My friends in Ukraine are not so fortunate; they are profoundly unsafe and uncomfortable and they and many of their friends and family are now dead, refugees, or Russian prisoners, and their neighbors’ houses were turned to rubble.
Neither are the Russian journalists recently murdered or thrown in prison for nothing. Neither are the at least 14 journalists killed so far in Ukraine, some directly targeted by the Russian military.
If I were president of the Freedom of the Press foundation, I would either say something about it or resign. Someone who is under such grave threat (or so embarrassed/ashamed) that he cannot speak at all is in no position to remain president of the Freedom of the Press Foundation.
Presidents of environmental justice NGOs should speak out when governments (including those where they live) allow toxic sludge to flow into rivers.
Presidents of journalistic freedom NGOs should speak out when journalists are being killed, imprisoned, and censored.
Presidents of consumer rights NGOs should speak out when popular products kill consumers.
Presidents of veterans NGOs should speak out when veterans are denied healthcare.
Presidents of children’s rights NGOs should speak out when children are systematically abused.
Etc.
Fortunately, presidents of NGOs don’t fear for their life in the USA, because the USA is substantially governed by laws, and American residents enjoy freedom of speech and association. NGO presidents who criticize the US leadership don’t get defenestrated or disappeared to a gulag.
If someone is president of the Freedom of the Press Foundation and is not in a position to advocate for freedom of the press because they are so afraid for their life they must live in total silence (note though: Snowden did make one post specifically disavowing this scenario), then they are completely useless in that role, and their silence calls into question their past activities and motivations. At that point they should resign and pass the job to someone who can actually do it.
And, I know you would do no different, in his shoes. But you are not, and never will be.
