Edward Snowden: Traitor or Hero?

[sntaylor]

Interesting, even if published by the media, it is still classified, therefore one can't discuss. Welcome to 1984.

Members of Congress denied access to basic information about NSA | Glenn Greenwald | Comment is free | theguardian.com

"In early July, Grayson had staffers distribute to House members several slides published by the Guardian about NSA programs as part of Grayson's efforts to trigger debate in Congress. But, according to one staff member, Grayson's office was quickly told by the House Intelligence Committee that those slides were still classified, despite having been published and discussed in the media, and directed Grayson to cease distribution or discussion of those materials in the House, warning that he could face sanctions if he continued."

Similar thing happened over here with the Ryan giggs affair and a few other things....can't remember what one it was for, but I know someone mentioned it in parliament as it meant papers could then report on it. Even more stupid, especially with the Ryan giggs story,a paper based in Scotland were able to mention it, while Scottish papers with a base in England couldn't!

 

[OutofDate1980]

"... and did m'lord see just how HOT his ex is? ...

Well, for the young, that is very important in their lives.

 

[OutofDate1980]

The treatment of David Miranda just to get back at Glenn Greenwald for reporting on the leaks by Edward Snowden may have backfired.

David Miranda detention: a betrayal of trust and principle | Editorial | Comment is free | The Guardian

"Because of schedule 7's troubling history, parliament already has both a chance and a responsibility to prove otherwise. Schedule 7 should be radically tightened, so that exceptional powers are applied only in genuinely exceptional terror-related cases. Detentions should require reasonable suspicion. Confiscated materials should be returned quickly, where no charge is brought or national security involved, as fingerprints and DNA samples now are. Access to a lawyer should be allowed. If parliament rises to the occasion, perhaps some good may have come from what is otherwise a disgraceful episode of state harassment of independent journalism and free citizens."

 

[Thatdad]

I think Snowden did what he thought was the right thing to do.
Traitor? Hero? I'm not sure what to call him. But I commend him for standing up for what he believes.

 

[jefboyardee]

Back in the news:

Snowden Nominated by Norwegian Lawmakers for Nobel Peace Prize

Edward Snowden was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian politicians, including a former government minister, for contributing to transparency and global stability by exposing a U.S. surveillance program.

 

[sntaylor]

He has also agreed to run as a candidate for the student rector at Glasgow university

BBC News - Edward Snowden bids to become Glasgow University rector

 

[dibblebill]

I do hope he wins one or hte other of those.

 

[OcalaFlGuy]

I may actually have to agree that his disclosures Have had some positive effects in at least slowing down the rampant government snooping.

Hero or Traitor?

Hmmm.

I'd say he's more a Colonic Cyst.

He's not near as bad as he first appeared to be but he's still something you want cut out.

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

 

[dibblebill]

I see no reason to want him cut out. He should be pardoned, in my opinion. He helped reveal a level of illegal activities that a lot of people didn't suspect was going on (though all the signs are there)

 

[OcalaFlGuy]

What he did was still a Crime.

Criminals aren't heroes to me.

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

 

[dibblebill]

So what you're saying is that if someone's doing something immoral, illegal, and wrong, but it's wrong and illegal to report on it, then it shouldn't be reported on?

Okay, you're definitely on solid, rational ground.

 

[OcalaFlGuy]

Remember what you yourself said you thought many members here thought about your positions?

I have to say I'm in violent agreement with you there.

I'm done here.

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

 

[dibblebill]

Fair enough.

I suppose all the people on Youtube who post videos of incidences of police abuse of power or brutality should all be prosecuted too, then, so let's start on taht, since many states have laws against recording people on duty.

EDIT: Also, forgot. The US founding fathers were criminals, too, by British standards. Therefore, they can not be considered heroes.

 

[psionandy]

EDIT: Also, forgot. The US founding fathers were criminals, too, by British standards. Therefore, they can not be considered heroes.

If you're putting together a list of people who cannot be considered hero's... we could add Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus Christ, The Rolling Stones, Batman, Rosa Parks, 'That Russian pop group that ends in Riot', Muhammad Ali, Martha Stewart, Errol flynn, Robin Hood....

 

[dibblebill]

I'm putting together a list that can't be considered heroes by his criteria, yes.

 

[copestag]

and lets not forget the current most powerful man in the world that people believe the title hero is beneath him..... some believe hes the messiah....... but none can deny hes also a criminal by constitutional standards

 

[saptech]

You guys sure say some funny stuff....

 

[dibblebill]

No comment on that last one. We'd have to start arresting most of Washington going back over a century.

 

[copestag]

which brings me back to my original statement on the topic:

he cannot be a hero without being a traitor

it all depends on your agenda

if what he did hurts your agenda then call him traitor

if what he did helps your agenda then call him hero

but he cannot be one without the other

 

[dibblebill]

which brings me back to my original statement on the topic:

he cannot be a hero without being a traitor

it all depends on your agenda

if what he did hurts your agenda then call him traitor

if what he did helps your agenda then call him hero

but he cannot be one without the other

Put like that, then yes, I agree

 

[!on]

Snowden & Assange are irrelevant, I didn't trust the governments before they piped up, if they are that much of a concern to western governments, they would be dead by now. I don't buy it. We were told how governments could & would snoop on our communications YEARS ago, on mainstream news TV. Why is it such an uproar now?

Collateral Murder? Did Vietnam not happen? The British Raj? Atrocities are happening at all times, not just to people, but to animals as well.

 

[sntaylor]

he won, he won.....

BBC News - Edward Snowden elected as rector of Glasgow University

 

[psionandy]

Collateral Murder? Did Vietnam not happen? The British Raj? Atrocities are happening at all times, not just to people, but to animals as well.

Which is why its really good that we find out about it...

Imagine if anyone who released information about the East India Company was locked up in the Tower of London, or if any Journalists who didn't report the official line from US government and reported on the Tet offensive were shot as traitors....

 

[dibblebill]

Uh, that's not too far from the truth in several of those cases...

 

[psionandy]

Uh, that's not too far from the truth in several of those cases...

exactly...