Spy Versus Spy: Finding Closure with Edward Snowden

Edward Snowden, the whistleblower, spy, hero, villain, is now Tom Hanks without a Wilson.  He is stuck, alone on castaway island, and all by himself.  His last hope for a home is Venezuela, a wicked place that is as good as any to sign a book deal.  So as the man who leaked one of the biggest bombshells in recent history begs every country on Earth for asylum and the US government slams every door, the media and the people argue his historical place.

No surprise that the feds and other demonic beings (Cheney) called for his head outright.  No surprise that the hippies called for his nomination to run on the Green Party ticket next year.  No surprise that your everyday-er doesn't know Edward Snowden from Edward Scissorhands.  The issue that must be addressed is that "We the People" are still largely undecided.  How do we ignore the media and other barking dogs to come to a rational decision of what to think of actions such as Snowden's.  The man himself is not as important as what he has done.  Do we stand against big government at every angle and support vigilante actions to chip away from it?  Do we run to big brother in fear and allow it to crush any opposition because this is, as always, a matter of national security and public safety?  The correct process is to look deeply into the details surrounding each case and make the right decision.  This is not a menial thought process to take, it is very important on how the public remembers this case and ones like it in the future because it has huge implications on our acceptance of overreaches and the treatment of dissidents.

Important Fact 1:  Edward Snowden is the enemy of our enemy; something that I think most Americans can agree upon.  No, the US government is not your enemy if you are a sane person.  However, government overreaches and breaches of constitutional protections should be something that all Americans hate.  The military swears to defend the constitution before anything or anyone else; it should be the most important political thing we care about as well.  

We turned a blind eye during World War 2 while Stalin continued killing millions of his own people.  Even before the War, Stalin was killing American immigrants on the basis of terrorism.  After World War 2, our focus turned to stop Stalin.  During the Revolutionary War, we gladly accepted all the help we could get from France, although they murdered entire villages just years earlier during the French and Indian War.  Years later, we spit in their face when they asked for help against Britain and again went to war with them based off of mutual hatred.  Hosni Mubarak was a terrible man that was overlooked because he played by our rules and stood with us publicly on most issues.  We used Mubarak up and let him be trampled when his chips were down.  The historical precedence for dealing with enemies of our enemies is to turn a blind eye and accept the help until it is no longer useful for us.  That does not make it okay.

Important Fact 2:  Snowden is a traitor because he has given away information to the Chinese and undoubtedly, the Russians and everyone else who has given him a forum.  The question that needs to be asked in regards to this second fact is, can we overlook him giving away secret information to other countries in order to save his own skin?  The answer must be no.

We should be willing to happily watch Snowden receive his judgement from the US government because he fled the country and sold his soul to keep his freedom.  He seeks asylum from countries where there is little freedom.  The reality of Edward Snowden is that he is either out to hurt America in anyway possible, or he is a snake who cares more for himself than even his own cause.  A hero cannot also be a weasel.  

The recipe for being a hero is to first do something heroic, then stand by what you have done.  If a person is truly being selfless and doing what is right, the people will stand with that person as they are saved or as they go down a martyr.  Snowden is simply a snake and should be viewed historically as a useful idiot.  Everyone suspected that the federal government was spying on law-abiding citizens, but not to what extent and with no smoking gun.  The lesson for others who find themselves in Snowden's shoes is if you want to be a hero, be heroic.  Thank you for the leaked information Edward Snowden, that action alone was the right thing to do.  Now, go rot in an Obama gulag camp. 

The sad truth of this story is the lack of outrage over the leaked information.  Most who are even still talking about NSA spying are talking about Edward Snowden and not the fact that everyone's fourth amendment rights continue to be molested everyday.  This post is as guilty as any.  The Obama administration has masterfully turned this story on its head and made it about a nerdy hacker.  I have made my judgement, make yours and move on to the 4th Amendment.

-Hashtag Holly

The Declaration of the People

Two hundred thirty-seven years ago today, fifty-six brave men signed a declaration, stating that the constituents they represented would no longer swear allegiance to their tyrannical king.  The declaration was unheard of at the time; the British Empire had a firm grip on a huge portion of the world, through colonial rule, trade, and military power.  The declaration was sure to be a declaration of war; the kingdom could not lose the American cash cow or show weakness to other colonies.  The separatists didn't stand a chance; they were underdogs that paled in every comparison except for their dedication to the cause.  Their cause was just, their motivations were selfless, their resolve was historic.

