At darker moments, contesting this kind of stuff in the wake of the 2024 election feels absurd, like demanding a cannibal use a knife and fork. But in less dark moments, it feels like the only form hope can take, as language must retain some usefulness to effect good in the world.
The headline from the New York Times about Trump nominating Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of Health and Human Services simplifies a complex issue. It raises the critical question of whether a vaccine skeptic, whose views disturb public health officials, can gain Senate confirmation.
The repeated terms 'vaccine skeptic' and 'vaccine skepticism' in media are troubling. They illustrate a misuse of language that undermines the seriousness of the public health discourse and leave readers questioning the integrity of media reporting.
Words can reveal their opposites in publications that should be authoritative. The misuse of terminology, particularly in relation to vaccine skepticism, calls into question the credibility of the narratives being perpetuated in mainstream media.
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