Julian Assange's Son, Daniel, Speaks About His Father.

[sabrina 1]

(edited for copyright purposes-proud patriot Moderator Democratic Underground)

As World Leaders scramble to deal with the continuing fall-out from Wikileaks' daily releases, little is really known about Julian Assange's personal life. His life before Wikileaks.



Back in September of this year, the Australian publication, "Crikey" spoke with Assange's 20 year-old son, Daniel, who provides some personal insight into Assange as the father he remembers.

In 2007 Julian, who was about to begin his work on Wikileaks, asked his son if he would like to work with him on the project:



Daniel Assange

Daniel Assange: I never thought WikiLeaks would succeed

When Daniel Assange was 16, his father Julian asked him to be a part of WikiLeaks, the controversial group of internet freedom fighters that was then in its infancy. Sceptical of the project’s likelihood of success, and not on the best of terms with his father, Daniel said no.

“I never thought he was going to succeed,” the younger Assange says, four-and-a-half years later. “It was a ridiculous concept, that he was going to actually leak government documents to the entire world.”

Daniel has not seen his father in the three years since he turned down the offer to work with him on Wikileaks.

Asked why they have not been in contact since then, Daniel says he believes this may have been his father's way of protecting him.

He describes his father as highly intelligent and, he says, because of this "He gets easily frustrated with people who aren’t capable of working up to his level and seeing ideas that he grasps very intuitively.”

(snip)

Having grown up in the midst of Assange’s mysterious world, Daniel believes that his father’s best quality as a parent was this desire to share knowledge and discuss it intelligently with his son.

“The one thing I found that I appreciated most was that he wouldn’t treat me like a child when it came to intellectual concepts: he would speak to me as though he were really trying to get me to grasp the fullness of an idea,” Daniel says. “I think that really helped me a lot in realising the nature of reality.”

Daniel's mother, who has never been identified, and his father were involved in a bitter custody battle over him during the '90s. Asked about his relationship with his father in general, Daniel says his memories of his father from his early years are 'mostly positive' but as he grew into his teenage years, they grew more apart.

However, he says that reports of their 'estrangement' have been greatly exaggerated and that it was more a question of a single father and teenage son not 'mixing very well'.

(snip)
HERE.

Daniel addressed the story in this interview:

Daniel believes that previous reports of him being “estranged” from his father have sensationalised the issue, and have also misrepresented him in other ways. The most blatant of these was an August 27 article by the New York Post, entitled “My Wiki dad’s just awful with the ladies”.

(snip)

[Violet_Crumble]

1. He's not the only one who thinks the Australian govt should be giving some assistance...

It's becoming increasingly clear to me that if any of us do something to displease the US govt, our own govt will stand back and wash its hands of us. It's so wrong...

[sabrina 1]

6. This government is ruthless.

Even though other countries have been embarrassed by these leaks, only the U.S. has disgraced itself by acting like a spoiled child, scrambling around looking for laws to prosecute him under.

[molly77]

16. I got these videos from Daily Kos

WikiLeaks A Very Big Deal. I had already admired Julian Assuage , but now I do even more.

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANLSKRc8N94 Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3brdA5dSqZo Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWNfIvG4z-g Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GjkEdBHM4o Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLNrZDk6op8 Part 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U

1 of 4Choose a Thumbnail

[sabrina 1]

38. Thank you very much, Molly77. I will watch them later. Have to go

out for a while, but I appreciate your posting them here. I also admire him very much and fear for him also.

[malaise]

2. I'm betting that Julian Assange

played cricket early in life.
Australia should declare him a national hero. Go Julian!! Gimme some truth!!

[sabrina 1]

3. Watching his popularity rise around the world

Australia may have to rethink bowing to the U.S. in relation to Assange. They SHOULD be proud of him. But in this global world we live in, governments are not allowed to act alone, the U.S. appears to tell all of them what is acceptable and what is not. And we have Assange to thank for providing us with proof of what we only suspected regarding the negative influence our government has on the rest of the world. The pressure on Spain to drop its case against Bush's torturers by this administration was living proof that there is nowhere in the world that the U.S. cannot reach when it wants to protect its war criminals.

