Snowden - Hero or Traitor?

[Darkman]

 

[LightPattern]

Defector - it looks like.
Except for that he could have been a hero.

 

[sandorski]

Neither, Whistelblower

 

[shira]

Why does everyone create polls with only black and white options for the response? Is this a reflection of the way the OP views the world?

In fact, I think that Snowden has elements of both characteristics - a hero AND a traitor. As a country, we've definitely benefited from his exposure of the NSA's spying on Americans. But it's also clear that he stole and revealed information that really has severely harmed U.S. interests.

This was the same issue with Manning: If he'd released only carefully selected information the exposed wrongdoing by U.S. troops and information that merely embarrassed people but not endangered them, I doubt he would have been indicted.

So your poll should also include three "mixed options:"

1. Mostly a hero, but partly a traitor
2. Equal parts hero and traitor
3. Mostly a traitor, but partly a hero.

 

[Darkman]

LOL ... the PIC didn't call for those poll response options ....

As it is, I already provided two extra options there above ......

----------------------

On a lighter note, however:

A Hero, I say ........

What's next for him ...... ?

Maybe he finds himself some sexy looking Russian girlfriend now ...

I am sure many Russian girls wouldn't mind him.

 

[Fenixgoon]

patriot.

without his disclosure, no one would no what PRISM is or the extent of NSA monitoring. this man loves america more than those in the Capitol and the White House.

 

[werepossum]

Why does everyone create polls with only black and white options for the response? Is this a reflection of the way the OP views the world?

In fact, I think that Snowden has elements of both characteristics - a hero AND a traitor. As a country, we've definitely benefited from his exposure of the NSA's spying on Americans. But it's also clear that he stole and revealed information that really has severely harmed U.S. interests.

This was the same issue with Manning: If he'd released only carefully selected information the exposed wrongdoing by U.S. troops and information that merely embarrassed people but not endangered them, I doubt he would have been indicted.

So your poll should also include three "mixed options:"

1. Mostly a hero, but partly a traitor
2. Equal parts hero and traitor
3. Mostly a traitor, but partly a hero.

Well said. I put Snowden way above Manning, but in general we need more nuance, not less. Very few things and even fewer people are either all good or all bad.

patriot.

without his disclosure, no one would no what PRISM is or the extent of NSA monitoring. this man loves america more than those in the Capitol and the White House.

Agreed. The man made a great sacrifice to save his country. I'm still uncomfortable about his ties to wikileaks and his betrayal of his vows, but I don't see how he could have done what he needed to do otherwise. Certainly not without winding up dead or locked away for life.

 

[dud]

Why does everyone create polls with only black and white options for the response? Is this a reflection of the way the OP views the world?

In fact, I think that Snowden has elements of both characteristics - a hero AND a traitor. As a country, we've definitely benefited from his exposure of the NSA's spying on Americans. But it's also clear that he stole and revealed information that really has severely harmed U.S. interests.

This was the same issue with Manning: If he'd released only carefully selected information the exposed wrongdoing by U.S. troops and information that merely embarrassed people but not endangered them, I doubt he would have been indicted.

So your poll should also include three "mixed options:"

1. Mostly a hero, but partly a traitor
2. Equal parts hero and traitor
3. Mostly a traitor, but partly a hero.

And why does the OP (who has previously stated as NOT being American) have a compulsive need to post ad infinitum about a country he is a stranger to? He gets all of his "facts" fromthe Internet and believes it.

 

[werepossum]

And why does the OP (who has previously stated as NOT being American) have a compulsive need to post ad infinitum about a country he is a stranger to? He gets all of his "facts" fromthe Internet and believes it.

America is a unique nation and it's not uncommon for foreigners to be fascinated by us.

 

[z1ggy]

And why does the OP (who has previously stated as NOT being American) have a compulsive need to post ad infinitum about a country he is a stranger to? He gets all of his "facts" fromthe Internet and believes it.

I find this very very odd. He seems to be extremely invested in the TM shooting case, and now all this NSA garbage. I don't understand why he/she feels like they need to be so involved.

And overall I wouldn't call Snowden a Hero or Traitor. While he did release "secret" government data, it was for our benefit. It showed us that behind our backs, the government doesn't trust it's own people, and that if you really examine the evidence... We are all being treated like the enemy. Is that a country that you want to live in? Is that a government you want running your life?

 

[Zargon]

Defector - it looks like.
Except for that he could have been a hero.

he was left with little choice.


I would have ran too



hero? eh

patriot? probably

traitor? only to a corrupt organization that violating the rights of those it vows to protect

 

[justoh]

Still don't know why he couldn't have leaked shit anonymously. Just looking for attention, I guess. Neither a traitor nor a hero.

 

[Jaskalas]

Still don't know why he couldn't have leaked shit anonymously. Just looking for attention, I guess. Neither a traitor nor a hero.

Maybe because he couldn't do it without the NSA knowing.

Maybe because, without the media, he'd already be dead or in GITMO. The public knowing of him is a way to keep him from disappearing.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I don't think we have sufficient facts to know for sure - it depends what if anything he gives to hostile foreign governments.

 

[C1]

The whole spying panoply seems to be creating massive issues. Daily now we are seeing reported constitutional infractions involving rights and privacy. Other countries such as Germany, USSR and China are voicing concern over USA spying policies.

There is no guarantee that "the system" will not be used to blackmail or coerce and/or used to create havoc in the financial markets thru attaining advanced information concerning corporate mergers/acquisitions, playing games with knowledge of large international transfers of currencies, etc.

It has been already revealed that there is nothing stopping any analyst from pulling up and reading Paris Hilton's private affairs (emails, medical records, financial activities, etc.) and perhaps even selling such information to say the National Enquirer.

The problem with this, as you can see, is that spying open the doors to possibilities of all kind of further governmental level corruption.

 

[bradley]

Those who vote "hero" will be placed under immediate and direct surveillance by the NSA.

 

[Attic]

Hero because he put all of us above himself.

I believe that was his intent at least even if it can be argued it was misguided.

I don't think he was misguided.

 

[Attic]

Those who vote "hero" will be placed under immediate and direct surveillance by the NSA.

They were so much more entertaining in the movie sneakers.

I want that NSA running things, and Robert Redford as a granddad.

 

[piasabird]

There is a distinct difference between trying to protect the public and just being against a war. When you are in the Military you swear an oath or affirm a legal obligation to defend your country. I would use the word Patriot also to describe snowden. However, Snowden knew he was risking his life to tell us all what was going on.

 

[piasabird]

Maybe if the stupid government quit letting all the Muslims come here we would be a lot safer. Somehow I prefer people from Mexico compared to Muslims that will radicalize and blow us up.

 

[piasabird]

Maybe the next president should grant Snowden a pardon. It is kind of too late to do it now since he has been scared into hiding by our evil Nazi secret police in the Federal Government.

 

[Darkman]

Snowden for President!

... or he gets two Russian girlfriends maybe, and we call it an even steven))

 

[soulcougher73]

To the corrupt govenrment he is a traitor. Do the people he is a hero.

 

[Fenixgoon]

There is a distinct difference between trying to protect the public and just being against a war. When you are in the Military you swear an oath or affirm a legal obligation to defend your country. I would use the word Patriot also to describe snowden. However, Snowden knew he was risking his life to tell us all what was going on.

the first thing you swear to protect in the US military is the Constitution (against enemies both foreign and domestic...)

 

[MiniDoom]

The traitor is in the white house.