The recent firing of Tami Silicio and David Landry [for providing the media with photographs of coffins of U.S. service members killed in Iraq] (BDN, April 23) is another example of censorship by those in power in Washingtonto control the American public’s knowledge of current events.

As a proud member of a VFW auxiliary, I feel grief, pride and gratitude when I see the flag-draped coffins of those who gave their all for the price of freedom. I am proud of our military. There is a small button on all remote controls that may be pressed to turn TV sets off if the news coverage, including photographs, is offensive to some people. By the same token, those of us who wish to be informed daily should have that privilege.

Would this policy of not showing pictures to the general public have been put into effect if this were not an election year?

Dawn I. Roundy

Bangor