You can say many things about Eric Snowden. You can say that he did a great public service to not only Americans, but citizens of the world. You can say that he put lives at risk with his release of sensitive material. I don't think you can say, however, that he is a coward. Sure, he's hiding in Russia at the moment, but it's not like that's a secret. It's a funny story that someone would choose to stay in Russia over the United States for almost any reason. The posturing by Russia is obvious, they really don't care about Snowden, they just want the U.S. to look bad. But, it looks to me, they have done that to themselves.
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin
The whole Snowden case is really about America's willingness to do anything for safety. After 9/11, the Patriot Act was hastily passed, overwhelmingly I might add, by Congress. This was the first step in a downward spiral of freedoms being taken away for safety. Everything that is happening now is a result of this passing. George Orwell once wrote a book that showed what it may look like when governments are suspicious of their own. I'm sure he didn't intend on it being an instruction manual when he finished it.
The surveillance state that America, and, the world has become is very disheartening. Sure, maybe we can't truly be "free" from invasion of privacy, but the extent to which it has been breached today is overreaching. I don't think anyone expects to be completely anonymous in today's world, it is just too connected. There are just so many people who have accounts stretched from Google to Facebook that it's not too difficult for governments to really find out everything about us. What Snowden did was leak information, which he claims was basic as to not harm anyone, that just asked a simple question, do we really need this extensive network of surveillance? That question was answered rather quickly, with a resounding yes.
"Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience. Therefore individual citizens have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring." - Declaration Made at Nuremberg
Snowden made that comment very recently when talking about his situation. He said that after all the information he released seemed to upset people throughout the world. For instance, after it was revealed that the NSA had a program, called PRISM, it upset even the United States closest allies. I mean, why would you want to be in a relationship when the other country (person) cannot really trust you. I think their claims are justified. It wasn't just our allies that got upset, other countries, mainly Latin and South American countries got livid. Apparently, Evo Morales, president of Bolivia, was re-routed when it was believed Snowden was on his flight. He didn't like that. Not one bit. Other countries south of the border offered asylum to Snowden shortly after that debacle. The thing is, that many of these countries grow tired of America's "imperialistic" games. These countries grew out of imperialism, and only recently (in historical terms) have these countries been given a sense of self. They do not want to go back to when they were just slices of their European masters. They believe that standing up to Snowden is standing up against the global footprint that is the United States.
The funny thing about this whole mess is that Snowden just confirmed what many Americans have thought for years. They were fine when they were kept in the dark about these programs. Once they are enlightened, they freak out. Doesn't make much sense really. Maybe they're less freaked out about what was told to them and more freaked out about what they don't know. The floodgates are open and Snowden has more information to give. Are people really mad as hell? Are they not going to take it anymore? Probably not, for now. Eventually, things will settle down and people will go about their lives like they always have. Oblivious to all that is happening around them. Even with all the information in front of them, they choose to remain in the dark. Maybe it's easier to live in the dark than to walk in the light.
"the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
-Alfred Nobel
I guess the reason I started writing this is because I read that Snowden should get the Nobel Peace Prize. According to the quote, he definitely deserves consideration. Has he done enough to truly warrant the prize though? I mean, this is the prize that has been given to Henry Kissinger and Yasser Arafat. It is the prize that was never given to Mahatma Gandhi, whatever your opinion of him. Like all awards, it is extremely political. I mean, they gave one to Obama, and he really hadn't done anything. For many, the award doesn't really mean anything or mean what it used to, if it ever did. Giving it to Snowden wouldn't be the worst thing that the committee has ever done. There are probably countless other people or organizations that may deserve the award more. Many of the winners were given the prize only after years of hard work. Others, like the above mentioned, were very reactionary to the times. If Snowden wins this year, which I think unlikely, it is because it is the popular choice. If he wins down the road, it is because what he did was a catalyst to making the world reevaluate the way it does business.
Brace yourselves, winter is coming. And everyone is going to get Snowden.
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