Letter to the Editor

Flint water crisis troubling

Saturday, January 30, 2016

The Flint, Michigan water crisis raises many questions. First, how did the water supply become contaminated with lead.

We elect people to office to be our shepherds, to watch out for our well being. We have literally placed our lives in their hands. We look to our elected officials to make sure the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat are safe for us. Lead in drinking water is a real concern, as lead poisoning is dangerous to our health. Anyone who consumes drinking water containing lead is exposed to potential lead poisoning. The question of Flint's water being contaminated by Legionnaire's Disease was raised back in 1978.

The Federal government banned the use of lead based paint and on toys, because of the potential health risk. Is it possible for your air and water to contain lead? The answer is yes, it is possible. The only way to know for sure how pure your air and water are, is to have the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test it. Flint's water crisis has put fear into the minds of people across this country. Planting the seed of doubt, wondering if their water is safe to drink. I can only imagine the agony and fear the citizens of Flint have right now, knowing is is possible that their loved ones may be lead poisoned. The question comes to mind, how much trust should we place in our elected officials? The Bible says, it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in Man, Psalm 118:8. The only true protection we have from the unknown is Jesus Christ.

We should pray over our water we drink, the air we breathe, and the food we eat, because we can't see what is in it. The citizens of Flint were sure their leaders were watching out for their well being. But when they found out that was not the case, they asked them to give up their office for being incompetent. Oftentimes we ask questions too late, when we should be asking them beforehand. How many times have you asked your city government about the EPA testing your water? I am proud to know the city of Osceola does indeed monitor the drinking water we consume. The city publishes a report required by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality each year. The report appeared in the June 2015 edition of the Osceola Times. A similar report will be published in June of this year.

There are some events which you cannot control, but there are ones you can. I believe proper testing of the water supply is a very controllable situation and one which avoids putting citizens in the position the leaders of the city of Flint have placed their citizens in.

-- Elder Albert Veasley

Osceola