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Show Dear Sam, The following are excerpts from a letter by J. Bracken Lee, Mayor of Salt Lakr City, to a doctor at the University Uni-versity of Utah College of Medicine Medical Center. I am sure that Mr. Lee is a highly intelligent man or h would not be the Mayor of the largest city in Utah, and there is no doubt that he has spont a lot of time and study stu-dy on the subject before making a decision. I hope that the people of Moab will read this letter and honestly give it some deep thought, as this same problem is confronting con-fronting them. "I have publicly opposed the articifial fluoridation of water in Salt Lake City and have assisted in publicly opposing op-posing it in a number of other oth-er cities. My opposition has been based, firstly, upon the fact that I believe in the Constitution of the United States, and I feel forcing any type of medication upon the people is a violation of our Constitution. I believe this in spite of the fact that the courts may have held otherwise. "In addition, I oppose this for the reason that what is one man's medicine is sometimes some-times another man's poison. "Foods that are excellent for some may be harmful to others. Some human bodies will discard, without trouble, elements that aren't needed, need-ed, while other bodies will absorb these elements. I don't believe you or any other physician would say for a certainty that fluoridation fluori-dation would have no ill effect ef-fect whatsoever upon any human. "I know many people, with various ailments, who have been convinced by their physicians phy-sicians that there is a possibility pos-sibility that the cumulative effect of fluordation upon their systems might worsen . their condition. If we did fluoridate the entire system, these people would then be compelled to buy their drinking drink-ing water from another source. sour-ce. "While no one may bo able to prove that fluoridation in our drinking system in the small amounts recommended is harmful to anyone, I am sure no physician can prove that the cumulative effects may not be harmful to some. The medical world today does not know what causes arthritis nor does it know what causes cancer or many other diseases too numerous to mention. I do not know and I doubt very much whether whe-ther the medical profession knows for certain whether the cumulative effects of any poison, including fluoride, might not cause some of these unknown diseases. "Basically, I do not believe be-lieve anyone should force any medication upon the people by law. If we are to maintain our freedom or any semblcnce thereof we must permit each individual indiv-idual to select his own doctor doc-tor and his own medicication. no matter how strongly we may feel about wanting to help. "I suggest that the problem prob-lem can be solved by initiating init-iating a program based upon up-on a volunteer basis with free fluoridated water being furnished those who want it and to those who will be helped by it. "I, personally, would not be afraid to take fluoride into my own system if it were forced upon me because I do not have the fear of this that many other people I know do, but I do respect the right of this great majority ma-jority of people who desire their freedom of choice in which medication, foods r liquids they consume. This is the basic reason why I cannot .support the fluoridation fluorida-tion of the Salt Lake City water sysem." These excerpts were published pub-lished in the January-February 18 issue of the" "National "Na-tional Fluoridation News." This letter was prompted by the many inquiries that have been received in the hopes that it may answer some of the questions. Sincerely, Mrs. Pauline Grossman Edu'or's Note Tn the coming weeks, it will be our pleasure to provide pro-vide a forum on these pages on the question of fluoridation fluorida-tion for Moab residents who want to avail themselves of the space. We will follow all previous rules for Letters to the Editor, Edi-tor, but will of necessity have to strictly limit the letters to 500 words each. Letters longer than this will be returned to the writer. Also, we are limiting th letters to Moab residents only. on-ly. The few form-type letters we have received to date from residents of other areas, unless absolutely pertinent o the Moab situation, have simply found their wav to "File 13." This is a Moab issue, and not one we feel is the responsibility or business, busi-ness, of the people of Salt Lake City, Ke.irns, or other places in the State. Sam Taylor r |