When the institutions—be they think tanks, memorials, or cultural bodies—that usually love to flex about being “pillars of democracy" choose silence in the face of unfolding violence, they risk more than irrelevance. These great temples of wisdom and collective memory, always ready to host conferences on “the importance of vigilance” or drop glossy brochures about “never again” then become complicit and provide cover up. Their “Neutrality” becomes a shield for perpetrators, easing denial and dissolving accountability. In refusing to act with clarity and courage, these organizations betray not only their stated missions but also the societies they claim to serve.
They become a premium service for perpetrators: “Don’t worry, we won’t call you out. Keep going, we’ve got an exhibition on moral courage to curate.”
