Vintage chairs, Merci, Paris.
It's not every day that a man puts himself in harm's way to reveal the truth. Edward Snowden is a courageous young man with a conscience, who publicly has exposed the full extent of US government surveillance of Americans and citizens around the world. If you do nothing else today, please watch this video and read more about Snowden's situation.
The revelation(s) that the Obama administration has taken George Bush's Patriot Act and expanded its directives beyond recognition - and law - is not only indefensible, but unconscionable. Even Jim Sensenbrenner, the Republican author of the Patriot Act, considers Prism an abuse of the Act's powers. And Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden and Colorado Sen. Mark Udall are among US lawmakers who long have sounded the alarm about the NSA's over-reach.
But predictably - rather than face their own complicity in authorizing the National Security Agency (NSA) to expand its monitoring of private communications via the Prism program - House Republicans have called for Snowden's extradition.
"In 2008, the presidential candidate (Obama) said the following about whistleblowing: "Acts of courage and patriotism, which can sometimes save lives and often save taxpayer dollars, should be encouraged rather than stifled, as they have been during the Bush administration." As president, his administration has attacked more national security whistleblowers as criminals under the Espionage Act than all previous governments combined." - editorial, The Guardian, June 10, 2013
US President and Founding Father Thomas Jefferson famously stated, "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." But if corporate-owned media no longer perform key investigative roles in helping uncover secrecy and corruption, then it's up to brave whistleblowers like Edward Snowden.
Edward Snowden should be applauded; not prosecuted. Thanks to him, we all have a better idea of how our civil liberties are at risk. And what does it say about our country when Snowden is considered safer in Hong Kong or Iceland than at home in the US??!!
I had a stool like that blue one growing up.Wish I still had it.
And yes, I couldn't agree more. Well stated and spot on.
Posted by: jeanie | 12 June 2013 at 02:17
Thanks Tara!
I appreciate all you share with us.
Our country has become more and more corrupt and it scares me.
Posted by: Marilyn | 10 June 2013 at 23:59