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Edward Snowden Research Paper

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Edward Snowden Research Paper
Frankie Singer
Creative Writing 10
Laura MacDonald
24 April 2014

Edward Snowden: A True American

In the summer of 2013, a system administrator released classified information regarding the National Security Agency’s wiretapping and surveillance of the American people and the leaders of foreign powers. Hailed as a hero by some and a traitor by others, Edward Snowden fled to Russia after revealing the NSA’s secret operations in an interview with The Guardian, a UK-based news source, in Hong Kong. These acts were condemned by the United States government who aimed to extradite Snowden on the charges of theft of government property, unauthorized communication of national defense information, and willful communication of classified …show more content…
Cassidy points out that the treatment of Snowden is inappropriate due to the fact that the information leaked did not compromise any NSA algorithms or names that could jeopardize the lives and the safety of not only employees of the NSA but the American people. Cassidy quotes Glenn Greenwald who interviewed Snowden when he disclosed the facts. “Snowden spent months meticulously studying every document.” This means that unlike other hackers who just upload classified documents on the Internet, he delivered it to the world in a way which would cease to affect the National Security of the United …show more content…
Raphael praises Snowden because of his aims to preserve and respect the privacy and lives of the American people. He also points out that these charges against Snowden are un-American and contradictory to the first amendment “as it violates freedom of speech in a very real way, as we have now all been labeled as guilty until proven innocent.”

The Editorial Board for the New York Times believes that although Snowden committed a crime, but did the rightful thing for his country. They defend his actions by stating, “Considering the enormous value of the information he has revealed, and the abuses he has exposed, Mr. Snowden deserves better than a life of permanent exile, fear and flight” (New York Times). This means that the general public support Snowden because of the respect he has for basic privacy
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