tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9479398.post4431212850840465729..comments2024-03-28T11:33:16.271-05:00Comments on Adventus: In other really small news...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9479398.post-79864727904852933312013-07-12T22:18:54.908-05:002013-07-12T22:18:54.908-05:00My husband was a whistle-blower. He did not initi...My husband was a whistle-blower. He did not initiate the action, but rather the authorities came to him and questioned him. He told the truth, with the result that we lived through a hellish two years and unpleasantness long after. Tom and I had no illusions that the consequences of his truth-telling would be pretty. June Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01723016934182800437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9479398.post-78473671128746341652013-07-12T21:59:12.898-05:002013-07-12T21:59:12.898-05:00The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights said:
&q...The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights said:<br /><br /><i>"Snowden's case has shown the need to protect persons disclosing information on matters that have implications for human rights, as well as the importance of ensuring respect for the right to privacy," Pillay said in a statement.<br /><br />"National legal systems must ensure that there are adequate avenues for individuals disclosing violations of human rights to express their concern without fear of reprisals," she added.</i><br /><br />Which I think is a bit like saying MLK shouldn't have been put in jail in Birmingham. King went to jail to force confrontation with an unjust system, not so he could have an "avenue" for "disclosing violations of human rights without reprisals."<br /><br />And frankly, "reprisals" is not what I call the outcome of a legal system of justice meant to determine violations of law. Which is all Snowden faces. What he doesn't face is permanent incarceration (Gitmo notwithstanding) or summary execution. He faces a trial.<br /><br />Which, so far as I know, is not a violation of anyone's human rights.<br /><br />Whistleblower's face trials, too; if they violate the law. They often face firings, at a minimum. Snowden wants to blow the whistle with no reprisals at all.<br /><br />Nice work, if you can get it. But heroic?<br /><br />You gotta be kiddin' me.Rmjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06811456254443706479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9479398.post-53454709833930586522013-07-12T20:15:40.186-05:002013-07-12T20:15:40.186-05:00A number of my usually like-minded friends are ups...A number of my usually like-minded friends are upset with me because I won't get on board with Snowden as heroic whistle-blower, but so be it. June Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01723016934182800437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9479398.post-41155940010728370192013-07-12T19:41:38.225-05:002013-07-12T19:41:38.225-05:00I don't think Snowden's in a position to b...I don't think Snowden's in a position to bargain with anybody. He's about to run past his sell-by date.<br /><br />And I don't think there ever was a plan. This whole thing is rapidly degenerating into farce. Even if Russia gives Snowden "temporary asylum," it doesn't mean they'll give him transit papers, or that other countries will let him use their airspace to get away.<br /><br />I'd really be surprised if Putin wasn't about to get tired of him, in fact.Rmjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06811456254443706479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9479398.post-52734573760628024172013-07-12T17:39:54.438-05:002013-07-12T17:39:54.438-05:00As the comedians say, "Take my wife...please....As the comedians say, "Take my wife...please." It's getting more and more difficult for Snowden to be a hero. How does he know no one has been harmed by the information he released? Bargaining with Putin? Really? <br /><br />Where do Snowden and his friend Greenwald go from here? Looking back, what was the original plan? Does Snowden still see Greenwald as a helpful friend? Is Greenwald sorry he ever got involved? June Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01723016934182800437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9479398.post-66278712047321929752013-07-12T17:06:10.316-05:002013-07-12T17:06:10.316-05:00I would love to know what movies Snowden watched, ...I would love to know what movies Snowden watched, what video games he played, what... well, maybe he got some of it from books. He's really badly informed if he thinks he can play that kind of game with Putin. Maybe he doesn't read much news. The Thought Criminalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01381376556757084468noreply@blogger.com