Why would a whistleblower release a manifesto?

[fried eggs]

Does anyone else find that odd?

[Luminous Animal]

1. Manifesto: a written statement that describes the policies, goals, and opinions of a person or group

What is so odd about that?

Here is a link to a translation of it, if you care to read it.

https://occupyblogosphere.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/a-manifesto-for-the-truth-edward-snowden-der-spiegel/

[fried eggs]

4. Why would a whistleblower need a manifesto?

A whistleblower reports wrong doing and does not have an agenda.

[last1standing]

5. If a "whistleblower" was a machine or a comic strip character, you might be correct.

However, whistleblowers, like semi-anonymous web-forum posters, are generally full-fledged human beings with opinions, beliefs, desires, hopes and fears. Sometimes they flee when in danger, sometimes they say irrational things, sometimes they inspire and repel us at the same time.

Maybe the problem here is that some posters don't understand, or maybe even care about, the humanity of other people.

[Luminous Animal]

6. Did you read it?

https://occupyblogosphere.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/a-manifesto-for-the-truth-edward-snowden-der-spiegel/

[cthulu2016]

12. You don't consider reporting wrongdoing an agenda? That's weird.

[Fumesucker]

57. Everyone has an agenda n/t

[Iggo]

71. :-)

[arely staircase]

20. self applying that word to one's letter to the editor

comes across as egotistical at best.

[Luminous Animal]

25. What makes you conclude that it was a letter to the editor?

It was published in an issue of the weekly edition of Spiegel that was dedicated to Snowden.

They used one of the lines of the article on the cover of the magazine.

[arely staircase]

28. ok op-ed

either way.

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. Yes! And that's not all that's "odd" about this character.

The goal seems to be to bring his former country to it's knees, and to make his new host country look good by comparison. Good luck with that!

[JackRiddler]

9. Are you sure you didn't want John Birch Underground?

"Bring his former country to its knees"!

Wrong: It's to help liberate the American people from an out-of-control police and surveillance state. Snowden is the patriot, the NSA and the rest of the secret authorities are the tyranny.

[Tarheel_Dem]

16. !!!

[KittyWampus]

22. Greenwald: "The US Government Should Be On Its Knees Every Day Praying That Nothing Happens To Snowd

Greenwald: "The US Government Should Be On Its Knees Every Day Praying That Nothing Happens To Snowden"


And your "john birch underground" comment is insulting.

[Tarheel_Dem]

35. Thank You!

[Luminous Animal]

37. Of course you know the difference of getting down on one's knees to pray and being

forced to ones knees.

Not even a good try.

[Iggo]

72. It's supposed to be.

[NuclearDem]

39. I swear to God, discussing Snowden brings out the nationalism in some people here.

[left on green only]

11. Even Stranger Yet...

....It has also been widely reported in the media that he has applied for clemency in the USA with the assistance of a "high ranking official" in the German Government. If that is true (and I believe it is), then it might appear as if he wants to have his baklava, and eat it too. Or maybe he just misses his high paying cushy job in Hawaii and the sweet charms of his up-and-coming pole dancing partner.

[Tarheel_Dem]

17. Clemency in the US? Is that what his "Appeal to the World" has been about? I don't read...

much about him, cuz I really could give a shit what happens to his traitorous ass.

[alarimer]

33. Traitorous?

That's authoritarian bullshit.

I fucking HATE authoritarians. Why can't you see that the NSA is an evil organization that has no place in a true democracy.

I am through with so-called progressives who think government spying is a-ok because "it keeps us safe from terror." It does no such thing.

This government and any apologists for spying can go right to hell.

[Tarheel_Dem]

34. Did you swallow an Occupy Manifesto?

[fried eggs]

42. ...

[left on green only]

48. Hi Tarheel Dem

I think they were two separate, er....movements. I was only trying to point out how both of them occurring at the same time might lead a rational mind to think that he was trying to burn his candle at both ends. Forget my baklava analogy. I only used it because it becomes stale after one day.

[Mojorabbit]

52. Then why show up on almost all of the threads on the subject.

If you have nothing to say why not pass them by?

[last1standing]

18. Nice attempt at "slut shaming."

"...the sweet charms of his up-and-coming pole dancing partner."

That comment says everything anyone here needs to know about you and your agenda.

[KittyWampus]

23. so does your use of the "slut shaming". LOL!

[last1standing]

24. If you're willing to denegrate women in order to 'protect' Obama, go for it.

I find it disgusting but then that's nothing new when it comes to your posts.

[KittyWampus]

26. bless your heart.

[last1standing]

29. No thank you. I don't need them.

Perhaps you do, however. Maybe you should search your conscience for whether 'slut shaming' is a decent or good thing to do - even when you think it's to protect your savior, Obama.