I'm glad we found out. Knowledge is power. The weasel words of this president regarding not prosecuting war criminals, never were convincing. The reason 'we don't have time' were simply not believable. But who would have thought they were lies? Well, now we know and we are probably better off for having that knowledge.

[malaise]

4. Good post

:hi:

[Mira]

5. Recommended

[Octafish]

7. Truth is what makes it all possible.

From democracy to liberty.

Thank you, sabrina1, for an excellent insight into a great man and a great young man. Both are heroes, in the romantic, classical and modern senses.

[sabrina 1]

13. 'Both are heroes, in the romantic, classical and modern senses'.

I agree. The world is truly in a sad state right now. There have been few heroes throughout these awful times. I think that is why people are reacting so positively to Wikileaks. I remember during the Bush years how frustrated people were that the press was so silent on the crimes being committed before their eyes.

He is like an oasis in a desert. I agree with you that truth 'makes it all possible'. It's interesting to see who is angry at the exposure of truth and who is not. Those with something to hide and their enablers are strident in their desperation to silence him. But almost overwhelmingly, people all over the world, support him.

Thank you for your comment, Octafish. I always look forward to your posts.

[radhika]

31. The Prometheus Myth Comes to Mind...

He was the Titan who risked the wrath of Zeus to bring FIRE to mankind, which was struggling in cold and darkness.
Alas, Promotheus had to pay for his altruistic act. He was chained to a rock in the Caucasus where a giant vulture gnawed his liver - until Hercules rescued him.

Yes, there is a romance to this saga...

[sabrina 1]

39. I remember that from my mythology studies. You are right,

there is definitely a haunting similarity and definitely a romantic element reminiscent of other historical heroes. Thanks for reminding me. I fear for his safety quite honestly.

[Voice for Peace]

52. you might enjoy this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9680411

"A Fable for This Christmas" from http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/12/3/73145/1280?new=true

[sabrina 1]

57. That is beautifully done. Thank you for posting.

"He's interesting -- a young would-be hero, a complete romantic, even down, I fear, to the tragic ending. Very smart, courageous , noble, idealistic. A bit too reckless. He's like a knight in search of a dragon to slay. His chosen dragons are the power structures of his time", spake Cele, with a deep sigh.

Nivil spoke up. "I believe he is a marked man."

"I wish I could shelter him, protect him", Cele prayed.

"He will be remembered for the light, however brief, he brought to the dark", mused Hand.

I also liked the plea to the 'people of the world' not to 'sleep through this' not 'kill the messenger' this time.

Did you write this? It is very well done. Wish I had seen it in time to rec.

[Voice for Peace]

59. I didn't write it, but my brilliant brother did.

I thought it was great.. the thread sank immediately, though.

[sabrina 1]

61. It IS great. I didn't see the thread but would have definitely rec'd

it. Your brother IS talented. :-)

[Ichingcarpenter]

15. People don't get it..... some do but not most

here don't


“A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.”


“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”


“You never find yourself until you face the truth”

[defendandprotect]

53. Too much FEAR induced thinking ... and belief in "national security" ....

which is what I think leads them to attack Assange and avoid truth --

[Odin2005]

8. He looks just like his dad.

[avaistheone1]

18. He does.

Daniel sounds like he has a profound appreciation of his father. So the fruit may not fall too far from the tree in this case.

Thanks sabrina for the report.

[Mimosa]

9. Sabrina, K&Ring for insights and a good read! Thank you. n/t

[EFerrari]

10. I don't know any teenagers that weren't "estranged" from ther parents

at some point. :)

[sabrina 1]

14. Lol, neither do I. Which is why I am glad his son decided to

correct the sensational claims that even his own son hates him. I think he spoke very intelligently about his father and seems very mature for his age.

