Edward Snowden An American Hero - 691 Words

Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency (N.S.A) subcontractor turned whistle-blower is nothing short of a hero. His controversial decision to release information detailing the highly illegal ‘data mining’ practices of the N.S.A have caused shockwaves throughout the world and have raised important questions concerning how much the government actually monitors its people without their consent or knowledge. Comparable to Mark Felt in the Watergate scandals, Daniel Ellsberg with the Pentagon Papers, Edward Snowden joins the rank of infamous whistleblowers who gave up their jobs, livelihood, and forever will live under scrutiny of the public all in the service to the American people. Edward Snowden released information detailing the†¦show more content†¦Critics of Edward Snowden label him a traitor and a coward. They condemn him for irreparably harming government security operations and setting of a worldwide chain of events that weakened the American pos ition on the world stage. While America now has blight on its records due to the leaks, the topic that should be addressed is should the whistle-blower, the man who uncovered and exposed the questionable and wrong activities, be blamed or should those who allowed the illegal and immoral activities be held accountable for what they started. Edward Snowden had the justification and conviction to do the correct thing and present the incriminating evidence straight to the public. When one takes in consideration everything that Snowden has lost because of his decision, there was little gain for him to make the immoral activities public. Snowden’s crime is breaching the trust of his government contract to expose egregious monitoring by the government on the American public. In an interview conducted by the Washington Post, Snowden speaks out about his goal in releasing the files: â€Å"All I wanted was for the public to be able to have a say in how they are governed,† Due to intense public scrutiny, N.S.A’s practices are coming under fire from both the Obama Administration and Federal Courts. In a statement made by Judge Richard J. Leon of the United States District Courts, the phone surveillance system was condemned December 16, 2013: â€Å"The governmentShow MoreRelatedArgumentative Essay On Edward Snowden882 Words   |  4 Pages Edward Snowden is considered by many to be a criminal, but there are others who firmly believe that Edward Snowden is a patriot, and rightfully so Edward Snowden is a hero to the American people and many abroad. The United States government has the responsibility to serve, protect and aid the American people, but sometimes the government and some of its classified documents every now and then get published and criticized. Edward Snowden had worked for multiple government agencies such as the CIARead MoreEdward Snowden and the NSA Leaks Essay1727 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Edward Snowden and the NSA Leaks Part 1: Objective Summary On June 6th of 2013 The Guardian reported on a classified U.S. surveillance network called PRISM. This information was given to them by former Booz Allen Hamilton employee Edward Snowden. Snowden obtained this information by secretly gathering files and documents regarding the program and others while working for the government contracted Booz Allen Hamilton in Hawaii. On May 20 2013, Snowden had traveled to Hong Kong to meet with GlennRead MoreAnalysis Of The Documentary Citizenfour An Hbo Documentary, Directed By Laura Poitras1109 Words   |  5 Pagesinvasion of privacy has been among the American population, ever since rumors of government spying after the events of 9/11. The NSA or National Security Agency denied accusations of spying on Americans for years. 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This is a name that will be in the history books for ages. He will be branded a traitor or a whistleblower depending on where you look. Many Americans feel that Edward Snowden is a traitor who sold the United States’ secrets aiming to harm the nation. Others believe that he was simply a citizen of the United States who exercised his right to expose the government for their unconstitutional actions. It is important to not only know the two sides to the argument of friend or foeRead MoreThis Report Purpose Is To Provide A Point Of View About1352 Words   |  6 Pagescriminal charges against Edwa rd Snowden, a former CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) employee, a former contractor for the United States government, he copied and leaked classified information from the NSA organization without permissions in 2013. Snowden was charged with three different felonies on June 2013, as he stole a governmental property unauthorized communication of national defense information. The following number of lines could provide a detailed explanation for why Snowden was charged with theseRead MoreHolding Out For A Hero867 Words   |  4 PagesHolding Out For a Hero The article, â€Å"Why Edward Snowden is a Hero,† penned by John Cassidy, seeks to illuminate the actions of Edward Snowden. As an international controversial figure, Snowden is responsible for leaking enormous amounts of classified information regarding the National Security Agency (N.S.A.). Cassidy contends the data Snowden disclosed to the public revealed that the government actively, knowingly, and deliberately trampled upon the liberties of the American people, by spyingRead MoreEdward Snowden: Hero or Traitor?1053 Words   |  5 PagesSeptember 11th, Americans looked to the government for protection and reassurance. However, they did not expect to find out thirteen years later that the government did this by using technology to spy on Americans, as well as other countries. George W. Bush began the policy shortly after the terrorist attack and Barack Obama continued it. There have been many confrontations over the years about the extent of the N.S.A.’s spying; however, the most recent whistle-blower, Edward Snowden, leaked informationRead MoreWhy Snowden Is A Traitor And Not A Hero1256 Words   |  6 PagesEdward Joseph Snowden, former CIA employee, is a cyber-security specialist and an American hacktivist. In 2013, he leaked classified information from the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), which revealed numerous global surveillance programs. His actions labeled him as a criminal by American government and as a hero or whistleblower by privacy activists. Snowden soon became a subject of controversy because the information he leaked fueled many debates in regards to government surveillance and theRead MoreIt is reasonable to argue that, governmental institutions or people with authority are subject to600 Words   |  3 Pagesconstitutional rights. Over the last year, Edward Snowden, has made headline news for leaking sensitive governmental information to the press. Edward Snowden is a 29-year-old high school drop-out, who wa s a tech specialist for the National Security Association. Snowden had discovered and later exposed the NSA for monitoring the nations e-mails, phone calls, and internet searches. As the allegations spread like wild fire, Edward Snowden sought asylum in Russia for one year. Snowden had a valid and justifiable reason