Just a short diary to point out that Edward Snowden won the Swedish Human Rights Award for his daring and heroic revelations.
Edward Snowden wins Swedish human rights award for NSA revelations
Whistleblower Edward Snowden received several standing ovations in the Swedish parliament after being given the Right Livelihood award for his revelations of the scale of state surveillance.
Snowden, who is in exile in Russia, addressed the parliament by video from Moscow. In a symbolic gesture, his family and supporters said no one picked up the award on his behalf in the hope that one day he might be free to travel to Sweden to receive it in person.
I know many here believe Russia Today is a personal propaganda outfit for Putin himself. Sadly, isn't it ironic that the enemy we waged a cold war against for 40+ yrs is the one place he could go to be protected from the criminal actions of our government?
Here's his entire acceptance speech:
Also of note, the Guardian editor, Alan Rusbridger, won as well and he had to say this that I thought was intriguing and poignant:
In his address, Rusbridger said: “One of the challenges Snowden poses for us is the recognition that there is no such thing as the public interest. No such thing as one single, monolithic interest that overrides all others.”
I've always been torn between "the public interest" theory and individual unalienable rights, minimally listed in our Constitution.
Where's the line drawn?
When does "the public interest" become oppressive and non-productive?
Is it when we are told that communism is good and individual rights are passé?
Is it when we are conditioned to buy anything and everything but can own nothing?
I have few answers but many questions on this.
How do we obtain our cake and eat it too???
When do we get a government that knows (and respects) it's own limited authorities?
How does that government protect the innocent individual and disenfranchised masses without becoming the monster we once fought against?
When will we be free again?