[lunatica]

11. It's always best to know the truth. Always.

[Life Long Dem]

69. "You Can't Handle the Truth"

:-)

[wildbilln864]

12. k & friggin r! nt

[Hissyspit]

17. I remember when I posted this Crikey interview back when it orginally happened

it got almost no reaction here. :)

Good post sabrina 1. :thumbsup:

[sabrina 1]

22. I always look for your posts, Hissyspit as you do awesome

work finding stories most of us would miss otherwise. I did not see your post on Daniel Assange's interview or I would definitely have rec'd and commented.

Is there a way to get notification when someone you are interested in reading is posting an OP? I have tried the 'buddy list' but I don't get any notices unless someone PMs me. I try to check jouranls also. But on some boards there is a way to keep up with people you want to follow. Just wondering if there's a way and I have not found it. Meant to ask this question before, actually. Maybe I'll try Ask the Admins if no one can answer here.

[druidity33]

24. good idea

I like to check Waterman's posts when he opines. Wouldn't mind getting a heads up. Though if you check the Greatest page regularly, most Hissyspit and H2OMan threads make their way up there eventually.

:)

[Hissyspit]

26. There is a place that shows you the lastest posting from people

on your Buddy List, but it doesn't go to your inbox or email you or anything like that, and, honestly, I can't remember where it is!

[sabrina 1]

35. Thank you, I think I will post the question in 'ask the administrators'

when I get back later. I just added you to my list which I had not done as it didn't seem to work for what I wanted. Keep up the good work, I love to see a 'Hissyspit' post as I know it will be worth reading.

[axollot]

45. The My Du button. ;) When you add a person to your buddy list. As you are on mine! n/t

[Hissyspit]

46. Yeah, I was looking there, but couldn't find the new article updates.

Thanks for putting me on your Buddy list.

[Ichingcarpenter]

27. Hissy was there for US.... in Denver..... as a rep..... for DU

This Guy.......... posts, reads the news, finds the facts and speaks the truth.

I was left of him at one time........But he is too well read Now.
and is justified in his observations

The photos from Denver at the time my friend during that time.....

I kept on a hard drive.

Listen Folks, this guy was NUMBER 1, on supporting the Dems, Obama

But he is too well read now

The truth is.........








U



















u

[sabrina 1]

30. I couldn't agree more ~

I always check out his OPs when I see them. I will post a question in Ask The Admins. to see if there is a way to know when he and others whose writings I don't want to miss, are posting.

[Lucinda]

19. Thank you!

[nilram]

20. awesome post, thanks.

[midnight]

21. Ground breaking work for the greater good. I think in time,

many more people will see it this way as well...

[Kaleko]

23. With Wikileaks, we have finally stepped into what is meant by "the information age".

Both, father and son, understand the implications. Brilliant, inspiring, courageous are just a few words that spring to mind reading about them and the whistleblowers who make Wikileaks a force to reckon with in the first place.

Kudos to all of them and those who are waiting in the wings.

[defendandprotect]

55. +1 --

nicely written --

and join in your sentiments "to them all and those waiting in the wings."

:)

[suffragette]

25. It's hard to imagine what it must be like to need to steel

yourself against expected news that your father has been assassinated.

In fact, he says, he is surprised his father is still alive: “I am very surprised that the governments haven’t actually done what some of the journalists have been recommending, which is to just assassinate him.”

Truly stunning.

Thank you for this portrait of this young man. Powerful and well done.

[sabrina 1]

48. It is chilling to think he even has to think about that.

No civilized country should be calling for the murder of anyone, let alone someone who has not broken any laws.

I'm sure his father worries about him also ~

Thanks suffragette :-)

[jotsy]

28. Got interested in his birthdate last night and learned he's a Dad.

"OMG, he has a son." I said allowed to no one, filled instantly with a new grade of fear for them both. Stay safe Mr. Assange, those that truly govern through monetary might are not so inclined to be dragged into the light, where they can be seen for the selfish and spoiled narcissists they are.

