Letters: Who was ‘Duuuval,’ anyway? A Jax history lesson and other topics of interest

Since it’s becoming common to hear “Duuuval!” shouted out everywhere in Jacksonville, it might be interesting to know exactly whose namesake is being exalted.

In 1822, when William Pope Duval became the second governor of Florida, he had no clue that 200 years later he would provide a rally cry for a future football team. At that time Florida was a new U.S. territory for which President James Monroe appointed Duval as governor.

This new U.S. territory was comprised of just two counties: St. Johns County, which encompassed all the land east of the Suwanee River (including the entire Florida peninsula), and Escambia County, which included the western panhandle of Florida.

Upon taking office, Duval began subdividing these enormous areas into smaller, more governable counties. He chose the area around the growing community of Jacksonville to bear his name. Jacksonville was granted a city charter in 1832. Under Duval, the state capitol was established in a small north-central Florida Indian village known as Tallahassee.

He also was instrumental in supporting the maritime and fishing trades in Key West, for which the island’s main corridor, Duval Street, took his name. You can also find streets named Duval in Jacksonville and Tallahassee.

Duval was reappointed by presidents John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, which allowed him to govern Florida until 1834. After retiring from politics and his law practice, Duval moved his wife and eight children to Texas. Several of his sons followed their father’s lead and became prominent in founding the new Texas government.

The area where they settled became Duval County, Texas, in tribute to the efforts of his son, Burr Duval.

John Bishop, Atlantic Beach

U.S. judgment errors in Middle East

Regarding the Oct. 19 AP report (“Poll: Most Americans agree on Afghan war”), it's hard not to agree that this conflict dragged on too long. But I wonder if most Americans today are aware of its complicated history.

After 9/11, most of the civilized world supported our invasion to punish the Taliban for supporting Bin Laden. I believe we were well on the way to eliminating them when President George W. Bush decided that Saddam Hussein of Iraq had to be removed. Hussein was absolutely a bad guy, but Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran was much worse.

In November 1979, Khomeini seized our embassy and held Americans hostage for almost two years. From 1980-1988, Hussein was our "man” during the Iran-Iraq war, and the U.S. supported him with money, weapons and intelligence. Yet in 2003, Bush was convinced that Hussein either had weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical and biological) or was trying to get them.

What an error of judgment. Sure, toxic gas can be made in a garage, but nuclear weapons need sophisticated facilities. Israel destroyed Iraq's nuclear reactor in 1981 and biological weapons were simply beyond Iraqi expertise. So, we eliminated Iran's avowed enemy and diverted our full attention away from Afghanistan.

Iran is now — once again — a step away from nuclear weapons. Our government had to be stone deaf to the Ayatollah's shouts of "Death to America, the Great Satan." What if we had concentrated solely on the Afghan war?

There’s no way to know for sure, but it certainly would not have gone on for 20 years and ended as it did.

Loren Seeley, Jacksonville

Rock on, Mayor Deegan

I’m sure Mayor Donna Deegan expected backlash on many decisions or proposals. Personally, I commend her for at least trying to bridge the partisan gap that has been the status quo in the political arena. Mayor Deegan added Republican representatives into her fold yet received backlash from — other Republicans.

These individuals were clearly pointing out that bipartisanship is not cool, and remaining in the “tribe” is more important.

Recently, one of her political backers won a no-bid contract. That’s not unusual these days, from either party. But it was voted on and unanimously approved. Of course, one of the mayor’s detractors, Nick Howland (who didn’t support the appointment of any Republicans, though he is one himself) chimed in with the comment that it “just smells odd.”

What it smells like is sour grapes for Howland and the result of winning an election. A clean one, I may add, from which some other politicians could learn a few things. But learning is apparently not for everyone, along with compromise and what’s best for all.

Rock on, Mayor Deegan.

Gary Schuran, Middleburg

Mediocrity runs rampant in House GOP

What Americans are witnessing these days is what happens when a huge number of mediocre Republicans are elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. If someone were truly outstanding — a natural leader, with vast experience in the House, the ability to get along with others and more moderate than extreme ― then this election to the speakership would have been finished right away.

Instead, the U.S. government was at a standstill for nearly three weeks. So many programs are unfunded, nothing can come to the floor for a vote and the country seems unable to right itself with this boondoggle.

There's a lesson here for all parties and voters: Be careful whom you elect, because the U.S. and the world are living in perilous times for a variety of reasons. Outstanding leadership is what is needed — not screaming, accusations, lies and exaggerated issues. Such behavior cannot be part of the rhetoric.

It is time to elect adults to a part of the government who actually represent the states.

Terri Quint, Ponte Vedra

Zoo admission out of reach

I know the new zoo exhibit and entryway (reported on Oct. 20) will be very nice because we have a world-class zoo. However, I also believe it will cause another hefty price increase that most will find unaffordable.

I had two young girls in my care earlier this week and one suggested the zoo as our “vacation” for the day. I checked the prices and it would have cost me almost $100 just to gain entry. That is just too much, because on top of that, they would naturally want snacks and goodies and souvenirs.

I elected instead a visit to Cats Angels, Central Park’s Teddy Bear Playground and the public beach, all in Fernandina. The only cost was lunch at McDonald's.

So, no zoo for these two — unless I win the lottery.

Fran Hurst, Jacksonville

Student’s refreshing take on book bans

Thank you for publishing the refreshing article by Abrianna Dallas of St. Augustine on Oct. 22. Her intelligent, thoughtful approach to the issue of book banning is exactly on the mark. As long as we have young people like Abrianna in our midst, we do have hope for a better, stronger, more peace-minded community and nation.

Anyone old enough to have lived through World War II and its aftermath can fully relate to her comment, "the first step to indoctrination is isolating a person from outside information." Freedom of choice is part of the very foundation of the United States. May it always be upheld.

Loy Doty, Jacksonville

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Besides 'Duuuval,' several Florida streets named for early governor