"We all have a mind. There is a level of incivility and inhumanity that we all can tolerate and then there is one step beyond it that we cannot. And all we have to do is recognize where that line is, recognize what we believe, and commit ourselves not to just believing in it, but to standing for it when it comes under threat." ... "Companies that are willing to collaborate with any government, to compromise the security of their products and services, do not deserve to be trusted with your data. Because if they will do it for one government they will do it for another government."
And revealed the truth, at great risk to himself, to let Americans know what their gov is doing, no matter how many times they deny it under oath (and get away with it!)
I do not accept the blowhard argument that Snowden is a coward for not turning himself in. In fact, I find that an unintelligent attempt to marginalize him.
Any official who does not take Snowden's side of things is in violation of his oath of office.
Still, exposing these bad guys is not enough, because they have no shame. If we can't fight them physically, we need to put the products of our minds where they can't seize them. Or stop producing.
This was the first one for me. I really had not followed his story in depth. I just thought the interview was well done and it made me want to pay attention to him more. I would love to see the documentary.
When this story broke, I was staying at a place with cable TV. (Normally I just use the Internet) I flipped through the channels. They played US officials condemning Snowden. Every channel had news anchors falling all over themselves to repeat whatever officials said uncritically. They didn't even make a feeble attempt to appear impartial, didn't even saying something like "we haven't had time to verify independently what gov't officials are saying." They were acting as a the state media outlet. I was really shocked.
Didn't President Bush or President Obama many years ago say something like, "these people at NSA are good Americans, your friends and neighbors. Don't you think if we were asking them to do something wrong, they'd come out and tell the people the truth?"
Wasn’t President Obama. He found the NSA to be a mystery. He asked to have the NSA’s role explained to him by Former President Bush (Sr.) when they first met.
"We all have a mind. There is a level of incivility and inhumanity that we all can tolerate and then there is one step beyond it that we cannot. And all we have to do is recognize where that line is, recognize what we believe, and commit ourselves not to just believing in it, but to standing for it when it comes under threat."
...
"Companies that are willing to collaborate with any government, to compromise the security of their products and services, do not deserve to be trusted with your data. Because if they will do it for one government they will do it for another government."
Still, exposing these bad guys is not enough, because they have no shame. If we can't fight them physically, we need to put the products of our minds where they can't seize them. Or stop producing.