[left on green only]

46. That's Right! Nothing Wrong With Pole Dancing n/t

[last1standing]

49. Please tell me why you have an obvious problem with women dancers.

n/t

[Luminous Animal]

19. It's been reported, eh? You have a link for that?

[left on green only]

50. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/03/edward-snowden-clemency_n_4209498.html n/t

[Luminous Animal]

70. (your link does not work) Actually, I wanted the link to this claim of yours:

"...It has also been widely reported in the media that he has applied for clemency in the USA with the assistance of a "high ranking official" in the German Government."

Snowden has not at any time applied for clemency. Though the media and the White House may say that he has, I've seen nothing to prove that. Not in is letter or in any sort of official document.

[riderinthestorm]

69. Its not true that he asked for clemency. Not true at all.

Greg Mitchell writes on media matters and has followed the trajectory of this false meme. Its an interesting peek into how fallacious info gets out into the public sphere and perpetuated until it feels like truth, when its not (truthiness, heh). "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Winston Churchill

Media Hype Edward Snowden’s Request for ‘Clemency’—but Did He Even Ask for It?

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/28?page=0%2C1

All of this stems from the files “gathered” (to borrow a word) by former contractor Edward Snowden. He is also in the news today via a Der Spiegel cover story, in which the magazine raises the issue of “asylum” for him in Germany. At the same time, media of all stripes, from NBC to the Associated Press, have been busy gathering quotes from administration officials and congressmembers soundly rejecting Snowden’s call this weekend for “clemency.”

One problem: did he even make this request?

Glenn Greenwald, his reporter friend who should know, declared otherwise on Twitter this morning: “The US media fabricated this ‘Snowden is pleading for clemency’ fairy tale—where did this happen? Where did he ‘plead for clemency’?” And: “All weekend, mindless TV news personalities asked: ‘Snowden is pleading for clemency—what’s your reaction?’ This never happened.”

The media claim is that Snowden asked for this in a letter given to a German Green politician “on Friday.” Presumably, this is what became his “Manifesto for Truth” published by Der Spiegel. The Snowden line most quoted is: “Citizens have to fight against the suppression of information about affairs of essential importance for the public. Those who speak the truth are not committing a crime.” See this New York Times story for that.

But none of the stories actually directly quote Snowden asking for clemency. Greenwald apparently believes there was no direct “clemency” bid and merely a creative interpretation.

Indeed, Der Spiegel’s full report on the meeting between the German politician and Snowden makes no mention of a demand for clemency, but rather Snowden’s offer to come to Germany and offer testimony if it can be safely arranged.

[sendero]

27. You guys are so funny..

.. first it's "nothing to see here, we knew the NSA was gathering communications" - then as the sheer undeniable wrongness of what is being done takes hold its "attack the messenger, why doesn't he turn himself in? (my personal idiotic favorite) or "it's just metadata" (from people who couldn't define the term metadata with a gun to their heads) - then when it becomes clear and undeniable the NSA is in the wrong here the tactics shift to "everyone spies" and he's a Russian now (he's there ONLY because the US revoked his VISA while he was en route).

It just gets tiring and the detractors just keep doubling down on fail.

Tell you what, Snowden did the country a favor whether you are bright enough to see it or not. You can smear him all you want because I never said or even thought he was perfect.

The "damage" done to this country is done by the NSA itself, it's enablers and those who continue to try to find an angle to convince the stupid otherwise.

[Tarheel_Dem]

30. Pisses you off that world knows "they all do it", doesn't it? The poutrage of the pretenders can't

change that. Edward Snowden, and all his new Russian/Chinese BFF's can kiss my black American ass!

[sendero]

36. They all do it..

.. but the NSA has taken it to a whole new level by wiretapping personal phone lines of damn near all of our allies. If you think their protests are feigned, just wait. This is going to cost the US and plenty. Trust has been broken, the "code" violated. And for what, for nothing.

If you are on the side of the NSA you're the one kissing ass.

[Tarheel_Dem]

38. I'm waiting with bated breath!

[851-977]

64. Here's the definition of manifesto. Do you honestly find it "odd"?

Manifesto: a written statement that describes the policies, goals, and opinions of a person or group.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manifesto

Someone described his opinions. How freaking weird!

[Luminous Animal]

3. He didn't actually "release" a manifesto. Der Spiegel devoted its entire weekly maganize to Snowden

and surveillance. Snowden contributed.

[Rex]

7. TO help people understand why they blew the whistle?

[JackRiddler]

8. Yeah, man, a real whistleblower would just shut up.

The Snowden critics around here seem to think that the ideal whistleblower doesn't actually say anything, turns himself in, and disappears forever behind bars. (Phew! Problem solved.)

Manifestoes are for Commies!!!

The only thing odd here is that you're trying to prejudice people against Snowden without providing a link to the actual thing. If anyone prefers to read something of substance, here it is:

http://occupyblogosphere.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/a-manifesto-for-the-truth-edward-snowden-der-spiegel/

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Thanks, that was a good read

[ronnie624]

56. Thanks a lot.

There's quite a bit of good reading in there.

