In his recent podcast, Charles. C.W. Cooke, senior writer at NRO, discusses the case of Ivan Provorov, the Philidelphia Flyers defenseman. Provorov quietly refused to take a pre-game skate in the team’s LGBTQ+ warmup jersey, claiming his wanting “to stay true to myself and my religion” (Russian Orthodox).

From Provorov:

“I respect everyone. I respect everybody’s choices,” said the only player who refused to participate in Pride Night.

As Charles C. W. Cooke argues, a tolerance for political silence should, in almost every imaginable circumstance, be the default position.

Do you remember where were you the day Ivan Provorov said nothing?

“What Provorov is doing here,” explained Celina Makeduck, the Nina Jankowicz Professor of Hatred and Misinformation at Curtain Falls University in Maryland, “is engaging in what I like to call ‘the calculated agony of noiselessness.’ “

For decades, experts have worried that a sporting star would realize that they could just opt out of taking a stand. On Tuesday, our worst fears were realized.”

NHL player Ivan Provorov, a devout Russian Orthodox Christian, refused to wear his team’s pride jersey Tuesday. He said he made a choice to stay true to himself & his faith.

This is what courage looks like. pic.twitter.com/5GmIyYPlze

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 18, 2023