Edward Snowden: A National Hero

MARLINE GOMES

HIS 320/ ASSIGNMENT 1

Perhaps, Edward Snowden is one of the most debatable figures in recent history, which refers him to be a traitor or a hero. To some, he is a heinous criminal who should be brought to justice or to some he is considered as a national hero. The controversy arises when Snowden leaked a massive number of confidential documents in 2013, with detail governmental investigation programs after quitting his job in National Security Agency (NSA). Journalists from The Washington Post and The Guardian helped him to expose the leaked documents. Currently, Edward Snowden presides in Russia with political asylum. He is unable to return to his own homeland as most of the people see his as a traitor. On the other hand,

Some believe that is his action was like patriotic whistleblower he would have pursued any legal action to stop NSA. Such as he could have gone to Congress or court to get the justification or accountabilities of the security agencies surveillances rather contact straightforwardly with the foreign journalist and news officials then load them with all stolen evidence, also let them decide whether they keep them secret or not . He might have an argument on the nobility of his work but apparently, he was careless as this crucial legal issue became a product to promote the foreign news media which cannot be considered as protecting national security . Furthermore, the US alliance with overseas relation became questionable as the document includes unwanted access to other nations security. Highly likely, the news of foreign spying issue is considered as hazardous overall which created more harm than good for our nation. On the other hand, such actions undermined the effort of giving three sixty protections to our homeland from the foreign enemy as well as our determination of having a clean image in front of the globe around is hampered. As a duty of a true patriot he would protect the American laws and overreach only the domestic spying operations, but he failed to do that and became a traitor. Next argument is a patriot always trust in his own deeds and willing enough to face the consequences, but Snowden fled the country because he knows his documentation was stolen which make he a criminal. The righteousness of the cause and action never can be justified as having valuable information and seeking refuges is not a sign of patriotism and if his theory was genuine he would remain in the country and faced the consequences . Apparently, if any nation’s secret information is stolen and they don’t have any reason to trust the accused person and the way he reached to disclose is ambiguous