I'm almost ashamed to say it here, but I do that facebook thing, mostly as a way to keep up with what goes on in the lives of my two grown kids. I bring it up because I have something of a sig line there: In search of a just truth. It's always been a sad thing for me to consider how often we refer to justice and truth hand in hand, but too often when absolute truth is revealed, it's anything but just. The situation with Wikileaks shows us how much a failure this kind of democracy is when we're taught the truth shall set us free, but the PTB will stop at nothing to keep us from knowing it.

Thanks for posting Miss Sabrina. K and R

[radhika]

32. Here's a link to his astrology chart

I know you are all serious minded political junkies, but some of us are totally captivated by him.


He's born on July 3rd... here's some interpretation by the writer.

http://blog.beliefnet.com/astrologicalmusings/2010/11/the-astrology-of-julian-assang.html

[sabrina 1]

37. I had read that had a child, or children a while ago but

never saw anything about them. I thought they/he were younger. I imagine he does worry about repercussions to his family as he is exposing some pretty nasty people. Not just in the U.S. as many people seem to believe. I doubt he will ever really be safe again.

[treestar]

29. People seem more interested in him than in any document contents

Kinda hard not to conclude the documents are not a big deal.

[sabrina 1]

33. If you are talking about our government, then you are right. Has

anyone in this government made any statements addressing the revelations in the actual documents, such as using the State Dept. illegally, for espionage purposes?

They have smeared the messenger. I posted this to give some background on the man they seem to want to silence more than they want to get Osama Bin Laden. People should have as much information as possible before accepting any government's word about someone they have a vested interest in smearing.

As for the documents, I will be posting about them. They are incredibly interesting from many pov. And very revealing as to what goes on behind closed doors as opposed to what we are told.

It's hard to know where to begin as there are so many countries involved, so much that we suspected but is now confirmed. I have been reading them every day as they are posted at the Guardian and elsewhere, and find them facinating and in many ways sad. Sad that those who have the power, around the globe, often seem so unfit for the roles they play in the lives of so many.

[treestar]

63. Where has the government mentioned him?

It's DU that talks about him more than the contents of the classified documents.

People are starting to look like they have a crush on him.

[sabrina 1]

70. The government is obsessive over him. They are practically

shutting down the internet to try to stop him. They have twisted the arms of Paypal, the Swiss Government, The British Government, Sweden and Australia.

Hilary Clinton has 'condemned' this free flow of information, but has yet to address her alleged violation of the Espionage laws.

Whether people have a crush on him or not, matters little. What is happening is that people are seeing in the most graphic way, how the U.S. has become a totalitarian state. Around the world people are offering to help Wikileaks stay online. And the attempt at censorship by the U.S. only makes us look worse than China or any other totalitarian state trying to hide their activities from the people.

What people have a 'crush' on, it is turning out, is democracy and as they see it fast disappearing, it looks like they are ready to fight back. While the U.S. may be able to control other governments, they cannot control their people, most of whom are already sick to the point of near revolution in some countries, of their own governments.

If you want to win any conflict, you need to have the 'hearts and minds' of the people. The U.S. and European rightwing governments have already lost that battle.

[RetroLounge]

34. ...

:rofl:

RL

[superduperfarleft]

36. Then why is your crowd running all over DU doing damage control

and acting like this is an intentional affront to President Obama himself?

[awoke_in_2003]

40. +1000. nt

[liberation]

44. Ironic, isn't it?

Especially since Obama himself claimed one of the goals of his administration would be increased "transparency."

Interesting the abandon with which they attack anyone who dares demanding actual "change" from this administration, or how actual "transparency" throws them into a "two minutes of hate" mode.

Given all that, I shudder to think what their definition for "hope" must be...

[defendandprotect]

56. Ah ... mean of you to point that out --

:evilgrin:

[treestar]

64. Your response has nothing to do with my post!

The point is there is more interest in Julian than in the documents and the outrages they supposedly affirm.

