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This is not just about one man's fate but a litmus test for democracy, transparency, and the power of state over the individual's right to expose wrongdoing. A
by phyalow 3y ago
This is not just about one man's fate but a litmus test for democracy, transparency, and the power of state over the individual's right to expose wrongdoing.
Assange's efforts through WikiLeaks to bring to light uncomfortable truths of our times should be seen through the lens of the cypherpunk ethos - advocating for privacy, freedom of speech, and the use of cryptography as a route to social and political change (or preservation of previously entrenched liberties). These trends have all come off the boil significantly in the last 10 years I think at great detriment to society at large.
The pursuit of truth should not be a crime, nor should it be met with life-ending punishment. Assange's work is a testament to the belief that information should be free and accessible, and those who dare to reveal the hidden should be protected, not persecuted.
In Oscar Wildes "The Happy Prince", who, from his high perch, saw the suffering and injustices of the city below and used his position to alleviate them, sacrificing his own life. In a similar vein, Assange has endeavored to expose injustices and bring to light the truths that many would prefer remain hidden. As the Happy Prince said to the little swallow, 'I am covered with fine gold,' but chose to strip away his gold leaf by leaf to help those in need. Assange's actions, much like the Prince's, ask us to consider what is truly valuable: comfort and safety, or truth and justice? Let us not forget those who, like Assange, have made life altering or ending sacrifices in the pursuit of truth and justice.
- ttyprintk 3y ago> These trends have all come off the boil significantly in the last 10 years I think at great detriment to society at large. It’s really the past 7 years, during which we assumed the Espionage Act would not be weaponized: > “All through the [Barack] Obama years, those assumptions held good. It took [Donald] Trump – immoral and indecent – to overturn them. It’s just shameful that [Joe] Biden’s people are using Trump as their guide.”
- hulitu 3y ago> a litmus test for democracy, transparency Remember the rape acuzations from Sweden ? That's where democracy and transparency died.
- phyalow 3y agohttps://caityjohnstone.medium.com/assange-smear-2-hes-a-rapist-df9effd8b49d https://caityjohnstone.medium.com/assange-smear-2-hes-a-rapi...
- actionfromafar 3y agoI personally believe Assange probably did something illegal under the strict Swedish laws. I also know Swedish Police routinely close investigations before they even start with much more available evidence. I also know the prosecutor did go to great lengths to stall and play. It would not be the first example of Swedish authorities caving to US interests. The raid on the Pirate Bay servers were extraordinary - with the Police taking direct orders from a minister/cabinet member, which is illegal under Swedish law. So something is definitely fishy with the Sweden connection. I don’t even like Assange, but the way he’s been treated is shameful. Plus, I don’t even understand how the US can extradite a non US citizens, but there’s probably something legal I don’t understand.