Who Is Edward Snowden A Hero

Edward Snowden sacrificed everything, to disclose the U.S. governments most

inconceivable secrets on June, 7, 2013. Being a contractor for the National Security Agency

(NSA) allowed him access to multitudes of classified documents containing evidence that the

U.S. government had been running a covert surveillance. Meaning, every movement, message,

and conversation is being or has been recorded. Permanently logged for government information.

Edward Snowden revealed this secret that no one knew about. The American government,

breaking its own rules, laws, and acts, has been lying to their people by invading their privacy.

Some say Snowden is a traitor for exploiting the American government and breaking government

laws. When in truth,

Snowden just felt that the American people should know that power is

corrupting our governments morals. He is not a criminal, he is a hero! Edward Snowden did an

equitable act, and his life changed because of it. Forced to leave his home, job, family, and

girlfriend, he made a selfless decision that made the American people stronger than before.

Snowden is a hero for disclosing classified government information all people should know

about, especially the citizens of America, and to benefit the country, if not the world.

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The activities of Snowden of exposed classified government information were illegal, and

he knew that. But the classified information that the government has been hiding about public

surveillance were extremely illegal. Breaking the 4th and 5th amendment, the government still

thinks that Snowden has done a lot of damage, but actually America benefited of the disclosures

from Snowden. He performed public service by raising awareness to take focus in the changed

that citizens made. He should be known as a hero for the courage he performed, stepping up for

what is right. According to Frederick A. O. of a BrennanCenter letter , Attorney-General Eric

Holder said Snowden “performed a public service by raising the debate that we engaged in and

by the changes that we made.” Current President Obama thinks that the public awareness

regarding surveillance that Snowden began will “make us stronger.” President Obama also has

taken action issuing an executive order acknowledging that foreigners have privacy

interest

which is something no other president has done, and then asked the community of the

intelligence to find ways to help these foreigners with protections of the American people.

Without Snowden, America or even the world wouldn't of ever found out what the

government has been secretly doing. People know that in a way, the disclosure may seem like a

traitor thing to do to go against its government and spill confidential information, but the

information was about the actions of power to their own people.

People who pay their dues, and

gives their trust to a power thats against those people. Taking advantage of its power, the

government has been keeping a very dark secret that hacks people, in a way where they know

exactly the way they think. The intelligence agency damages our reputation when performing

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these acts secretly like a ninja right behind the law abiding citizens back. The NSA, for 30 years

had obtain copies of every single telegram leaving the U.S.

Because he disobeyed the law, some people oppose leniency for Snowden. Many in the

national security system who committed serious crimes have received barely any punishment.

President Obama ways of thought process to, “look forwards, not backwards”, absolved the

liability the people that created, and implemented the torture and other illegal activity at the CIA.

This means that those who destroyed the evidence of these illegal activities and misled Congress

about illegal torture and surveillance would never have to face sentences nor charges.

The FBI has developed “COINTELPRO” which was at times illegal , projects that aimed

at surveilling, infiltrating, and disrupting domestic political organizations. COINTELPRO

which

stands for Counter INTELigence PROgram, was designed to destroy individuals and groups

who's lawful policy positions the FBI or Bureau did not agree with. These actions like secretly

getting teachers fired based off of false information, breaking marriages up, and provoke

shootings and beatings. CIA attempted to conflict with foreign leaders of other counties when

there is not any war with them. They also experimented with drugs like acid (LSD) on unwitting

Americans, then conducted surveillance of anti Vietnam War protestors and civil rights activist

which was violation of the CIA’s rule.

The government has also been very lenient to high-level officials who made

illegal disclosures or destroyed classified information. President Bill Clinton absolved

punishment for former CIA Director John Deutch just before the Justice Department filed a

misdemeanor charge against him for taking many files containing highly important classified

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information and storing them on an home computer that was unprotected. David Petraeus, a CIA

Director, who also had been a top general, broke the law and his duty to protect national security

information when he provided his biographer with important notebooks documenting top secret

military and intelligence operations, as well as sharing classified information with the media. He

has made false statements and lied to the FBI to avoid punishment for his action yet he plead

guilty to just one misdemeanor without receiving no jail time. Sandy Berger, a former national

security advisor, made illegal actions when he removed and destroyed several highly classified

documents sought by the 9/11 commission from the national archives. He as well was allowed to

plead guilty to a misdemeanor and received a fine and probation.

There are definitely differences between these cases and Snowden’s. The main point is

that only in Snowden’s case, was the intention behind his illegal activity to benefit America. The

other cases involved efforts to gain attention or avoid criticism, that put security at risk. It was

pure publicity. The others were treated leniently and lightly. Snowden’s initial intention was to

raise public awareness about the activities that he believed were illegal, so that there could be a

honest public discussion about the scope of government surveillance. All three branches of

government, legislative, executive, and judicial, have affirmed these activities performed by their

own system were illegal. Snowden also did not try to mask his identity, or lie to the government

and media. Yes he hides from U.S government physically, but it is to avoid captivity for the

information that needed to be let out. These decisions on surveillance needs to be made by the

people; not the government. In conclusion, Snowden knew what he was getting into, he would

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pay a personal price. The corrupt overuse of power that was displaced by the government, owes

the public an explanation.

According to many articles including, Washingtonpost, Snowden did not run away to

Russia. He was trapped over there when U.S government canceled his passport during his flight

process to Ecuador, where he had requested asylum. It was not his choice to be exiled in Russia,

and has come at a high price personally, it has been a personal sacrifice for him and his family.

The United States canceled his efforts to obtain safe travel to other countries that had offered

asylum, going as far as forcing the Bolivian President Evo Morales’ plane to the ground, in

Austria, just to make sure Snowden was not on it.

The House Intelligence Committee suggested that Snowden should have told his

concerns to high-level superiors in the NSA and to Congress. But former NSA official Thomas

Drake tried to report his problems with NSA programs, and was charged with violations of the

Espionage Act. Snowden knew that. The Intelligence Committees in Congress had known for

years about the illegal activity programs that Snowden exposed and the Committees had not

acted. That shows the Committees supporting such tolerance. Nothing happened in Congress

until public pressure that was fueled by Snowden’s disclosures, caused officials on both sides of

the sides to act. Instead of publishing the NSA documents on the Internet, Snowden gave the

documents to media organizations, insisting the journalist process would make sure that only

materials in the public interest would be published, and that the government would have a chance

to argue for withholding of materials that might cause harm. While this tactic was not perfect, it

was the best possible choice available to get the word out with the least chance of harm.

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Some people argue that Snowden should surrender to U.S. authorities, and face trial

under the Espionage Act and make his argument that he acted in the public interest in a

courtroom. But, under the Espionage Act, a defense of acting in the public interest is not allowed.

The Espionage Act is designed to punish spying on foreign nations rather than “whistle blowing”

to inform the American people about government overstretch.

There is no question that Snowden broke the law. But he forever changed the people trust

in Government. He couldn't stand the illegal behavior the government has been doing to their

own people, and felt it was right to tell the honest truth. Snowden gave a chance for the

American people to let them decide what the people think is right or wrong. America never got

the decide if they wanted government surveillance, and instead the decision was already made