Prog + Bagger does not equal Win
Edward Snowden’s own words and actions mark him as a traitor, without a doubt. His acts are indefensible to those who understand that “The Government” is not separate from “us”.
No… really… It’s not.
It doesn’t matter if you disagree with or even hate things that are done by and in the name of government. It doesn’t matter if the majority of politicians are rich. It doesn’t matter if you are ignorant of certain government actions.
The government of this nation is still you… or your father, brother, neighbor, friend, etc. We elect who we want. We ignore substance for gloss, money, bread and circuses. We decide who’s a friend, who’s an enemy, who needs spying on and to what degree. We are ALL members of the same nation and society. The overwhelming majority of citizens (and government employees) are not trying to destroy the country.
The character in this story who is trying to destroy the country is Edward Snowden. His actions speak, not of someone who cares for his country, but of a person who is interested in nothing more than personal attention. Why? Because he broke the cardinal rule of sportsmanship, which everyone learns at some point in elementary school.
You don’t fuck your own team.
You don’t take your secrets, which everyone of us knows we keep, and give them to the enemy. You don’t. Everything after he crossed that line is immaterial. It doesn’t matter how much you are pissed at your team you don’t fuck them over.
You also don’t cheer when someone fucks them over, ever. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a grievance with your team or some other group the fucker makes look bad. You don’t celebrate and support those types of actions. You don’t!
I’m speaking most directly to my fellow Progressives. It doesn’t matter if Mr. Snowden has information that confirms this or that fear or speculation. It doesn’t matter that his actions leave you feeling empowered. They’re still wrong.
Personally I no longer see Edward Snowden as an American. He’s a rat.