Letter to the editor: We have silenced ourselves

On March 14, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the parent organization for Voice of America, was defunded. (Typically, late on a Friday night!) The next day, the Voice of America shut down. No longer is it broadcasting in 48 languages.

What Stalin, Khrushchev, Putin, Ayatollah Khomeini, three leaders of China, North Korea’s Kims and Castro failed to do for 83 years of effort was accomplished by our own leader at a stroke.

This voice, which was being beamed to dark corners of the world where people have been executed for having the temerity to listen, is now off the air with no replacement in prospect. The powerful voice we willingly vacated will presumably now be filled with misinformation and lies about what the United States is doing and what we stand for.

There is a reason why our Founding Fathers made “freedom of speech or of the press” the very first amendment of the Bill of Rights. After their experience with the dictatorial King George III, they fully understood the importance of these fundamental rights.

Yet now, with no justification, and to the delight of our enemies, we have permanently silenced ourselves. It makes one wonder whose side our government is on?

Charles Henry

Greensburg