Only A Terrorist Would Complain About Tennessee's Water Quality
from the drink-the-damn-water...-or-the-terrorists-win! dept
The War on Terror has lasted so long the words have lost all meaning. Some of our war on terror actually involves warlike actions in other countries. Other parts of this war take the form of a debate on which constitutional rights are now considered optional -- a debate the general public isn't welcome to attend.
Still other parts of this capital-W, neverending war are even more poorly defined. Whenever some act or statement might have potentially negative consequences for Americans and/or their government, these too become our enemies. Another example of how the word "terrorism" has come to mean everything and nothing simultaneously is gracelessly provided by a member of Tennessee's water regulation body.
A Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation deputy director warned a group of Maury County residents that unfounded complaints about water quality could be considered an “act of terrorism.”It's tough to tell where Smith was headed when he began this statement, but it's altogether unsurprising where it ends up. Anything is an act of terrorism, even complaining about water quality. If the state disagrees with the public's assessment that the water is so hard it's best consumed with a chisel and a fork, they're now on The List and should know that any attempts to board a plane in the future will require a full-blown molestation of their person and carry-on luggage.
“We take water quality very seriously. Very, very seriously,” said Sherwin Smith, deputy director of TDEC’s Division of Water Resources, according to audio recorded by attendees. “But 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.”
Even if the state agrees the water is better described as "heavily diluted silt," you've still got the feds to deal with, at least according to Smith. Apparently, the US government also has the power to declare your drinking water "pretty excellent, actually" before charging your complaining ass with "communicating terroristic speculation on local water quality."
At least the audience had the presence of mind to a.) get it all on tape and b.) say what everyone was thinking.
“Can you say that again, please?” an audience member can be heard asking on the audio.Well, if you can't be right, at least be consistent. Smith's spokespeople were quick to issue a "no comment" and pledged to get to the bottom of Smith's statement, which was probably "misheard" or "taken out of context."
Smith went on in the recording to repeat the claim almost verbatim.
“In terms of the comments made by a member of the Water Resources Division at the meeting, we are just receiving the information and looking into this on our end,” spokeswoman Meg Lockhart said. “The department would like to fully assess what was said in the meeting. I am told that the meeting was far longer than the audio clip provided by SOCM and that Mr. Smith actually clarified his remarks. But again, we are looking into it.”The comment shocked and outraged attendees, who saw it as an attempt to silence complaints, said Brad Wright, organizer for SOCM in Middle Tennessee.
Rep. [Sheila] Butt, who organized the meeting, also was shocked.Silence by rhetoric or not, there's evidence that those in charge of regulating water supplies take any disparagement of the goods very seriously.
“I think that we need to be very careful with how we use the words ‘terrorist’ and ‘terrorism,’ ” she said. “I thought it was out of context. That did not apply to anything that we were discussing at the meeting.”
Butt said the water issue had been marred by “communication breakdowns” by both sides, which wouldn’t be made easier with such inflammatory comments being made.
A few months ago, a couple of Florida DJs pranked the local population, issuing a warning that the local drinking water was full of "dihydrogen monoxide." A small panic ensued and the pair briefly found themselves facing possible felony charges before more rational thinking prevailed.
[A]pparently, the station, the water works, and perhaps the authorities are still trying to figure out if the two hosts could face felony charges for, again, reporting that the scientific name of water was coming out of the pipes. "My understanding is it is a felony to call in a false water quality issue," Diane Holm, a public information officer for Lee County, told WTSP, while Renda stood firm about his deejays: "They will have to deal with the circumstances."There you have it. If citizens know what's good for them, they'll shut up and choke down the local water, no matter how loaded with unexpected minerals, chemicals and barely treated sewage it is. This is America, dammit, home of the world's finest water! We certainly don't need rowdy crowds of dehydrated malcontents ruining our reputation at home and abroad with their terroristic complaining.
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Filed Under: sherwin smith, tennessee, terrorism, water quality
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Terrorism
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Re: Terrorism
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Re: Re: Terrorism
(I'm looking at you FBI)
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Re: Terrorism
Most people's definition:
Terrorism: the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes. (Source: Dictionary.com)
Example: The September 11th attacks were an act of terrorism.
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Government's definition:
Terrorism: What we accuse people of when we don't get our way.
Example: You stole my candy you terrorist!
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Re: Re: Terrorism
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Re: Terrorism
I've seen terror, mostly it originates from sources screaming the loudest about preventing it. How ironic!
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Sit down and shut up
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Re: Sit down and shut up
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There must be billions of the suckers by now.
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On the other hand, if you're describing the water as "heavily diluted silt,", or that it's "so hard it's best consumed with a chisel and a fork" that's not exactly going to cause a panic. There's a big difference between "this water tastes bad and is leaving deposits" and "this water will kill us all."
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Common sense never applies to the government.
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Wow, you're just awful.
There's no real definition of terrorism. States that define it (in order to prohibit it) invariably do so in a way that allows them to engage in terrorism against their enemies and their own people, and to allow their allies to engage in it abroad. Academics, NGOs, international organizations, etc. tend to adopt broader views, also condemning state terrorism.
But one of the most commonly agreed upon criteria is that it requires violence or the threat of violence. That's missing here. Merely criticizing the government, whether it results in a panic or not, is not only not terrorism, it's a fundamentally important and necessary thing to do in a democracy.
So take your lily-livered kowtowing to authority figures who are so weak and insecure that they cannot even stand the slightest opposition, and go fuck yourself with it.
