Letters: Navy's pilot program for recruitment features drag queen, raises many questions

It seems the new Navy recruitment effort ― a pilot program featuring a drag queen who happens to be an active-duty sailor — is meant to inspire a very targeted and specific audience. As a starting point, UCLA estimates that there are 1.6 million transgender people in the United States, and there are numerous different definitions within that category.

Generally, only about 25% of the population (roughly age 17-39, depending on branch) qualifies for service. Therefore, the Navy's target audience is approximately 400,000 people to meet the goal of 30,000 enlistees. But that pool is for all branches. So, how many would actually enlist?

Easy targets to point to as complications include men's and women's bathrooms. But a more critical question is, will this recruitment effort alienate the more “old-fashioned” male and female populations? If the visceral reaction from some veterans is reflected by their enlistment-age children, it’s possible there will be an equal and opposite reaction by those who might otherwise enlist.

The projections might look like this: The daunting task of making recruits fit for duty is for the drill instructors, which always leads to some attrition. Might that rate increase? Add a potential decrease in desire to serve in this new Navy, as well as decrease in re-enlistments and increases in retirement rates, and the Navy will be even more understaffed. The situation is more than predictable — it is all but certain.

Could the Navy have chosen a more nuanced approach to recruitment efforts, like simply showing a trans sailor side-by-side doing their job alongside another professional? Perhaps. But as a Navy veteran, I only hope that those who choose to serve (regardless of gender identity) can face the Taliban, fight ISIS, battle the Wagner Group or confront the Chinese ― and not blink.

Bert Watson, Jacksonville

Ban on assault-style weapons could help

I've voted for Gov. Ron DeSantis in the past because many of his policies seemed moderate and reasonable. Lately, however, it looks like he is simply trying to woo Trump supporters and is becoming too radical.

His recent signing of a bill lowering the age for rifle purchases from 21 to 18 is one case. I believe he said that the age limit of 21 was "unconstitutional," which is incorrect. States have the right to impose reasonable limits on gun ownership. We even had a federal ban on some assault-style weapons for 10 years from 1994 to 2004.

I've been a gun owner for many years, and I believe in the individual's right to self-protection. However, I think the best firearm to defend against home invasion is a shotgun. Getting rid of the violence we have in this country will not be easy and must be approached in many ways. But if we did not have any assault-style weapons with large magazines everywhere, it could be a mite less difficult.

Perhaps we should have a federal buyback program. Compensate people fairly and then give anyone caught with an assault weapon 25 years in jail. Sounds draconian, but then I remember a time when signs were posted after a hurricane reading, "Looters will be shot." It seemed to have the desired effect.

Loren Seeley, Jacksonville

Know your blood pressure numbers

May is Hypertension Awareness Month. Commonly called high blood pressure, hypertension is one of the most pervasive health conditions globally and here at home. Despite how common it is, it’s nothing to take lightly. Hypertension is a leading risk factor for a host of serious health issues, from heart attack and stroke to kidney disease. Uncontrolled, it can be deadly. Here in Florida, cardiovascular disease claims the lives of nearly 50,000 people each year. A major underlying cause is uncontrolled high blood pressure.

From the front lines, I can tell you that it’s astounding just how many patients have no clue their blood pressure is dangerously high. The CDC estimates that around one in three American adults has hypertension and might not even know it. Of those who do have a hypertension diagnosis, only one in four have it under control.

There are a variety of explanations. Disparities in health care access can make it more difficult for patients to get diagnosed and receive treatment. Treatment non-adherence ― whether because of haphazard dosing or quitting altogether — can make patients’ hypertension worse.

Early diagnosis and treatment adherence are vital to protecting patients from hypertension. This May, let’s collectively remember the importance of hypertension and the need to make it easier to manage.

Stacy Manthos, executive director, American Society for Preventive Cardiology, Jacksonville

Give voters a say on monuments

How is it that the mayor has the power to unilaterally destroy historic public monuments with no input from the City Council or the voters? What was done with the 125-year-old monument removed in the middle of the night? Where is it and what are his plans for it?

