Edward Snowden: Hero or Traitor?

When the story broke with regards to the NSA’s –our very own government—spying on U.S. citizens in a sweeping --not to mention illegal-- over-stepping of their original mandate as dictated the USA Patriot Act, I wanted to keep the focus on the important issue:  the gross violation of our constitutionally guaranteed right to privacy as U.S. citizens.  While this issue, and more specifically obtaining satisfactory answers and accountability moving forward from our government officials responsible remains foremost in my thoughts: I have since had time to give some thought to the man who broke this story … A man without whom we would not even know that we needed to be having the latter discussion:  Edward Snowden. 

I’ve heard both sides of the arguments for and against Edward Snowden in the days and weeks that have followed the breaking of this historic news story and I can’t help but notice that more often than not people both for and against Snowden seem to have a need to pre-suppose that they understand Snowden’s motivations for violating his security agreement with the U.S. government in the first place. Then based upon these suppositions they draw their conclusion as to whether or not Edward Snowden should be labeled with the title “hero” or “traitor.” 

Personally, I think that the most unbiased, truthful method for evaluating Snowden's actions lies in removing Snowden’s motivations from the equation all-together.  Regardless of his motivations, Edward Snowden was witness to a gross and on-going violation of the constitutionally binding agreement between an agency acting on behalf of the U.S. government and the people of the United States, a violation that went up to the highest levels.  Do you honestly think that a mere analyst voicing his concerns about these violations by following the ‘chain of command’ would ever have successfully resulted in any meaningful correction of the constitutionally flawed NSA policies?  If you do, then you must be living in fantasy-land, happily sipping the widely available Kool-aide these days … proud proponents of maintaining the status quo. 

The way I see it, Edward Snowden put his very way of life on the line when he stepped up to the plate and found the courage to be the lone voice of reason in a world gone (blanking) mad.  Does that make him a hero?  Maybe so, but whatever you choose to call Edward Snowden I will be forever grateful for his courage and it is my sincere hope that he does not lose faith in the merits of his actions, that he remains true to the United States and its citizens, and that the government of a decent country will find the courage to grant him asylum.


8/2/2013  Think in today's crazy world maybe justice moves in mysterious ways?  Strange times call for strange --unexpected-- measures.  Regardless, I am sincerely happy for Edward Snowden ... pleased he was finally granted asylum and by Russia of all countries.  Who would have thought such an outcome would have been possible several weeks back?  The ancient Arabic proverb "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" is echoing through my mind as I type here.

10/10/2013  http://dailycaller.com/2013/10/10/the-patriot-acts-author-wants-to-dismantle-the-nsas-phone-and-internet-data-collection/

All The World's But a Stage ...

via Costumer's Guide Library

[Love this photo ... Pretty much sums up my relationship w/Ken. We seem to be out of time with one another spiritually speaking
--w.r.t. soul experience-- but we fell in love with each other long ago, nonetheless.  Time will tell if our love can stand the test of time? ]

"All the world’s a stage" … How often, glancing through the chronicles of time, do we not see the same stories played out again and yet again? The same stories of love, triumphs and losses, played out with different costumes, different actors and the semblance of an accepted set of rules for a given period in time … but the heart knows no rules? I have to wonder does the script choose actor or the actor the script? I’d like to think that if we can hold onto that which we are born into this world with—the only thing we perhaps rightfully own—that the material then becomes immaterial.


“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”

~William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act II, Scene VII [All the world's a stage]

Image Source

But oh how this world will try ever so desperately to take this most precious possession from you ….

It would seem, I have a lot writing to do?



P.S. Wrote this early in the morning (early for others ... late at night/not having slept for me)after watching "Anna Karenina" ... Had forgotten that the Oscar's were to be this day.  So my post here fits rather nicely for the day? I have a lot of movies to watch ... I did happen to see the movie "Argo", yesterday, at least.  Great movie!  And "Anna Karenina" won for best costume design, so I guess I chose well : ) 

Wondering ....

If the world went mad would we be too busy with trivialities or complacency to even notice??  Would we notice the early warning signs?

Praying for the People of Egypt ...

Image Source: sealforsuccess.com

God bless the people of Egypt.  Have not written much about this, but I have been praying.  Hopefully, peace will return shortly and essentials, such as food, will no longer be in shortage.  Keep hope and peace will follow ... That's what works in my own life.

God Bless one and all!


M


P.S.  For some reason this song comes to mind when pondering the situation in Egypt. I'll share with you later what this song means to me ... my interpretation. I made a friend once because of this song ... We had a rather interesting discussion about what this song meant to us ...

Song: "When the Angels Fall", By Sting



And it's official: I have the flu .... Ugh, going back to bed ...



2/4/2011  I wonder how many would stand up for what they believe in?  Perhaps a better question is how many actually know, or can truly state, what it is that they believe in?  Have you thought about why you believe what you believe?  Are you merely being led?  And if so, by whom?


Here's a music video with Sting singing the above in concert ...





10/10/2011 Update. .. Mubarak was ousted just weeks ago.  The people of Egypt now have their freedom and what are they doing with this newfound freedom???  The whole world is watching ...

I must say, the reports that I am hearing on the news about things going on in Egypt these days brings an enormous sorrow to my heart.  It boggles my mind that those who strove so desperately for freedom from oppression just weeks ago would then turn around and use their newfound freedom to desecrate churches, destroy businesses and homes, and physically attack those of a different faith ... faiths other than Islam.  Intolerance, hatred, cruelty and oppression:  is this your newfound "freedom"?  How can you, the people of Egypt, in anyway think that a Creator, God, would embrace your agenda of destruction and oppression?     

For those of you of the Islamic faith that are choosing to engage in this mob violence, keep in mind this is not a battle to defend yourself from attack:  this is mindless mob rule acting without forethought in the name of a warped idealology of intolerance.   You are attacking people who were created by the same God as you ... people made of the same flesh and blood as you  [but what you are is in truth so much more for your body is merely a temporary housing for the true essence that is you:  the body will cease to exist but the soul lives on forever].  You are attacking people who worship the very same God as you, but they merely choose to worship Him in a different way.  Bear in mind when you stand before God at the end of your days: you alone will have to answer for your actions.  I challenge each one of you to still your mind, block out the noise, listen to your inner light and search for what is right.  Then find the courage to resist the mob gone mad  ... Be the lone voice of reason, speak out for what is right, and help put an end to this violence.  The whole world is watching you, but more importantly God our Father, the Creator, is watching you. 

I will continue my prayers for your country and all people of Egypt and the Middle East.