In
Washington, where the state of war and the surveillance state are one
and the same, top officials have begun to call for Edward Snowden's
head. His moral action of whistleblowing -- a clarion call for democracy
-- now awaits our responses.
After nearly 12 years of the "war on terror," the revelations of
recent days are a tremendous challenge to the established order: nonstop
warfare, intensifying secrecy and dominant power that equate safe
governance with Orwellian surveillance.
In the highest
places, there is more than a wisp of panic in rarefied air. It's not
just the National Security Agency that stands exposed; it's the
repressive arrogance perched on the pyramid of power.
Back
here on the ground, so many people -- appalled by Uncle Sam's continual
morph into Big Brother -- have been pushing against the walls of
anti-democratic secrecy. Those walls rarely budge, and at times they
seem to be closing in, even literally for some (as in the case of heroic
whistleblower Bradley Manning). But all the collective pushing has
cumulative effects.
In recent days, as news exploded about NSA surveillance, a
breakthrough came into sight. Current history may not be an immovable
wall; it may be on a hinge. And if we push hard enough, together,
there's no telling what might be possible or achieved. The gratitude
that so many of us now feel toward Edward Snowden raises the question:
How can we truly express our appreciation?
A first step is to thank him -- publicly and emphatically. You can do that by clicking
here to
sign the "Thank NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden" petition, which my
colleagues at RootsAction.org will send directly to him, including the
individual comments.
But of course saying thank-you is just one small step onto a crucial
path. As Snowden faces extradition and vengeful prosecution from the
U.S. government, active support will be vital -- in the weeks, months
and years ahead.
Signing the thank-you petition, I ventured some optimism: "What
you've done will inspire kindred spirits around the world to take moral
action despite the risks." Bravery for principle can be very contagious.
Edward Snowden has taken nonviolent action to help counter the U.S.
government's one-two punch of extreme secrecy and massive violence. The
process has summoned the kind of doublespeak that usually accompanies
what cannot stand the light of day.
So, when Snowden's employer Booz Allen put out a statement Sunday
night, it was riddled with official indignation, declaring: "News
reports that this individual has claimed to have leaked classified
information are shocking, and if accurate, this action represents a
grave violation of the code of conduct and core values of our firm."
What are the "code of conduct" and "core values" of this huge NSA
contractor? The conduct of stealthy assistance to the U.S. national
security state as it methodically violates civil liberties, and the
values of doing just about anything to amass vast corporate profits.
The corporate-government warfare state is enraged that Edward Snowden
has broken through with conduct and values that are 180 degrees in a
different direction. "I'm not going to hide," he told the
Washington Post on
Sunday.
"Allowing the U.S. government to intimidate its people with
threats of retaliation for revealing wrongdoing is contrary to the
public interest."
When a
Post reporter asked whether his revelations would
change anything, Snowden replied: "I think they already have. Everyone
everywhere now understands how bad things have gotten -- and they're
talking about it. They have the power to decide for themselves whether
they are willing to sacrifice their privacy to the surveillance state."
And, when the
Post asked about threats to "national
security," Snowden offered an assessment light-years ahead of mainline
media's conventional wisdom: "We managed to survive greater threats in
our history ... than a few disorganized terrorist groups and rogue
states without resorting to these sorts of programs. It is not that I do
not value intelligence, but that I oppose ... omniscient, automatic,
mass surveillance. ... That seems to me a greater threat to the
institutions of free society than missed intelligence reports, and
unworthy of the costs."
Profoundly, in the early summer of 2013, with his actions and words,
Edward Snowden has given aid and comfort to grassroots efforts for
democracy. What we do with his brave gift will be our choice.
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