It seems that the ability to bring all of the concerned groups together to arrive at an equitable solution to the issue of Confederate monuments is beyond anyone connected with the mayor’s office.

The right thing to do would have been to put this subject up for a vote where the entire city could decide if any monument stays or goes. If the citizens of Jacksonville voted to remove it, then the monument could have been given to private groups for reinstallation on private property. This type of relocation was done in St. Augustine recently.

Perhaps we should be thankful that the mayor doesn’t have a woodworking hobby, or we might very well wake up one morning to a large stump where the Treaty Oak once stood. Cut down at 3 a.m., of course, as these cowardly acts are always done — under cover of darkness.

Chris Mead, Jacksonville

Both parties need to wake up

As a 78-year-old grandmother and lifelong independent voter, I find the continuous “blame the Republicans” approach in columns, editorials and letters to be increasingly offensive. Both political parties have become more extreme with fewer quality candidates in every election year.

The last presidential candidate I could bring myself to vote for was Mitt Romney, who is currently one of the few moderate voices left in the halls of Congress. The rise of social media is tearing this nation apart, as the mainstream media seems to follow in lock step. It is destroying our country to place so much emphasis on guns, abortion, gender and equality when our debt is spiraling out of control, our borders have never been less secure and political factions are unwilling to compromise.

As bad as some of the decisions made by Republicans here in Florida, they are nowhere near as bad as some of those made by Democrats in California or the Biden Administration. Hopefully, both parties will wake up before it's too late. Dumping both Biden and Trump — and not replacing them with either Newsom or DeSantis ― would at least be a start.

K.B. Harrow, St. Augustine

Water and sewer lines past their prime

Many of JEA’s main sewer and water lines are well over 100 years old. It is recommended these be replaced after 70 years, but their website shows only about 20 streets with some replacements. It is important to address this issue and ensure that our infrastructure is up-to-date and able to meet the needs of our growing community.

The age of these lines raises concerns about their ability to function properly and efficiently. A massive outage could leave areas without water or sewer lines for months. With the growth of our city, it is essential that we have reliable and safe infrastructure in place. I urge JEA to act quickly and invest in upgrading these lines, with a public explanation of their plan to ensure the continued well-being of our community.

William Malone, Jacksonville

DeSantis approach to hurricane season

Will Gov. DeSantis recommend using his COVID approach to hurricane preparedness this season?

Looking back, his approach to COVID — and presumably future worldwide pandemics — is to ignore the experts' recommendations based on the information available at the time, and to do whatever you feel like doing. Because who would know better than a politician about pandemics?

Following that approach, we should all do whatever we feel like doing when it comes to hurricane preparation. In the aftermath, we can count the number of deaths or the amount of property destruction and complain about the experts who did not know exactly what was going to happen in advance.

Judy Jameson, Atlantic Beach

Things are looking up

I just want to thank you for running an optimistic photo with the May 16 article on the debt ceiling talks that showed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy shaking hands with President Joe Biden. We need more of this positive turn to the news.

Also thank you for your daily coverage on the mayoral runoff, which exposed Daniel Davis.

Under Mayor Donna Deegan, lives will finally be transformed in Jacksonville especially the underprivileged and those pushed aside all these years.

Linda Bishop, Jacksonville

Stadium renovation idea

To Shad and the Jags, here’s a thought about the two-year renovation project where you will be without a stadium: If the general contractor hires enough subcontractors and they hire enough workers and you work two shifts, seven days a week, you can get the job done in one year. Then, you can recoup your lost revenue.

You have enough money to handle the overtime. Please don’t make the stadium renovation another Jacksonville road works program.

Matt Hutto, Fleming Island

Deegan’s first project?

While driving through Downtown Jacksonville and experiencing several terrible roads, I thought an important project that needs immediate attention by our new mayor would be to repave the roads in the downtown area. One of the worst is Main Street, particularly the section from State Street to the Trout River and many others in Springfield.

A first-rate downtown should have first-rate streets.

Terry Weaver, Jacksonville

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Questions on Navy's recruitment strategy with drag queen 'ambassador'