, there was plenty of blame laid at the feet of President Joe Biden for high gas prices. One could easily find vulgar graffiti and paper stickers of his likeness on gas pumps all over Northeast Florida, declaring his culpability for the high prices of fuel.

Now that gas prices have dropped to record lows ― where’s the praise? If Biden was to blame for record highs, is he not also responsible for the current lows?

Della Stout, Green Cove Springs

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Conflict in Middle East a lesson on what happens when hate takes over