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Julian Assange's years of torment (14 years, which in many countries exceeds the length of parole eligibility for a life sentence) affected how I viewed the wor
by jeswin 2y ago
Julian Assange's years of torment (14 years, which in many countries exceeds the length of parole eligibility for a life sentence) affected how I viewed the world and my political leaning. It wasn't clear how what he did wasn't journalism. Daniel Ellsberg who was bound by US laws didn't suffer like this; and Assange is not even a US citizen.
Remember the people who didn't stand by him: The entire left. Most European Governments, who were collaborating in a decade of torture; that he had to be protected by Ecuador is an utter shame. Of course WaPo, NYT, et al. Now every time I hear a high pitched social justice squeal from these folks, I realize that it's selective and merely self-serving.
Sorry, political rant because this is a political topic.
- Davidzheng 2y agoYeah it's absolutely insane how the American left depicted him. Admittedly controversial in discretion of disclosure and some election related effects--but to view your own political agenda above morality and their ostensible caring of human rights and war crimes just shows the depth of the hypocrisy. (Obviously American right wing is no better...)
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- forgotmypwlol 2y agoYou’re confusing Liberals for the left. Virtually the entire left that I’m aware of has championed his cause around the world, including in America. Think Chomsky and Democracy Now, not Jake Tapper and the NYT.
- kasey_junk 2y agoI don’t have a strong opinion on Assange’s initial actions but a big chunk of his “years of torment” were a legal tactic on his part. A legal tactic that appears to have worked! He could have engaged with the various legal processes being held against him, but he chose extra-legal protests instead. None of us know if that approach is better or worse than what he did, but this wasn’t torment without agency. It was a direct outcome of his own choices.
- jeswin 2y ago> a big chunk of his “years of torment” were a legal tactic on his part One man (and a bunch of supporters) against several governments with limitless resources. If something didn't stick, there would be another. Let's not judge his legal tactics looking back.
- CRConrad 2y agoHow does him being one man and his opponent being at least a ("several"???) government change the fact that the seven years he spent in the Ecuadorian embassy were by his own choice? That half of his “years of torment” were a legal tactic on his part.
- napierzaza 2y ago[dead]
- Cody-99 2y ago>who were collaborating in a decade of torture; that he had to be protected by Ecuador is an utter shame. Oh come on. No matter your opinion on the whole situation you can't say sitting in an Ecuadorian embassy is torture lol. Dude had his girlfriend, internet, and pets. Calling the self imposed stay torture is beyond absurd. BFFR
- jeswin 2y agoYes torture. Among many others here's the UN Human Rights Commissioner's office on the Assange situation: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2019/11/un-expert-torture-sounds-alarm-again-julian-assanges-lifemay-be-risk https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2019/11/un-expert-to... His mental health deteriorated a while back.
- Cody-99 2y agoA self imposed exile inside an embassy and then 5 years in a British prison isn't torture. Trying to say that waters down what the word actually means. >His mental health deteriorated a while back. Okay and so what..? Does that somehow mean he shouldn't be held to account for his crimes? Plenty of prisons have bad mental health but that doesn't mean they should be let free. Had he not spent 14 years trying to avoid a trail he would have already been out years ago.