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
AY, Thanks, it’s not a big deal, just painful. Even through my opiate haze I see your point completely and understand your anger. Lord knows I understand. Gene is beginning to implode. What is heartening is I am seeing fewer and fewer people enabling his increasing controlling and disturbing behavior. When Gene starts schmoozing me he knows he’s in stormy seas. As I’ve said previously, you’re righteous and honest, as is just about everyone here. We all have our imperfections, but we like this blog, and the people who are part of it. We put the blog before ourselves. Gene may very well believe he is also doing that. I’ve interviewed many people during my career who had convinced themselves that what they were doing was for the good of others, for noble reasons. However, the facts simply didn’t comport w/ that distorted reality. Time for more ice. My wife is being so helpful. I’m a very fortunate man. I just hope I’m able to drop a deuce sometime this weekend so I don’t explode. Thankfully, I like prune juice.
Last fall I did, however, suggest that you be penalized for skirting the “don’t reveal personal information without consent” rule while using sockpuppets to terrorize another poster. You know. That situation that led to a meatspace threat of legal action against you.
And let’s be honest. Me raining on your little parade then is what all your animosity is about now. And what ended our friendship.
You really should just stop now.
This is a fight you cannot win.
Really.
The only person I’ve ever put in moderation was nick, so you go ahead and make up some crap if that suits your desires. It’s going to backfire miserably for you.
No Gene,
It’s not about my personal dislike for you…. You I could care less about… The blog, yes…. You bullying folks, yes…. Just since last fall….. With me included I have in mind 5 people that you have placed in moderation….. That’s being a bully… Call it rules if you wish…. You make it personal….. With out regards to the actual rules….. As you make up as you go along when you decide to harass someone…
Breaking Headlines….Delusion sets in on the Northern Hemispheres Summer Solstice…. Must be something about the full moon arising….. Sherlock….
Some just wanna make it all about them,… When it was all about the deleted post….civility is the decorum….but some take exception….Watson….
Since my arguments are totally rational, logical, consistent and rule based and yours as has been noted is simply an expression of your personal dislike for me, I’m pretty sure you’ve got that backwards, Watson.
Yep…. Your Ego trumps rationality….. That explains it all…Sherlock….
LK,
You are most welcome and “as do I”.
Thanks for the info Gene. The “Corrections” thread was serving two purposes and was getting so long it was taking some of our old computers a long time to load. it needed to be re-worked. I don’t think an open thread would suit the Professor’s aims with his blawg but a suggestion thread might, as does a thread for corrections alone. I will await the reveal with interest.
Is that how you intend to explain your argument?
I’ll buy that.
Geeze,
This is personal Ego trumps rationality…
‘Zactly, Darren.
You are correct Darren,
I am objecting to the post being deleted …. As for the professor not having time…. I assure you he does make the time to read…. Some just do what they do….l
I don’t see what some are getting upset about. Professor Turley does not have time to monitor every post on every thread on his blog so he delegates that to several others who he has given agency to do so. If he has chosen to assign that ability any particular individual they are then acting on our professor’s authority.
Professor Turley is not an agent of government, nor is this blog the property of a gov’t agency. If he chooses, or delegates the choice to delete certain comments based upon whatever criteria he wills then it is his perogative.
There have been few incidences, compared to what has been allowed through, of individual posts being removed. Considering what has been allowed here is much more objectionable than what other blogs’ rules might be considered cause for removal.
I think this is beginning to sound more like others’ objecting to a particular individual than the subject of removing the post itself.
A fool eh…. Who’d thought someone was making it personal… I missed the bulletin….
LK,
Not sure. Not long ago the suggestion was made to split the Corrections thread into a Corrections and a Suggestions thread. Maybe that renovation is underway.
Now it’s not censorship that bothers you so much, it’s just . . . me. Again, the only person I see making it personal at this point is you, AY. If you think I’m not going to defend myself, you’re sorrily mistaken.
That you attack me over something I didn’t do (and the other relevant parties all know this) just goes to show there is a line between advocacy and meddling.
You’re making a fool of yourself.
It’s most entertaining.
OT- but since we’re OT here it appears, I asked this elsewhere but can’t remember where: I don’t see a “Corrections” thread anymore, is it being repaired or discarded or ?????.
Someone was going to censor… Correction…
Nick,
As I made it clear this morning and it was forwarded to the appropriate person to make the decision….
I did not see anything you posted as being outside the so called imaginary and subjective rules….
That’s why I did what I did…. And will continue to do so until this unjustified censoring stops…. It’s purely personal….. If so,done was going to censor, let it be The Mikes, Mespo, Elaine, Raff or David….. They don’t make it personal, nor do they keep the banter up….
Free speech comes with it the cost of hearing things you don’t like….and you’re free to ignore those as well….
Good luck in your recovery….