The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation deputy director Sherwin Smith is warning citizens to think before they start raising concerns about water quality because they could be charged with making terroristic threats. Smith told Maury County resident that unfounded complaints could be considered an “act of terrorism” and turned over the the police and the FBI. The meeting followed complaints about water quality in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee where children have become ill drinking the water. That left residents with the sense that they were being given a Sophie’s Choice by the TDEC: live with sick children or face a possible charge of being a terrorist.
Smith warned residents “you need to make sure that when you make water quality complaints you have a basis, because federally, if there’s no water quality issues, that can be considered under homeland security an act of terrorism.” One audience member seemed to be in disbelief and asked “Can you say that again, please?” Smtih then repeated the warning.
The residents know something about terror. Joycelene Johns, 68, says that she has had no choice but to drink the cloudy, odd-tasting water for years. She added “I’ll drink it. but I pray before the first sip.”
The comments reflect a fear that the war on terror, like Saturn, inevitably devours its own. Criticism of the government is now viewed as a potentially terrorist act in our new society. The TDEC appears to be paraphrasing Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: “The fault, dear Joycelene, is not in our water, But in ourselves.”
Of course, the worse thing is if Johns is arrested and water-boarded with the same contaminated water. The least they could do is use some bottled water so not to add insult to injury.
Source: Tennessee
Mike S,
Will you clue me in in the “one” paragraph rule irony?
Gene, I ate key lime pie every night for a week when we vacationed in the Keys a few years back. All were as great as the next.
Rhubarb and asparagus are the two perennial vegetables which I inherited from the previous owner of our house. My mother-in-law makes great pies, but rhubarb is her specialty. And, she’s a purist, even though both rhubarb and strawberries are in season @ the same time, she never mixes them. Of course the main reason all of her pies are great is the use of lard.
did it again 🙁 .. WHY wanting clean drinking water …
everybody already seems ot so I’ll jump with something that is ot of the ot.
http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/314-18/18050-you-can-be-fired-for-being-a-victim-of-domestic-violence
There are links in the article such that it would go to moderation.
btw,
Some needs to explain to me what wanting clean drinking water makes you an activist, and why proposing to destroy water with chemical warfare doesn’t make you a terrorist. – Winona LaDuke Anishinaabe
Darren, I just made one, it’s been a long time so I’m interested to see how it turns out.
I like about any kind of cobbler. Deep dish apple is good, used to be my favorite as a kid. Now I think my favorites are tart cherry and real key lime pie (not that neon green crap in your grocery story freezer). Real key lime pie is sublime, pardon the pun.
Never cared much for rhubarb pie. My grandmother would make it, but it was one of the few things she cooked I simply didn’t care for. The pies that get me going are blackberry cobbler and deep dish apple pie.
When we have apple pie, I always slather the top with butter, then sprinkle sugar and cinnamon on it. If anyone tells my cardiologist what I just wrote, I will hunt you down and throw rotten tomatoes at your house.
I’ve never had rhubarb pie. Never could get over it looking like celery with a dye job. But the blueberries are rockin’ this year.
nick, I love rhubarb pie although is not my very favorite. You can buy a strawberry rhubarb one at Whole Foods, though. Rhubarb doesn’t grow in Texas but blueberries do and it is blueberry season.
Yes please continue …. I really enjoy watching folks say what they do… Then watch them do…. Then I really know who they are… Proof positive…. That you are continuing to bait and attach…. What rules are you in violation of? Oh… Trying to stay under the radar… But you know only a true psychopath would not know…..
Now like what was recommended go fishing… Quit the personal attack…. Relax…
Rhubarb or blueberry. It’s rhubarb season and my former secretary will come over and pick my rhubarb. She’ll then return w/ rhubarb oatmeal crisp. Make you slap yo’ mama.
We used to believe it. I remember a rescue attempt three or four years ago.
Let me commend all but one for being brief in their comments. The self imposed “one paragraph” rule was, and is, laughable; and showed incredibly poor self awareness. Ironically, it’s William F Buckley or Bill O’Reilly stylistically.
“The self imposed “one paragraph” rule was, and is, laughable; and showed incredibly poor self awareness. Ironically, it’s William F Buckley or Bill O’Reilly stylistically.”
Ah Nicky,
Another sneaky attack and a silly one. The “one paragraph rule” was irony Nick, but apparently it went over your head. Lessons in self awareness, from you Nick? Laughable. Your medication is apparently wearing off.
Gene H, Yep
Like I said Gene….. You just don’t get it… You make it all personal…. Go fishing, relax… HoPe you get a lucky strike….
I’ll take Banana Cream instead. Best pie they is.
Saying you are incorrect is not a personal attack. Then again, you thought saying your argument had a weak foundation above was something you considered a personal attack and yet never bothered to explain why.
Exactly.
Didn’t anyone ever read you the story about “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”?
Apparently not.
Geeze,
You can not make a comment without making it personal…. Why do you suppose….. Now go fishing…. You need to relax….