No, Sadiq Jalal Al-Azm

While you chose silence, there have been many Syrians who were brave and spoke out against the regime and were put in jail for their courage:  "But life flowed routinely on the surface. Talking about the situation publicly was out of the question. Even hinting at it was dangerous. When someone did speak up, others quickly changed the subject. A conspiracy of silence was the order of the day." But not you. Not you at all. You attained your courage as soon as you left Syria. (thanks Max)