Many think of the great efforts of these fifty-six powdered-wigged patriots when they enjoy their grilled meats every July 4th. Others recall on the heroic actions of those who fought and/or died during the Revolutionary War and visions of blood-spattered Mel Gibsons dance in their heads.  Both are valid reasons to eat pie.  But in the wake of uprisings in Egypt and widespread civil unrest around the world, this year is as good as any to remember "We the People."  Yes the fifty-six delegates made the bold and poetic declaration and should be given much of the credit.  However, they were only politicians and their mouths would have not opened had it not been for the Americans that they represented.  It was the People's will that wrote the letter and the People that would bare the consequences of its words.  The representatives did an impeccable job, standing up to tyranny.  But they were not alone.  Behind them was a majority that stood ready to lay down everything to put their money where their delegated mouths spoke.  The people declared  independence, stood up to the King, and won an unlikely war to keep that independence

We the People can do anything.  In this so-called information age, the common person is as uninformed as ever.  The injustices of the King and the resulting revolution was spurred through bar conversations and town hall meetings.  With all of the information the world has to offer resting at our fingertips, Americans choose to keep up with Kardashians and the like.  The People have been sidelined by daily mediocrities and a haze sits in front of our faces.

"all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed"

We the People have grown accustomed to a government that grows more tyrannical every day.  We accept overreaches of our government, breaches of the Constitution, and the decaying of our values because they are not gross in comparison to the last overreach, breach, or decay.  Progressives love to be called progressives because they wear their strategy on their name tag and no one seems to notice.  It is time we pay attention to what is happening.

"He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance"

"He has obstructed the Administration of Justice"

"He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone"

"He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance."

"He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution"

"In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms:  Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.  A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."

 

The words of our founding documents and the People they protected are what made this the greatest country on Earth.  People stood up and put an end to tyranny and corruption, then created a constitution with strict separation and limitation of powers, enforcing the will of the people and the rule of law.  The founding documents are still relevant, the Declaration of Independence maybe more so now than in decades past.  

Back then, "He" was the tyrannical king.  Today, "He" does not refer solely to the tyrant Obama, because our corrupt federal government will continue its path long after President Obama is gone.  The "He" we face today is that bulbous, stinking, out of control federal mass that recreates and mutates into an uglier, more sinister cancer all the time.  Wake up.  Talk with your family and friends.  Get informed.  This is the only way to reverse our course in a prudent and peaceful way.

-Hashtag Holly

Arab Gladiators: Tahrir's Square Peg in Obama's Round Hole

The strategies of the Obama administration in the Middle East and surrounding regions are void of the transparency he promised.  The president has failed to communicate his policy.  He apologized to the world of Islam for America being America and taking the lead for international stability and human rights.  He ducked in Libya and punted to the rest of the world.  He did not stand up to evil after he helped oust the government, allowing terrorist organizations to run rampant and resulting in the execution of one of our ambassadors.  He stalled in Syria, then gave underground support to Al-Qaeda affiliates, ultimately deciding to support the heart-munching opposition that is the equally wicked of two evils fighting there.  He has been nothing but politically even-keeled, staying gutless and apologetic.

President Obama's overarching policy is that as leader of the free world, he wants America to slip into being the harbinger of the decline of freedom.  His ideals do not line up with what we believe, something any voter that was paying attention should have recognized.  We believe in the rule of law, in human decency and safety, in free trade and the actual definition of fairness.  The president would see America  take a back seat to the rest of the world, because he believes that the weak rise as the mighty fall.  His vision is coming to pass and this is clear when watching the death matches occurring in Arab nations.  The flaw of his vision is that we are not living in the story of Robin Hood or David and Goliath.  The weak do not always have good ideas or intentions; they are frequently in their position because of their bad ideas and wicked intentions.

The situation is completely broken.  Where there may have been obscure opportunities to act on the right side of history and save a bloodbath, we are now in the viewing booth watching slaves fight to the death at the Roman Coliseum.  Instead of picking our favorite gladiator after it was too late in Syria and giving them heavy weapons of war, President Obama should focus on a diplomatic solution with Russia.  Focus should be on stopping Russia and Iran from giving tools of death to Assad's regime, increasing the carnage.  We are past the point of trying to pick the winner and loser; because everyone is now a loser.

Egypt is on the brink and Obama has yet another chance put America on the high ground.  The official statement reads:

 "President Obama encouraged President Morsi to take steps to show that he is responsive to their concerns, and underscored that the current crisis can only be resolved through a political process. As he has said since the revolution, President Obama reiterated that only Egyptians can make the decisions that will determine their future."

Gutless, even-keeled politics.  If we would have elected a president who stands up and does what needs to be done, America would immediately cut off all aid and hold all contracts until a recall vote is held.  The President would have a loud, resounding voice for the rest of the world to follow suit.  There are at least three parties that will move to civil war if the situation is not dealt with properly, and we will be left with the next-gen of Islamist extremism. Obama has the chance to be on the historical high-ground and the possibility of helping to stop the gladiators from entering the pit.

But alas, this is the new America, the new world, and we are all getting drunk in the viewing booth.  How soon until we find ourselves in the pit, wondering how we got there?

-Hashtag Holly