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Snowden left the United States because the Federal Government wants to imprison him. The government wants to imprison him because he revealed them to be engaged

Snowden left the United States because the Federal Government wants to imprison him. The government wants to imprison him because he revealed them to be engaged in illegal surveillance on a scale that makes the Stasi's seem modest by comparison. To stay out of prison, he had to go to a country which wouldn't extradite him, hence his presence in Russia. Edward Snowden is a hero who has made a tremendous sacrifice for Americans and for American ideals. The fact that he has to live in Russia to enjoy peace and freedom is a damning indictment, to be sure, but not of Edward Snowden.

GuB-42 2y ago
I wouldn't call it a "tremendous sacrifice" then. It would have been had he decided to face trial, or at least not flee to a country that is the historical enemy of the US with access to who knows how many copies of secret documents so that he could save his ass. I don't know how a trial would have ended, but considering how much public attention he got, including many supporters, he would have had a fair trial, or at least, fair enough for the cameras. Chances are that by now, he would have served his time in prison (he broke the law after all) and be a free US citizen. After all, Assange and Manning are both free right now. Yes, years in prison is not fun, at all (hence the "sacrifice" part), but I guess his stay in Russia is not particularly fun either. And now, he risks an even greater sentence should he go back to the US. His actions, though undeniably human, taint his status as a hero.
- marcusverus 2y ago
  > I wouldn't call it a "tremendous sacrifice" then. Moving 10K miles away from you family and friends, never to return home isn't a tremendous sacrifice? Living the rest of your life in fear of being snatched up or murdered by the CIA isn't a tremendous sacrifice? Okay, dude. > It would have been had he decided to face trial It's only a sacrifice if you submit corrupt justice? Yikes. > or at least not flee to a country that is the historical enemy of the US... This is the best option to avoid extradition, as you well know. > ...with access to who knows how many copies of secret documents so that he could save his ass. What a damning hypothetical! > I don't know how a trial would have ended, but considering how much public attention he got, including many supporters, he would have had a fair trial, or at least, fair enough for the cameras. This is weaselspeak for "we all know he wouldn't have gotten a fair trial." > Chances are that by now, he would have served his time in prison A decade in prison. For doing his duty. > His actions, though undeniably human, taint his status as a hero. Yours is the morality of a Vichy collaborator. True heroes submit to injustice? Bullshit! True heroes fight injustice and thumb their noses at corrupt centers of power.
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GuB-42 2y ago

I wouldn't call it a "tremendous sacrifice" then. It would have been had he decided to face trial, or at least not flee to a country that is the historical enemy of the US with access to who knows how many copies of secret documents so that he could save his ass. I don't know how a trial would have ended, but considering how much public attention he got, including many supporters, he would have had a fair trial, or at least, fair enough for the cameras. Chances are that by now, he would have served his time in prison (he broke the law after all) and be a free US citizen. After all, Assange and Manning are both free right now. Yes, years in prison is not fun, at all (hence the "sacrifice" part), but I guess his stay in Russia is not particularly fun either. And now, he risks an even greater sentence should he go back to the US. His actions, though undeniably human, taint his status as a hero.

marcusverus 2y ago
> I wouldn't call it a "tremendous sacrifice" then. Moving 10K miles away from you family and friends, never to return home isn't a tremendous sacrifice? Living the rest of your life in fear of being snatched up or murdered by the CIA isn't a tremendous sacrifice? Okay, dude. > It would have been had he decided to face trial It's only a sacrifice if you submit corrupt justice? Yikes. > or at least not flee to a country that is the historical enemy of the US... This is the best option to avoid extradition, as you well know. > ...with access to who knows how many copies of secret documents so that he could save his ass. What a damning hypothetical! > I don't know how a trial would have ended, but considering how much public attention he got, including many supporters, he would have had a fair trial, or at least, fair enough for the cameras. This is weaselspeak for "we all know he wouldn't have gotten a fair trial." > Chances are that by now, he would have served his time in prison A decade in prison. For doing his duty. > His actions, though undeniably human, taint his status as a hero. Yours is the morality of a Vichy collaborator. True heroes submit to injustice? Bullshit! True heroes fight injustice and thumb their noses at corrupt centers of power.
- deleted 2y ago
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