Saturday, December 16, 2017

Banned words at the CDC


Trump's administration's efforts to make the U.S. the laughing stock of the world. If aliens are listening to our broadcast signals, we'll be the laughingstock of the universe.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/16/health/cdc-banned-words/index.html

By Jessica Ravitz, CNN
Updated 12:38 PM ET, Sat December 16, 20

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the very agency tasked with saving and protecting the lives of the most vulnerable, are now under order by the Trump administration to stop using words including "vulnerable" in 2018 budget documents, according to The Washington Post.

In a 90-minute briefing on Thursday, policy analysts at the nation's leading public health institute were presented with the menu of seven banned words, an analyst told the paper. On the list: "diversity," "fetus," "transgender," "vulnerable," "entitlement," "science-based" and "evidence-based."

Alternative word choices reportedly were presented in some cases. For instance, in lieu of "evidence-based" or "science-based," an analyst might say, "CDC bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes," the source said. But those working on the Zika virus's effect on developing fetuses may be at a loss for appropriate -- or acceptable -- words.

The reaction in the room was "incredulous," the longtime CDC analyst told the Post. "It was very much, 'Are you serious? Are you kidding?'"

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"You cannot fight against the Zika virus, or improve women's and fetal health, if you are unable to use the word 'fetus.' You must be able to talk about science and evidence if you are to research cures for infectious diseases such as Ebola," Singiser said. "You must be able to acknowledge the humanity of transgender people in order to address their health care needs. You cannot erase health inequities faced by people of color simply by forbidding the use of the words 'vulnerable' or 'diversity'."
"Here's a word that's still allowed," added Rush Holt, chief executive officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. "Ridiculous."

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I also posted this on Facebook along with the comment: "You might have seen the Trump's administration's efforts to make the U.S. the laughing stock of the world. If aliens are listening to our broadcast signals, we'll be the laughingstock of the universe.".

I had changed my account recently so that only Facebook friends can post comments on my posts, after a couple of obnoxious commenters. So somebody I don't know, who is not connected to me on Facebook, sent me a message saying "Hey Patricia, something about this post bothers me and I'd rather not see it on Facebook. Would you please take it down?". Sounded like some kind of automatic response, maybe she reported me to Facebook. Supposedly someone named Jeanette Resnick, at https://www.facebook.com/jeanette.resnick .

I notice that she can see my post because my posts are public, whereas I can't see his/her posts, if there are any and not an imposter or bot.


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