Many Ukrainians now have a deep aversion to all things Russian – language, literature, performing arts. Russia’s invasion isn’t just territorial it’s also cultural. “Don’t these folks realize they are on the same side? Literally no one involved in this whole dispute supports Putin or his war, so what are they fighting about?”The sensitivities are understandable. Suzanne Nossel, the organization’s CEO, called it “a no-win situation.”To Americans who care deeply about Ukraine while also seeking to defend Russians who have nothing to do with the war or outright oppose it, the PEN America situation is exasperating.“The relentless zero-sum approach is just awful,” says an analyst with long experience in the post-Soviet world, speaking not for attribution. PEN canceled the panel that included Russians.Acclaimed Russian émigré journalist Masha Gessen quit as vice president of the PEN America board over the episode. The Russians oppose President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine and had left their country shortly after last year’s invasion, but the Ukrainians – both active-duty soldiers – stood firm.
Rushdie, who has faced death threats since the 1988 publication of his novel “The Satanic Verses,” deemed by Iran’s ayatollahs to be blasphemous toward Islam.A clash over free speech had earlier marred PEN America’s World Voices Festival, when two Ukrainian authors threatened not to appear after learning that two Russian writers were participating in a different panel. Salman Rushdie’s surprise appearance at last night’s PEN America Literary Gala – a celebration of free expression – ended a week of controversy on a high note.It was the author’s first public appearance since he was attacked and gravely wounded last August at a literary festival in western New York.“It’s nice to be back,” said Mr.
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