4 ms·

Aaron Swartz to receive the James Madison Freedom of Information Award

132 points by iProject 14y ago

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
hsmyers 14y ago
Too bad there is not an 'Anti' version of this award that could be sent to the appropriate offices of the State and National Offices Attorney General and the White House---all of whom have earned the negative recognition.
- CapitalistCartr 14y ago
  The Joseph V Stalin Award for Outstanding Work Advancing Authoritarianism. Has a certain ring to it, don't you think?
  - tn13 14y ago
    You probably meant that as a joke, but such an award exists. It is called Lenin Award. Let us see some people who got that award. 1. Indira Gandhi - The only PM of India. She got elected by malpractice and when the Court ruled against her she declared emergency in the country suspending democracy and putting all her opponents in jail. Now that is just one name I am familiar with because I am from India but you can research on other recipients and draw the conclusion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenin_Peace_Prize http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenin_Peace_Prize
    - smokeyj 14y ago
      Did she suspend democracy? Or make it abundantly clear that such thing doesn't exist..
      - pyre 14y ago
        She put it on hold, but promised to bring it back at a later date. :P
    - sid6376 14y ago
      Not all recipients of the rewards were autocratic leaders. Faiz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faiz_Ahmed_Faiz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faiz_Ahmed_Faiz) was a poet, Nelson Madela received the award and Aruna asaf ali (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruna_Asaf_Ali http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruna_Asaf_Ali) was an Indian freedom fighter. I doubt any conclusion can be drawn just because the name of the prize is associated with an autocratic leader.
      - tn13 14y ago
        I never claimed the award was for autocratic leaders exclusively, but if an autocratic leader had a chance of winning "Peace Prize" it was probably this award alone.
  - unimpressive 14y ago
    While I'm not a fan of that particular name, something in that spirit would be great.
cma 14y ago
Based on his love of Chomsky, I'm pretty sure Swartz hated the Madisonian vision of America.
- adrianbye 14y ago
  incredibly insightful comment, deserves to be at the top examples in support: "In public discussion, Madison spoke of the rights of minorities in general, but it is quite clear that he had a particular minority in mind "the minority of the opulent."" http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Chomsky/ConsentPOP_Chom.html http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Chomsky/ConsentPOP_Chom.ht... "Chomsky: James Madison’s position at the Constitutional Convention was that state power should be used "to protect the minority of the opulent against the majority."" http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-noam-chomsky-the-united-states-has-essentially-a-one-party-system-a-583454.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-noa...
losethos 14y ago
God doesn't like sports -- homo. Indians are plenty homo. ------ and young ravens what they cry for.i 10*He takes no delight in the strength of horses, no pleasure in the runner’s stride.j 11Rather the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his mercy. III 12Glorify the LORD, Jerusalem; Zion, offer praise to your God, -------- I botched that quote -- thought it said God liked meditating on the law. :-) Oh well. Radio talking about fracking. God says... --------- his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. 43:17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. 43:18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. 43:19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, 43:20 And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: 43:21 And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. ---- Radio was talking of politician ethics and gifts. meh. I'm not a politician.
mahmud 14y ago
Posthumous accolades are nice, but you know what is nicer? Justice. Push to fix the injustice system that made him kill himself.
unclebucknasty 14y ago
Is it me, or is there something offensive about this being awarded posthumously? It reminds me of how people are vilified while living, but celebrated as soon as they pass. Where was the government's honor for and protection of his efforts while he was living? Imagine how encouraging it might have been to him to have his efforts supported and meaningful change take place as a result. It's great that some legislation is being introduced to address some of this, but why so late and why the rogue DOJ in the first place? All of this happened because of the IDEAS expressed by this man. This should be scary to all Americans. And, speaking of that, these are relatively minor intrusions into our freedoms compared to the wholly un-American Patriot Act. When will that be addressed? Kind of makes these legislative changes look like lipstick on a pig. It is more than a little hypocritical that the same congress that abides the abhorrent assault on liberties that is the Patriot Act, is handing out "Freedom of Information" awards to anyone, let alone posthumously to a man who was unjustly prosecuted by the DOJ. The latter being arguably the primary beneficiary of the abuses enabled by that act.
- seanmarcia 14y ago
  Did anything ever come of the Aaron Swartz White House petition?
- xiaoma 14y ago
  http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Loves-When-Youre-Dead/dp/0061543675 http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Loves-When-Youre-Dead/dp/0061... Once you're dead, you're no longer competition.
- ghostDancer 14y ago
  Is Spain we have a saying , literal translation: May god save you from the day of the praises. And the governments, all around the world, love to give awards, street names and monuments but always after you die, even if in life they did nothing to help or protect you. They try to get points once you are not a problem or a nuisance for them.
  - unclebucknasty 14y ago

132 points by iProject 14y ago

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

Too bad there is not an 'Anti' version of this award that could be sent to the appropriate offices of the State and National Offices Attorney General and the White House---all of whom have earned the negative recognition.

