cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/48428963
I personally do, he actually risked his life to release information about the government spying on people. And there are for sure more advanced ways now. Even your phone is listening.
Of course. If you risk your life and freedom for the greater good on your own account you sure are a hero.
I think he had as much impact as anyone in his position could possibly have, if not way above average for a whistleblower.
The problem is that the public quickly turned on him, in no small part due to the PR strategy of those who DO have the power to change this. And most of the public shrugged and said what are we gonna do?
His contribution was proof that suspected domestic spying under the guise of homeland security was being widely misused. Which is a violation of YOUR constitutional rights. Of course anyone paying attention suspected it before, but he brought receipts. Many people think he should be in jail or worse because of this.
Unless he’s lying, and I don’t think he has been shown to lie, he did attempt to use proper channels. The media has historically been called the 4th branch of government for a reason - and ultimately that’s where he turned.
The man effectively lost much of his freedom and the people he did it for were unable to take it any further.
Scary thing is he didnt really accomplish much with his sacrifies. NSA is much scarier today and things just goes on.
If he isn’t a hero to you, I question you as a person.
He’s unquestionably a hero.
Yes
I don’t really believe in the concept of ‘heroes’ as in unquestionably good people who are to be emulated, but there are people of commendable moral principles, actions, and character that are worth noting.
His actions were unquestionably noble and effective in revealing the depth of surveillance of statesian citizens by a government many of them trusted, but mistakes in how that data was passed to journalists are also worth noting so such actions aren’t self-sacrificing. He’d be more useful continuing to expose how that continues and has gotten worse, and simultaneously deserves a more comfortable life for his efforts. But he was also young and from my interpretation of my reading seemed to almost accidentally find himself at BAH. If someone more experienced and guided by good handlers were involved, his results could have been multiplied, and his efforts better rewarded.
He’s a hero solely for trying to save Atari Teenage Riot.
It’s sad that only 10% of the data he leaked ever made it to the public. From what I’ve read, the unreleased stuff has been lost. I could be wrong and don’t have a source handy for that.
I’d let him hide out in my apartment.
Man that band has gone off the rails these last few years. Last time I checked they (or just Alec?) were shilling NFTs lol
What’s the link between ATR and Snowden though?
Strange that I can’t find anything about it online anymore. I swear I read once that Snowden used ATR as a cover by travelling with them, or had a song of theirs play as a signal to a Wikileaks contact when making a drop of leaked data or something along those lines. Pretty sure Snowden has stated he liked the band a lot too but can’t find that either.
All I found was that their album Reset was based of Snowden’s revelations. I want to believe there is more to it than that, but I admit I may be wrong. My mind may have fabricated this info, it hasn’t been the first time but it doesn’t feel like that, I’m fairly certain I read about a connection before.
More likely, the article I read has been purged from the internet or is being blacklisted from search engines, which I’m sure sounds like a tinfoil hat conspiracy theory, so easily could be true these days.
I’m still confused. All I took away from it is that it’s illegal to point out someone is committing crimes. A full mask off moment that will echo through history.
He’s a hero and Aaron was a martyr.
A good person and a decent human being? Yes.
Heroes are shit.
He is. This shouldn’t even be a question.
unquestionably yes.
What a loaded question. Hero is such a poorly defined yet super high bar. Firefighters who die rescuing children don’t even typically want to be called a hero. This just sets up people to say no and muddy the water.
Did he stand up for democracy and transparency and rule of law? Yes. Did he suffer for his actions from powerful people more concerns for the political harm caused by the exposure of illegal actions? Yes.
Did he do everything right? No, he’s human, and wasnt asking to be lionized or elected anything. He wanted people to look at the materials and demand change from governments. He didn’t get what he wanted, and ended up stuck in Russia, where people can dismiss him as just a traitor, so no, he didn’t do everything right. He could have also thrown himself on the mercy of the American justice system, no matter how doomed that would be. But he’s human, so I don’t expect suicide.
Yes