[uponit7771]

68. right, all folk who are exposed to an unjust system gets benefit of being a traitor to their country

... cause Snowden supports have always supported it that way?!

not

[Warren Stupidity]

10. He's a pole-dancer dating attention whore who writes manifestos and such!

I think we are basically well past the character assassination phase of the damage control effort. That was so last summer. We've even dropped the "nothing to see here, move along" campaign. The current mode is "mea culpa but still a creep".

Please get with the program. We need uniform talking point propagation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Nope, not at all

here, you might want to read it. IT IS truly short.

http://occupyblogosphere.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/a-manifesto-for-the-truth-edward-snowden-der-spiegel/

[Broward]

15. Do you object to Snowden's whistleblowing?

If so, would you be objecting if only Republican presidents were implicated?

[fried eggs]

41. These days, manifestos tend to be tied to mass killers (terrorists)

If that's where Snowden was headed (which isn't farfetched considering he was a gun owner who posted disturbing right wing screeds), then I'm glad Greenwald rescued him and helped him figured out another way to get revenge.

[Luminous Animal]

43. I guess that would make Tavis Smiley a terrorist

he wrote a few years ago, with Cornell West, a manifesto on poverty.

[muriel_volestrangler]

59. OK, we'll look at the mentions 'of 'manifesto' on Google News

After Snowden's, which comes out top, we have (these are my results in Britain):

The Johnson manifesto (UK Tory mainfesto, written by brother of London mayor)
Indian Congress party manifesto
manifesto of retired soccer manager
Manifesto for small and medium enterprise growth
South African opposition manifesto

and so on.

Maybe the problem here is that you have become so scared by media coverage of endless American gun killings and terrorism, and you now see a killer around every corner? It had not occurred to me for a moment that you were thinking about killers; and I don't think it occurred to anyone else either, looking at the replies before this.

The principal use of 'manifesto' is in politics. Perhaps, if you read a bit more about politics, and less about killings, you'd get what people mean better?

[Starry Messenger]

21. And he had boxes, in his garage!

Madness.

[QC]

31. Do you know who else wrote a manifesto? Karl Marx.

I rest my case.

[Luminous Animal]

44. And Einstein. Why would a scientist write manifesto on peace?

[Lil Missy]

55. So did the unibomber, Ted Kaczynski. n/t

[851-977]

63. The goal is to divert attention from the contents of the letter

towards the wicked intentions behind the "manifesto". NSA defenders have been trying to discuss issues other than the substance from day 1. Instead of discussing the leaks, they discussed Snowden's life and Greenwald's alleged ideology, for example.

[SidDithers]

32. Leave Snowden alone!!...

You just don't appreciate all that Snowden has sacrificed for you. He's like Jesus and Paul Revere rolled into one.

Or something.

Sid

[randome]

40. Which reminds me.

Whatever happened to USGovtOwesUs3Trillion or whatever his/her name was? I miss those reflexive postings of Paul Revere.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font][hr]

[treestar]

47. ppr'd finally

I can't find a way to look him up. There used to be a member list but now I can't find it!

Snowden is Paul Revere with a thumb drive full of truth!

[Ikonoklast]

60. He is a Libertarian operative put in place to do exactly what he did.

No formal education in his chosen field, little or no experience...yet he gets to be a contract employee for the NSA.

And Greenwald is part of the operation, another Libertarian who trolls Democrats, getting paid.


There are no coincidences.

[Bonobo]

51. Not in the least.

Anyone that committed to following through on their sense of what is ethical is clearly a person of strong opinions.

I find nothing odd about it at all and wonder why you do.

[Bolo Boffin]

53. It's not very much of a manifesto.

I demand my manifestos to be 8-point type, handwritten, and into the hundreds of pages.

Snowden's is banal by comparison. That's what I find odd. It doesn't say very much at all. Unless there's more somewhere and I'm missing it. I'm only seeing five paragraphs.

[Union Scribe]

54. To piss off DU.

And, oh look, it worked.

[ucrdem]

58. More like a memo. There's no there there.

10,000 purloined docs and the best he can muster is "mass surveillance is a global problem"? No criminal behavior, no smoking gun, no illegal activity, no violated statues?

Yeah, odd. Very.

[Orrex]

61. If he were lesser nobility, we could call him the Count of Manifesto.

And then maybe they'd name a club sandwich after him.

[851-977]

62. Dictionary definition of manifesto

" a written statement that describes the policies, goals, and opinions of a person or group".

A manifesto is a description of opinions? How sinister! Snowden should be charged with opinion-making on the first degree.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manifesto

[gopiscrap]

67. welcome to DU

[bemildred]

65. I find your question odd. nt

[99Forever]

66. Maybe it's just me, but...

... these lame-o character assassins get more pathetic everyday.