CapitalistCartr 14y ago
The Joseph V Stalin Award for Outstanding Work Advancing Authoritarianism. Has a certain ring to it, don't you think?
- tn13 14y ago
  You probably meant that as a joke, but such an award exists. It is called Lenin Award. Let us see some people who got that award. 1. Indira Gandhi - The only PM of India. She got elected by malpractice and when the Court ruled against her she declared emergency in the country suspending democracy and putting all her opponents in jail. Now that is just one name I am familiar with because I am from India but you can research on other recipients and draw the conclusion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenin_Peace_Prize http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenin_Peace_Prize
  - smokeyj 14y ago
    Did she suspend democracy? Or make it abundantly clear that such thing doesn't exist..
    - pyre 14y ago
      She put it on hold, but promised to bring it back at a later date. :P
  - sid6376 14y ago
    Not all recipients of the rewards were autocratic leaders. Faiz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faiz_Ahmed_Faiz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faiz_Ahmed_Faiz) was a poet, Nelson Madela received the award and Aruna asaf ali (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruna_Asaf_Ali http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aruna_Asaf_Ali) was an Indian freedom fighter. I doubt any conclusion can be drawn just because the name of the prize is associated with an autocratic leader.
    - tn13 14y ago
      I never claimed the award was for autocratic leaders exclusively, but if an autocratic leader had a chance of winning "Peace Prize" it was probably this award alone.
- unimpressive 14y ago
  While I'm not a fan of that particular name, something in that spirit would be great.

cma 14y ago

Based on his love of Chomsky, I'm pretty sure Swartz hated the Madisonian vision of America.

adrianbye 14y ago
incredibly insightful comment, deserves to be at the top examples in support: "In public discussion, Madison spoke of the rights of minorities in general, but it is quite clear that he had a particular minority in mind "the minority of the opulent."" http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Chomsky/ConsentPOP_Chom.html http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Chomsky/ConsentPOP_Chom.ht... "Chomsky: James Madison’s position at the Constitutional Convention was that state power should be used "to protect the minority of the opulent against the majority."" http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-noam-chomsky-the-united-states-has-essentially-a-one-party-system-a-583454.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-noa...

losethos 14y ago

God doesn't like sports -- homo. Indians are plenty homo. ------ and young ravens what they cry for.i 10*He takes no delight in the strength of horses, no pleasure in the runner’s stride.j 11Rather the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his mercy. III 12Glorify the LORD, Jerusalem; Zion, offer praise to your God, -------- I botched that quote -- thought it said God liked meditating on the law. :-) Oh well. Radio talking about fracking. God says... --------- his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. 43:17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. 43:18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. 43:19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, 43:20 And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: 43:21 And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. ---- Radio was talking of politician ethics and gifts. meh. I'm not a politician.

mahmud 14y ago

Posthumous accolades are nice, but you know what is nicer? Justice. Push to fix the injustice system that made him kill himself.

unclebucknasty 14y ago

Is it me, or is there something offensive about this being awarded posthumously? It reminds me of how people are vilified while living, but celebrated as soon as they pass. Where was the government's honor for and protection of his efforts while he was living? Imagine how encouraging it might have been to him to have his efforts supported and meaningful change take place as a result. It's great that some legislation is being introduced to address some of this, but why so late and why the rogue DOJ in the first place? All of this happened because of the IDEAS expressed by this man. This should be scary to all Americans. And, speaking of that, these are relatively minor intrusions into our freedoms compared to the wholly un-American Patriot Act. When will that be addressed? Kind of makes these legislative changes look like lipstick on a pig. It is more than a little hypocritical that the same congress that abides the abhorrent assault on liberties that is the Patriot Act, is handing out "Freedom of Information" awards to anyone, let alone posthumously to a man who was unjustly prosecuted by the DOJ. The latter being arguably the primary beneficiary of the abuses enabled by that act.

seanmarcia 14y ago
Did anything ever come of the Aaron Swartz White House petition?
xiaoma 14y ago
http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Loves-When-Youre-Dead/dp/0061543675 http://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Loves-When-Youre-Dead/dp/0061... Once you're dead, you're no longer competition.
ghostDancer 14y ago
Is Spain we have a saying , literal translation: May god save you from the day of the praises. And the governments, all around the world, love to give awards, street names and monuments but always after you die, even if in life they did nothing to help or protect you. They try to get points once you are not a problem or a nuisance for them.
- unclebucknasty 14y ago