Censorship of CDC

In response to: “CDC ordered to ban certain words: fetus, transgender,” (Dec. 16):

The White House directive to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ban certain words in any official document related to next year’s budget is censorship and must be vehemently opposed. How can forbidding words like “vulnerable,” “entitlement,” “diversity,” “transgender,” “fetus,” “evidence-based,” and “science-based” be consistent with a democratic form of government?

In my opinion this is a heavy-handed move by the White House to restrict the CDC from doing its work to protect our public health, and smacks of the tactics of totalitarian regimes around the world both current and past. Nazi Germany found censorship to be a very successful tool to advance its atrocious agenda.

In Spokane and Washington state, citizens and professionals are demanding that policy be based on evidence in our criminal justice system, in education and in health care. We are also speaking up to say that diversity is critical to a free and equitable society and transgender individuals are equal members of our community who have inherent worth and dignity.

This censorship of the CDC is wrong. If it appalls you it is time to speak up. Your silence is consent.

Mary Lou Johnson

Spokane