And before you drag out the old 'falsely shouting fire in a theater' example, know that the case it comes from (Schenck v. US) is no longer good law, having been superseded by Brandenberg v. Ohio, which is more protective of free speech, and also even by Schenck's crappy logic, truthfully shouting fire is protected and in fact admirable.
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So your argument is that poison is nonviolent?
"Merely criticizing the government, whether it results in a panic or not, is not only not terrorism, it's a fundamentally important and necessary thing to do in a democracy."
We agree on that.
"truthfully shouting fire is protected and in fact admirable."
Yes, but I said "in order to cause a panic, and you know it's not true". I'm not even requiring that it BE true, just that the person THINK it's true. Otherwise it's on the same level as falsely saying there's a bomb about to go off. It's not protected speech and you can be arrested for it.
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Knowingly causing a panic is far better handled under law concerned with fraud unless violence is used or threatened in the creation of that panic.
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poisoning the water!!!
Skin: Contact with skin causes irritation and possible burns, especially if the skin is wet or moist. May cause skin rash (in milder cases), and cold and clammy skin with cyanosis or pale color.
Ingestion: May be fatal if swallowed. Ingestion of large amounts of fluoride may cause salivation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, labored breathing. Exposure to fluoride compounds can result in systemic toxic effects on the heart, liver, and kidneys. It may also deplete calcium levels in the body leading to hypocalcemia and death. May cause irritation of the digestive tract and possible burns. May cause respiratory paralysis and cardiac arrest.
Inhalation: May cause severe irritation of the respiratory tract with possible burns. Aspiration may lead to pulmonary edema. Prolonged exposure to dusts, vapors, or mists may result in the perforation of the nasal septum. May cause systemic effects.
Chronic: Chronic inhalation and ingestion may cause chronic fluoride poisoning (fluorosis) characterized by weight loss, weakness, anemia, brittle bones, and stiff joints. Effects may be delayed. Chronic exposure may cause lung damage. Laboratory experiments have resulted in mutagenic effects. Chronic exposure to fluoride compounds may cause systemic toxicity. Skeletal effects may include bone brittleness, joint stiffness, teeth discoloration, tendon calcification, and osterosclerosis. Animal studies have reported the development of tumors.
ACK the government is poisoning the water!
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Re: poisoning the water!!!
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Re: Water Quality
Terrorism at the water plant would either be sabotage or spiking the water supply with a tasteless poison or pathogen. Since the local residents apparently are dieing in unusual numbers terrorism has almost certainly not occurred.
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I have his clarification right here:
If you continue down this path of complaining about the water quality, the department of homeland security is going to declare you a terrorist and water-board you with this carcinogenic crap until you are permanently silenced. We will see if you like the taste of the water in Guantanamo Bay any better.
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Breaking News..
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Sherwin Smith, Deputy Director
Division of Water Resources
615-532-0445
sherwin.smith@tn.gov
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There is a term for this: "Trying to Keep Official Harmony"
Yet, the actions of the officals are merely a reflection of the people that elected them into office, or the elected the people that appointed the board. - http://bbs.chinadaily.com.cn/blog-135031-9764.html
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Re: There is a term for this: "Trying to Keep Official Harmony"
That's the theory, but in practice money selects the candidates that the people can elect. Therefore the people are reduced to endorsing one of several corporate choices of candidate.
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Re: Re: There is a term for this: "Trying to Keep Official Harmony"
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Re: There is a term for this: "Trying to Keep Official Harmony"
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Bad name, dude
Ouch! A name like that's bound to make her the *ahem* target of all sorts of jokes...
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Re: Bad name, dude
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Re: Bad name, dude
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This guy needs his knee slammed with a brick for even banging that drum. Terrorism indeed! He's just using his power and a hot button topic to scare people into silence.
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Maybe that shit worked in Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia but it sure as hell isn't going to work here!
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Where's Nestle in this argument?
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Ah Dr. Strangelove
Seriously, is this Sherwin Smith fellow related to a General Jack D. Ripper by any chance?
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Blundering bureaucrats
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Re: Blundering bureaucrats
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they finally admit that complaints from citizens to their government are considered 'acts of terrorism'
... It starts. >:D
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I refuse to be ruled by fear and intimidation. I'm American, after all -- we FAR outnumber the government.
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Before Terrorist, there was Communist, before that...
Once upon a time terrorist had a meaning, it's used so much now it has none. Before that calling someone a communist at least described a certain political, economic and social ideology, being pro-Brit, well, a denial of where the 13 States came from but still understandable at least.
Used too often words lose meaning. Terrorist has lost it's meaning, as communist did before that (until it's total failure in imperialist places like Russia.)
All any of these has ever meant, when tossed about like the water board guy did, is dissidents or people who complain about the fact that they can use their water as a substitute for concrete. Ahhh, freedom, where art thou now that we need you|!
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Definition of Terrorist: Sherwin Smith
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Re: Definition of Terrorist: Sherwin Smith
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Your logic is so strained it ripped your tinfoil hat. Watch out! The government probably vaccinated you too!
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Re: Re: Definition of Terrorist: Sherwin Smith
Sodium fluoride is indeed in toothpaste, which people generally don't swallow.
Fluoridating water is nonsense, but fluoride toothpaste can really prevent deterioration dental health.
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Consider how the Boston Tea Party would be considered a "terrorist act" under current US laws. And look at all that followed after that event.
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O.P.E.
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