People looking for a hero and here's a new one. Suddenly he can do no wrong. It's funny the same people think Obama can do no right or that defending him at all is "hero worship" of some kind. Projection, since they've decided Obama is not their hero. In steps Julian to fill the vacuum.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[earcandle]

42. I am glad to hear his son is proud of him, and that people are offering support. Maybe this will

crack the egg of failed journalism in the last 30 years to
protect a bunch of criminals who have been taking the world
down for cash since then.  

If Julian is in SF ever, he can stay at our place... it is
small and humble so no one will look for him here. 

[sabrina 1]

47. He can stay at our place too, this is still a free country, and he has

not committed a crime. If he has, what are they waiting for?

It is unbelievable to think that our entire press corps probably knew most of what is in those documents, but failed to keep the public informed.

[earcandle]

66. Our journalists have been threatened into producing sensational crap.....

 or be fired, or assassinated.  We saw at Wikileaks of
journalist being gunned down.  Here, I remember, having gotten
my degree in Speech/Communication 1984 (cum laude) how
journalists were losing their jobs right and left for being
investigative in the early 80's.  The world of journalism
should come clean with us so that we can protect them and get
the Fairness Doctrine and investigative reporting back in
mainstream.  This uppity States Secrets stuff is just
protection schemes that allow corruption in the world in our
name.  Thanks for Wikileaks!  

[sabrina 1]

68. yes, you are right. It would take a lot of courage to try to be a

good reporter today. They would not last long, either they would be fired, like Ashley Banfield and others, or killed. But if they joined forces, built a huge strong organization with support from the people, and if the PTBs knew that silencing one would only result in other reporters becoming even more aggressive in their reporting, all of them would be safer.

I think the death of journalism in this country is among the worst things to have happened to this democracy.

I didn't know it had started in the eighties, but that makes sense considering who was in power back then.

[emilyg]

49. Thank you. k/r

[DeSwiss]

50. K&R

There are many assholes in this uncivilized world your father is trying to help, Daniel.

I hope he remains safe.....

[southernyankeebelle]

51. You know the more am starting to see little tibits I can't see what was wrong. He embrassed many

countries that were doing things that I don't think their citizens would approve of. I dunno what to think. Only I feel our freedoms are slowing being taken away from us. We have a media that is hand in hand with the government now. I wonder where are reporters like watergate reporters. The sold their souls for the money and power that can bring to them. Shame on the press. I don't know who is right or wrong but why are they so afraid of this man? He has something on the governments of the world.

[defendandprotect]

54. Interesting insight into Assange's intelligence and interests ....

difficult for this young son, I'm sure!

And US will continue to make this as difficult as possible for Assange, obviousl!

Thank you!

:)

[Turborama]

58. Some lunatic whackjob has made a blog post about using Daniel as bait for an assassination attempt

I thought about posting it as an OP but I'm not sure I want to give him that kind of publicity. Here's a dead link to it if you want to see what I mean...

http: //blog. jonolan.net /politics/ green-lighting-assange/

[sabrina 1]

60. Wow, I hope someone sends that to the Australian authorities.

It is a crime to threaten violence against anyone. Maybe the FBI might be interested, but I wouldn't be too sure about any U.S. authorities doing anything to protect a member of Assange's family.

His own government owes him some protection though. They have indeed betrayed a citizen of their own country.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

62. Typical of the lame$tream media to twist things around & sensationalize

They do that with every story - they lie - particularly if they are targeting someone and want to destroy them in the eyes of the public.

I found this particularly poignant and true from the OP:

"The U.S. is not looking for Osama Bin Laden who killed 3,000 people. They are looking for Julian Assange who has killed no one and broken no laws. What are they thinking? They should pray that nothing happens to this man in case they might be blamed. He IS a hero but we would not have needed him if we had a free press. Our government killed freedom of the press, as have other governments. All Assange has done is to step into the void."

[sabrina 1]

67. That is so true, but I think people are far more skeptical now than

they used to be and don't jump to conclusions in situations like this. The internet helps as people can do their own research and having done that since this story came out in Sweden, a vast majority have concluded that the story is nothing more than an attempt to silence Wikileaks.

[Poboy]

65. K&r