Whether it's dealing with environmental activists, opposition politicians, dissident artists, homosexuals, or anyone else who might not be part of the power structure, we'd like to see the United States doing more to encourage Vladimir Putin to respect the free speech and human rights of people in Russia.
Why is this important?
The end of the Cold War should have brought about greater freedom for the citizens of the world. Instead, we're seeing a return to the politics of a less-enlightened time. As these issues seize headlines around the world, we'd like people like Vladimir Putin to realize that history will remember him according to what they did for people and for what they did against them. As writers, we represent the conscience of our country. We'd like to see something done.
