McEwan's Bully Pulpit

In accepting the Jerusalem Prize, Ian McEwan endured plenty of criticism from pro-Palestine advocates who claimed that in doing so he was legitimizing Israel's suppression of Palestinians. As it turns out, McEwan used the ceremony as a means of giving both sides the tongue-lashing they so deserve, and thus exercised the freedom for which the prize stands. Had he boycotted, he would have missed out on the bully pulpit that allowed him to tell the adversaries what they needed to hear. Well done.