Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
We have seen a recent rise in accidents and traumatic injuries in Jacksonville. Plus, Florida has the highest rate of car accidents in the country involving other cars, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians. In 2023 there were about 400,000 car accidents in Florida and over half resulted in injury. Almost 4,000 were fatal and bleeding is often the primary cause of death.
Duval County has a higher rate of accident occurrences compared to other areas because it is one of the larger counties in the state. As of Dec. 15, 2023, Duval County has experienced over 23,000 car crashes. Over 100 of those car crashes have been fatal, while more than 15,000 resulted in injuries.
Ideally our goal is to prevent accidents and injuries. However with these increasing rates, it is imperative that bystanders have the tools to assist whenever possible. Therefore, preparing for what to do when an accident happens is a practical step of the process.
The good news is the “Stop the Bleed” training program, which can save lives by educating and training the public on simple steps to take in an accident to prevent excessive blood loss. The free training is available online at StoptheBleed.org/training/online-course/.
Additionally, Stop the Bleed kits are available to order online or in stores.
Accidents and injuries can happen anywhere and at any time — at home, school, on the road and in public places. Bleeding can be the first presentation; by controlling it, we may save a life and possibly decrease comorbidities. By increasing awareness about Stop the Bleed training and increasing the availability of the appropriate kit in public places, we can save lives.
Monica Dobs, pediatrician, Jacksonville
Where are the women?
As an independent voter, I am frustrated with the lack of common decency and vision crucial to us now. Wars, an abundance of immigrants, reversal of women’s rights, crime, the lack of solvency for Medicare and Social Security and our country’s financial outlook.
Why do we lack good female candidates for president? Michelle Obama has no interest in running and yet she would stand a good chance of winning. Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard might have been an excellent candidate but is now hoping for a position in Donald Trump’s cabinet, if he wins.
Another excellent candidate for president who has no interest, Maria Shriver, has been doing humanitarian work for decades. She is now an advocate for a solution to Alzheimer’s disease.
She has all the potential to be the best president we have seen for a long time. Her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is running for president and does not have much traction, so why not hand the baton to her?
If Joe Biden had enough sense to relinquish his throne to Shriver, I think she could win. People are familiar with her over decades of service to our country. Whether it was in the corporate arena as an American journalist or first lady of California, Shriver was front and center.
There are so many other women that could turn the tide of this country from hatred to kindness. Stop the madness and division that encompasses our “United” States; unite us with action — not words. How do we encourage the women to run?
Lori Halpenny, Saint Johns
Legacy of racism persists
In my late 70s, I participated in a church program that focused on the works of Black authors, and it profoundly changed my perspective on race. This exposure opened my eyes to the realities of racism in America, a truth I unknowingly perpetuated through ignorance.
Just as with any complex subject — economics, science, even medicine — lack of education breeds ignorance. Throughout history, particularly over the last four centuries, we've been fed a narrative riddled with inaccuracies about Black people. This distorted lens has fueled prejudice and continues to impact the lives of Black Americans today.
The legacy of racism persists in the form of:
- Discrimination — Black Americans continue to face prejudice in housing, employment and daily interactions;
- Economic inequality — The racial wealth gap remains vast, leaving Black families at a significant disadvantage;
- Police brutality — Instances of excessive force disproportionately target Black communities;
- Voting rights — Efforts to suppress Black voter turnout persist, hindering their political representation;
- Poor schools — Inadequate resources put Black students at a disadvantage; and
- Affordable health care — Black Americans face higher rates of health problems and limited access to quality health care.
These are not isolated issues, but interconnected threads woven from the fabric of historical injustice.
My journey of self-discovery through literature ignited a passion for understanding and dismantling racism. I urge everyone to actively seek out diverse voices and engage with the realities of racial inequality. Let’s unlearn the lies of the past and work towards a future where equity and opportunity are truly colorblind.
William Malone, Jacksonville
Florida’s ‘dystopian’ state, no doubt
As reported in this paper on June 17, an attorney representing education officials appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis answered Judge Britt Grant’s hypothetical by saying, "In the classroom, the professor's speech is the government's speech, and the government can restrict professors on a content-wide basis and restrict them from offering viewpoints that are contrary," such as criticizing the governor.
Are we living in a totalitarian state? When did Florida citizens give up our basic freedoms? No wonder U.S. District Judge Mark Walker blocked a key provision of the so-called "Stop WOKE Act," calling it "positively dystopian," as in George Orwell's novel “1984” where lies become truth.
Judge Grant then asked the ACLU's attorney whether the Florida Legislature could intervene if a professor were teaching that "the moon landing never happened or that 9/11 was an inside job?" While the attorney for Florida professors challenging the law said that would be the university's responsibility, she should have turned the question around.
There are legislators in Congress and the Florida Legislature who apparently believe in crazy, false conspiracy theories, such as "Italian satellites changed votes in the 2020 election" or "Nancy Pelosi is responsible for the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection." What if a governor and legislators passed a law insisting that professors teach any of these theories as legitimate?
The Legislature’s sole responsibility is provide a quality education for all students, so that all are equipped to be thoughtful, knowledgeable citizens with the ability to think, reason and distinguish fact from fiction.
Roy Goldman, Atlantic Beach
Single fertilized egg not a person
Peter True wrote on June 16 that abortion laws are based not on religion, but on observable, reproducible scientific “facts,” though he doesn’t explain them. He proclaims human life begins at conception, then deftly proceeds to bestow personhood (a clearly religious concept promoted by Christian influence groups) on a single-cell fertilized egg.
This is a faith-based view, and one can’t deny the overwhelming presence of Christian demonstrators at abortion-related venues. The answer to True’s rhetorical quest for scientific evidence to permit abortion is that the laws are (and should be) based on medical, legal foundational principles of women’s bodily autonomy and right to privacy.
Fetal viability, wholly dependent on the pregnant woman, should only begin consideration of personhood. The critical issue is who decides (and overrides) one’s autonomy, especially if their religious views are contrary?
Here’s a simple — though coarse — reply to pro-lifers imposing their will on others: “If you don’t like abortion, fine; don’t have one.”
I’m troubled that the prime focus of so many fervent pro-life folks is on embryos and fetuses. Yet that concern dissipates when real children are afflicted by the scourges of gun violence, pollution, hunger, lack of access to health care and poverty.
Michael Miller, Ponte Vedra Beach
New union rules are retaliation
Nate Monroe wrote an excellent editorial on June 13, titled “Gov. DeSantis’ selective war on unions is about the future of public education.”
Unions, as well as private enterprise, have their own PACs. In Florida, our governor has shown that he will seek revenge if a union does not support him. In this case, United Teachers of Dade opposed his re-election bid.
He then signed legislation that took away a union’s right to have dues automatically deducted from teacher pay. It also requires 60% membership or the union faces decertification.
He said he did it because it would save the state money. Now coincidentally, the police and fire unions supported him, yet they were magically exempted from the legislation. How does that save money? To me, this is a clear cut case of retaliation.
Now he says he is giving teachers a pay raise (while speaking from a charter school). Obviously his goal is to have all schools become charters, but we should just ask most teachers who have been there a while how they really benefit from his actions.
Unfortunately, we have two more years to deal with it.
Bob Henning, Jacksonville
Praise for Carlucci family
What a great Father’s Day article on Matt Carlucci and Joe Carlucci. Matt does what he feels is right all the time. Joe is an up-and-coming young man who will follow in his dad’s footsteps, but also be his own person.
I see already how Joe has done so much for his constituents, and he has just begun his journey on the council. I am blessed to know the Carlucci family.
Melinda Jarman, Jacksonville
