I love this article. Possibly because it makes me think of my high school literature teacher. When I was a Junior, I noticed a book sitting on his shelf. It was called "The Ayn Rand Reader." I asked my teacher if I could look at it as I am a huge lover of her work. He was not. In fact, he asked me to see the book. Opened the cover, wrote something on the inside. It said, "Use this as a door stop." I thanked him for the gift.

I still have that book 7 years later. I have read it from cover to cover and will never use it as he suggested.

Snowden is a hero in my eyes. He has risked so much to do what is right. Maybe not "legal" per our laws but none the less right. I am eager to see if he releases anymore information....

He's my hero...by any name.

Hello Mr. Desapio,

I very much enjoyed this piece. It is quite an interesting comparison. The parallels are plain.

Snowden may have broken the law, but the law was made by fallible men, and justice is not served by such a law.

Injustice is promoted when laws violate the supreme law.

O.A.

at first I felt the pivoting between characters was going to be a hard sell, but the dynamite analogy was wonderful and apropos.
“I’m not brave enough to be a coward,” she once said, because “I see the consequences too clearly.” It’s the kind of thing Edward Snowden might have said, explaining why he turned himself into the world’s most wanted fugitive."

"Snowden is Galt but mostly resembles Roark? Hunh?"

I can see that, based upon the op-ed.

I actually am sorry to have read this article, since it gives away the ending of We The Living, which I am just reading for the first time...!

An interesting article. I still believe the country and the Constitution can be saved. However if I were a Quinten Daniels in my workshop and heard the words "Are you ready?" I would go to the Gulch.

Let me first say that I am not only a veteran of the US Army, I also come from generations of military service by my father, uncles, grandfather, and great grandfather. I knew full well the oath I was taking when I enlisted and I work to keep that oath today.
Snowden is no spy, and he is no traitor.
Snowden is a man that took his oath seriously. He perceived the domestic spying programs of the NSA to be a clear and present domestic threat to the Constitution of The United States of America and all the freedom it is supposed to protect. He acted in accordance with this and hit the NSA where it would hurt them the most. He exposed their illegal activities for the world to see. He also hit them where it would hurt the least in that he retained proper OPSEC (Operational SECurity) by NOT exposing any foreign operatives, operations, service members, or any facts that could directly cost American lives.
I think it is an understatement to say that Snowden shrugged. Snowden went to war. He must have known going in that there would be a terrible price to pay for his actions. At this point it remains to be seen if this price will end up being a life in exile, his freedom, or his life. It seems he is willing to pay any of these. I greatly admire the man.

What a super great article. I have been really liking this guy lately. I hope he can stay free until he can come home safely. I deplore the idea of him rotting in prison.
Ya know... Snowden could just be the guy the Republicans need to attract some young voters. I don't suppose they could take up his cause. :) Okay...never mind.

I enjoyed your article, thank you. I've read a couple of her books and they had a profound effect on me, I'm no expert but I did get it and just believed you. Anyway while Snowden is interesting the content of what he has is the focus. The prism slides were telling and I hope the content get's more coverage than he does. I hope he get's to publish all he has and never gets apprehended. You listening NSA?