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Article published Apr 15, 2008 Name calling is out of place
Dear Editor:
Re: fluoridation of South Blount Utility District water.
Although we are not members of Citizens for Blount County’s Future, we support this group’s activism on behalf of those of us who do not feel our county mayor has the right to force us to drink water which will not be beneficial to our health.
More than one letter has been printed in this newspaper stating the harmful effects of fluoride; therefore it is not necessary to reiterate the damage that may be done to our bodies.
We looked at the labels of three different toothpastes (Crest, Aquafresh, and Colgate) and found warnings on each of them. The most alarming was to contact a poison center if the paste was swallowed. Now I realize that we have drunk water for many years (we are seniors) which had fluoride in it and, to our knowledge, have suffered no ill effects. But wouldn’t it seem prudent to err on the side of caution and not introduce it if there was the slightest possiblilty of causing harm to someone who may be injured by consuming this material? Just reading about its origin is enough to cause a reasonable person to not want to consume it.
In denigrating his constituents by name calling (“she didn’t get enough attention as a little girl”) and to those who do not agree with his rulings (“cave people, the citizens against virtually everything,” and “I hope I hear one of the cave people say one good thing about Blount County; just one,”) the Blount County mayor is certainly not showing himself to be a very mature man. When you are in public office you will be subject to disagreements. Your decisions will be questioned. You have to rise above abasing those for whom you serve if they do not agree with you.
We have made our wishes known not to have fluoride in our water. Can we be heard without being maligned?
Bonnie J. and Ted Lee 1805 Big Gully Road Maryville, TN 37801