Edward Snowden: Patriot, Whistleblower or Traitor?

[marksjax]

Looking to get opinions from the Forum as to where you stand on this young man's
life changing decision to leak the info.
Maybe an Administrator could start a poll?
Curious as to what you all think.

http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=19359212&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fedward-snowdens-father-worried-over-203226919.html%3F.b%3Dindex%26.cf3%3DJumbotron%26.cf4%3D1%26.cf5%3DABC%2BNews%26.cfYoshinari Matsushita6%3D%252F

[ben says]

True hero.

That being said, there's already a thread on this...

[marksjax]

Sorry about the other thread. I'll go read that one.
Nancy Pelosi has labelled him a traitor. FBI in full pissed off mode.
I think they will throw the book at him. Yet, if American's rally around him in support that tact may backfire.
Gutsy call on his part.
One other shocker is that he was just a new employee yet was earning six figures. Wonder how much all this I T outsourcing is costing us?

[I-10east]

Whether he's a 'hero' or not is a matter of perspective, and really doesn't matter. The bigger question is being ostracized from your country really worth it?

[JFman00]

It's interesting that he chose to flee/seek asylum in a PRC territory that will readily extradite him.

[Bridges]

Whether he's a 'hero' or not is a matter of perspective, and really doesn't matter. The bigger question is being ostracized from your country really worth it?

If that country no longer stood for what you think it does, then it is totally worth it.

True hero.  Remember, he has given up not just his country, but his family for what is right.

[Demosthenes]

All establishment politicos will call him a traitor. Pay attention to who does, and vote against them.

[Demosthenes]

Class Action filed against the President, DOJ, NSA, and Verizon.

http://www.scribd.com/mobile/doc/146930457/device_features

[rvrsdediva]

What exactly did he do that he should be called a hero? 

[BridgeTroll]

Running to Hong Kong then under cover does not sound heroic or patriotic to me... kind of like a "conscientious objector" fleeing to Canada.  Depending on facts still to be determined... criminal should have been an option... 

[JayBird]

^Have to agree

[marksjax]

"What exactly did he do that he should be called a hero?"

For one: he knew what he would face by revealing this putrid little secret. That is why he left the country.
For that he is a hero in my book. Maybe Patriot is a better term, but it is also heroic as it took guts because his life is forever changed.

Two: We would not be having this conversation were it not for his actions.
This is an example of why we should indeed question our leaders and not just go along with the lies they are and have been telling us for decades.

The Government is really, really out of control.
We are weak and laughable sheeple to put up with this.
'Big Brother' (George Orwell) has come true in our lifetime.
Sad day for America...

[GoldenEst82]

So, would you rather not know?
Because I am glad I do.

He gave up a lot to tell us this. Especially since the Gov LIED to us, directly about it. I am always on the side of the whistle blower. One usually does not bite the hand that feeds, unless that hand is damnably abusive.

[rvrsdediva]

What do we know now that we didn't before? What secrets did he reveal?  What did the government lie about?  I'd really like to know your answers to these questions.  When I came to this site the top banner advertisement was for Nordstrom.  Why?  Because I frequently visit the Nordstrom website, how is Nordstrom tracking me different from the government?

[Bridges]

You know you can clear cookies right? Or private browse if you want to.  You should look into it, that is, unless you want Nordstrom ads, in that case, it's your choice, more power to you.

What we know know that wasn't known was the scope of the government data collection. It is whole, it is everyone, and it is searchable.  If you wish to know what the government lied about you could just see JAmes Clapper in front of congress saying no such program exists.