Snowden Speaking About Mass Surveillance and Democracy
Democracy is not a given. Ignorance empowers secrecy. Who actually rules? Who cares? You will when it affects you personally or someone you love. A culture opposed to democracy represses or removes those who they deem to be a threat or enemy. Dictatorship can come in democratic clothing. Be discerning of government and support governments to change into a shape that reflects the community’s highest values.
I do not vote for mass surveillance. I do not agree to anyone surveilling me without my permission. I vote for openness, visibility and accountability of those in government and the private sector. Good governance is the goverment of the future that responds to the highest good of humanity.
Whistleblowers are serving humanity when acting from conscience. You cannot imagine the bravery of standing up without any protection other than truth. By disclosing the negative policies made in people’s names he has offered the public the opportunity to participate in democratic processes to ‘be the change’. I really love that Edward Snowden had that courage to speak up. He is a good example of democracy in action. He reveals the breakdown in checks and balances on government power and ineffective separation of powers. I would see it as a breakdown of values. Corruption flourishes when good people say nothing.
As I said in the Julian Assange blog, whistleblowers are giving a gift. Edward Snowden is giving a gift to the US government by forcing them to look at themselves not others. Some see a snake and not a rope, he is a rope that is pulling back the statue of liberty that is sinking in New York harbour. He is giving her dignity and reestablishing the foundation of liberty into the soil of truth. The founding fathers were the original architects of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The US has forgotten its purpose and mission. Until it returns to its ethical roots it will list and fall into disrepair. Dignity comes not from material possessions but from living in your own truth. It grounds you in life to be who you are. Edward is a wonderful example and I am sure we all breath a sigh of relief when we listen to intelligent men who are holding the light to illumination of visibility that needs no surveillance to see.
The images on this video I just noticed at the beginning and end. I think the video channel is adding a view of who rules the world. Such is freedom of speech and diversity. It seems an unstoppable train to me.