As dawn broke on the first full day of freedom for Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan, it was appropriate for us to do more than cheer. Yes, we all had reason to celebrate when their plane touched down and they emerged onto the tarmac to be greeted by not only the president or the vice president of the United States of America, but both, and the rush we all felt when we learned of their liberation from Russian prisons must resound and echo for a long time. It is up to us — each and all — to see to it. We owe them more than we know.
And we who know first-hand—or whose ancestors did—should know even better.
Evan, Alsu and Paul were going about their lives when one day the Russian Bear pounced. That day, they woke up a reporter, an editor and a Marine veteran, but went to sleep prisoners. The gratitude we feel for what they do is a given under normal circumstances. Now, though, after their long and wrongful ordeals, when we thank Paul for his service, it must become a deeper expression, not casually spoken, and when we utter the names of Evan and Alsu, we must also adamantly reject those who call them fake news or — worse — the enemy of the people.
Further, let us make two commitments:
- We must see that every veteran and their families be cared for with the same zeal with which they fought to protect us for their entire lives. And let Paul Whelan be the face of that ideal.
- Our obligation to our journalists is equal in magnitude but it takes a different stance. As a freelance journalist myself, for 21 years and counting, below are my thoughts.
Journalism is sacred and it carries with it an enormous responsibility. Over these 21 years, my already huge appreciation for journalists — especially reporters — has only grown. I couldn’t on my best day do what they do every day: cover the world in a timely, objective, thoughtful manner. They play a grossly underappreciated role in our lives and we know about our world because of what they do.
But I am a columnist and essayist, and every time I summon the muse of prose, I try to produce the best commentary and most valuable advice I’ve ever offered. That, as I see it, is my role and it sets a high standard for me.
The press — especially print — has been under strife for a couple of decades now for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is apathy. As long as we have our 24-hour cable news and our incessant parade of alerts and notifications, that seems to be OK for most people. It’s not, I assure you, why Evan and Alsu answered the call to journalism. So what we owe them is a more appreciative and critical consumption of what they offer. Let them be the face of our renewed focus.
Honoring Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan is not only an act on a personal basis. It is a collective imperative to keep in our sights and hearts on some of the ideals we hold most high.
Career Coach Eli Amdur provides top-notch one-on-one coaching in job search, résumés, interviewing, career planning and executive development. Reach him at [email protected] or 201-357-5844.
