Earlier quoted context omitted.
I did some search it appears that it doesn't exist now or that it never existed in the first place.
Nope, it definitely existed. I googled "snowden hero not traitor amnesty international" and the first link is a press release from the Amnesty International itself (the press release is also down) that links to that page: http://imgur.com/3Ttfjc5
Pardon Snowden
41–50 of 814 posts
Re: Pardon Snowden
#42Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, from a political point of view, Snowden is just a guy, and he did what he could do already. Pardoned or shot dead, makes little difference now (well, chilling effect is certainly even worse if the latter happened tomorrow, but its bad enough as it is). The important thing would be wistleblower protection laws changes that would protect a future Snowden from this situation.
Edward Snowden is hugely valuable politically because he stood up to the intelligence agencies and survived (so far). Most importantly, we have a moral obligation to get him pardoned. Snowden sacrificed a great deal already. He doesn't need to be martyred, he should be allowed to return home and continue his life.
>should be allowed to return home and continue his life.
That is only true if you are operating under the assumption that liberty, human welfare, and strength of America as a nation is a good thing for the future.
To me, it's not at all obvious that our ruling class really gives a shit about those.
Re: Pardon Snowden
#43You can't pardon someone until they've been convicted. Snowden hasn't been tried and convicted and so can't be pardoned.
Not true. See Ford's pardon of Nixon.
Re: Pardon Snowden
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, from a political point of view, Snowden is just a guy, and he did what he could do already. Pardoned or shot dead, makes little difference now (well, chilling effect is certainly even worse if the latter happened tomorrow, but its bad enough as it is). The important thing would be wistleblower protection laws changes that would protect a future Snowden from this situation.
Edward Snowden is hugely valuable politically because he stood up to the intelligence agencies and survived (so far). Most importantly, we have a moral obligation to get him pardoned. Snowden sacrificed a great deal already. He doesn't need to be martyred, he should be allowed to return home and continue his life.
I'd imagine the US gov will hardly want to encourage whistleblowing of that sort nor a patriotic aire about the act. It is a national security risk regardless of how any individual act pans out.
Re: Pardon Snowden
#45Snowden should be put on trial for committing treason. No matter how bad it is what he exposed. He broke the law[0]. What he exposed are policies of the United States by people put in power in a democracy and free country.
If you don't want that shit happening in your country, let the people in power know. Go on the streets. Millions of poeple are not happy with what is going on, but literally nothing changed. Sadly, American citizens and the West in general have been trained from a young age to be apathetic and those that have the audacity to fight back have been systematically beaten down. They rather create parallax websites with fancy countdowns than actually trying to change something.
When's the last time they've had to mobilize the National Guard because there was a protest? The entire American economy could collapse because of a giant banking scandal and people wouldn't even raise a fist in anger.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Snowden#Criminal_charge...
Re: Pardon Snowden
#46Re: Pardon Snowden
#47Even if he gets pardoned, I think he will just disappear.
Re: Pardon Snowden
#48Holy hell! Looking at the supporters page ( https://www.pardonsnowden.org/supporters ) I do have to admit that they've acquired support from some people that I never thought to see there, like Steve Wozniak, Noam Chomsky, and George Soros.
You're surprised to see Chomsky there?
Re: Pardon Snowden
#49Even if he gets pardoned, I think he will just disappear.
Maybe he would have a tragic car accident, or commit suicide.
Re: Pardon Snowden
#50Snowden should be put on trial for committing treason. No matter how bad it is what he exposed. He broke the law[0]. What he exposed are policies of the United States by people put in power in a democracy and free country. If you don't want that shit happening in your country, let the people in power know. Go on the streets. Millions of poeple are not happy with what is going on, but literally nothing changed. Sadly,…
Treason has a specific two point definition in the US Constitution and it is hard to see how his actions rise to the criteria enumerated therein.
Personally, I think he should be criminally pardoned but left open to civil proceedings for breach of contract should his former employer seek to bring forward a suit.