| Blogs > spiritwoman45 > Life in the Canyon |
|
How Far Would You Go? I just finished reading about the latest on Edward Snowden. Whether we see him as a traitor or a hero will reflect our individual political leanings. Leaving politics out of it his story has all of the elements of a action/ suspense movie. Let’s suspend our judgment about why he did what he did and take a look at the bigger message here. One person can make a difference. He certainly has. One young computer nerd was able to shake up world politics. Why? Who knows if he is a pawn for a larger group or not but let’s assume for a moment that he is acting out of his own convictions. Take this thought a bit farther. Most of us sit around and B@@ch and moan about things, go on and on about what is wrong and why but how many of us offer constructive, logical, achievable ideas regarding solutions? The best we seem to be able to come up with is impeaching Obama or abolishing the Tea Party then argue with those who disagree with us. The Snowden situations shows us what can happen when one has the courage, naivety or even as some would say stupidity to put everything on the line for our beliefs. While the fall out has the potential to lead to violence, Snowden’s actions were nonviolent but literally cost him his life. No matter what the outcome life as he knew it is over. He will never again have any sort of normalcy in his life and is forever doomed to life in prison or as a political exile in a country that may or may not treat him very well. I have yet to read anything about his family or personal life but he gave all of that up, hopefully for his ideals and desire to make a difference and change things. I graduate from politics to humanitarian interests years ago but in my youth believed that politics could solve things. I was in a situation to make a similar choice. I will not divulge the details or even suggest what it might have been about as this was 40 years ago. Although it was far less dramatic, I put everything on the line to act on my beliefs. It upended my life at the time necessitating that I leave family, friends, job and most of my material things behind and move to another country. Fortunately for youthful idealism and enthusiasm it was an amazing adventure. In the end things resolved themselves and even the issue I was so passionate about faded into history. I know I am not the only one to do this. Our military folks do this all of the time. I have stayed under the radar since I became a mother so would be the first to say no, I am definitely not willing to do this again. The larger part of my life has been devoted to living in peace and harmony with all. Refraining from a diatribe about why you are right and the other guy is wrong I’d like to hear from some of our political warriors. (Others too) What, other than the anger of fellow bloggers, would you actually risk? What price would you pay for your beliefs? Would you put it all on the line for your passionate beliefs? Again, military folks you did that already and you have my admiration for your sacrifices. Spiritwoman ^i^ |
|||
7/13/2013 2:02 pm |
I don't see it in terms of a 'price paid'. Job asks this question and God cleared up the confusion in a very dramatic way. Mr. Snowden has carelessly miscalculated here. Frankly, it is very surprising that he has made such a foolish mistake. The ugliness is that he has done great harm to his country in ways millions of Americans are struggling to grasp. I'm a little surprised the public is not seeing this, at least yet. I don't consider it risky to allow the heavy handed to succeed in stifling debate and to thwart a nation's will. When this begins to run amok, as it did during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency, and also during Franklin Roosevelt's, the forces of non-destructive good will begin to prevail. To believe that all one has to do is drill another hole in a sinking boat to let the water out will eventually drown out the shrill voice of panic. It is in moments like this, a baptism of sorts, that delivers the vision of promise. Think about the symbolism here, as Mr. Snowden's voice is merely an echo in an airport terminal bouncing off of walls. I would and did put myself in this situation when I was young but not now. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
|
I just don't know how far I'd go. Reason is because I STILL haven't been able to find out why he chose the path he took. I feel exposing the NSA's expansion and data base was patriotic, but did he exhaust all normal legal means to do it? As to his crimes, I can forgive him, but only if there was no other viable way for him to do expose the truth. If not, then I consider him a traitor. But assuming I was in his position at 29, I don't know what I'd do because at that age I had a wife and kids to consider too. I'd like to think I'd put integrity first, and there's plenty in my history to suggest I'd do that. Now, at this much later phase of my life, I know I could go all the way if I had to. But I'm not sure what I'd do even today, if I had other people who depended on me. GBU, Gavin
| ||
7/13/2013 8:29 pm |
Echoing my sentiments. The reason I did what I did in my youth was I got called on it. Someone told me "you tell us ......... but would you do it?" I had to think about that one. Now? No, I value tranquility and peace too much. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
7/13/2013 8:31 pm |
The old "put your money where your mouth is" and "talk is cheap". Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
7/13/2013 8:35 pm |
These days, with the experience and maturity I'm with you with respect to quietly "dropping out". In fact that is pretty much what I have done these past few years. Ironically more people listen to me now than ever did when I was passionate about a cause. As for influencing a government - forget it. I'll find a back door solution. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
7/14/2013 8:56 am |
I put this question once more to those who think the kid should be locked up in a dark dungeon and the key thrown away. Daniel Ellsberg. Should be be charged retroactively and jailed? Ellsberg's revelations gave a lot more comfort to the enemy than this kid's. Snowden's major revelation was domestic spying on US citizens. Seems to me citizens should know what the government is doing to them. The secrets Ellsberg handed out where all about a war the US fighting. That appears to me the greater sin.
| ||
7/14/2013 8:56 am |
24 hours after posting - so much silence other than those of us who admit we would not put our money where our mouth is. Think this approach would work on the politicians - provided we could figure out how to get them to do it? Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
7/14/2013 12:42 pm |
It it's a nice afternoon take your thoughts outside and enjoy nature. somehow the answer comes much easier there. Spiritwoman ^i^
| ||
7/14/2013 12:44 pm |
Mr. Snowden is apparently very immature. He is beset with idealism without thought to the implications of his idealism. I believe that the first thing that the individual must determine for him/her self is whether the society in which they find themselves is worth supporting. Apparently Mr. Snowden thought otherwise. He will now come to recognize that his idealism was grossly misplaced. Rather than taking an issue out of the society for a solution, he should have worked from within his society. Rather than embarrassing his homeland he would have benefited from a less forceful approach. As one old song stated "You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind". Spiritwoman ^i^
|
×
×