With just days left as President, do you think Obama should pardon Edward Snowden? Is he a Patriot or a Traitor? Or somewhere in between? A Traitiot, perhaps? A Paitor? A Potato-realtor?
On Friday, in an eleventh-hour attempt to pardon the famous ex-NSA whistleblower, American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, delivered a petition signed by over 1,000,000 people to President Obama, who was taking time out after addressing the real problems:
Among its signatories are George Soros, Apple’s Steve Wozniak, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Timothy Edgar, the former director of the National Security Staff at the White House; Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg and actors Maggie Gyllenhaal, Danny Glover and Mark Ruffalo.
Apple’s Co-Founder, Wozniak added “He gave up his whole life to stand up against secret spying and for the Constitution. That’s why he’s a hero, and it’s why he deserves a pardon.”
Danny Glover said “I’m too old for this shit” and Hulk actor Ruffalo stating “Puny Humans” before tearing the phone book thick petition in half (Okay, okay. We made up the last two, but they should have)
In all seriousness, the letter began: “Since Snowden acted, all three branches of the U.S. government have worked to rein in the NSA’s powers. Technology companies have increased their use of encryption. The United Nations appointed a first-ever privacy watchdog. These are but a few examples of the reforms triggered by Snowden.
“You said yourself in 2014 that the debate spurred by Snowden ‘will make us stronger.’ You were proven right. His actions gave people everywhere the knowledge to debate the merits of surveillance powers that had largely evaded democratic oversight even as they vastly grew in scope.”
Here’s the man himself in an episode of Mr Robot.
The letter continues: “We are confident that Edward Snowden will be remembered as a human rights hero and one of history’s most important whistleblowers. A presidential pardon for Snowden would be a brave affirmation of citizens’ right to hold governments to account when power is abused.”
and ended “We know your last days in office are filled with many demands. We hope you will recognize the importance of addressing the fate of this American whistleblower.”
So, what do you think? Should President Obama’s last act be to pardon Edward Snowden?
Click LIKE for Patriot.
Click ANGRY for Traitor.
Click LOVE for Traitiot.
Click HAHA for Potato-Realtor.
If you’d like to help the world, you can find the petition organizers’ websites here:
Amnesty International
American Civil Liberties Union
Human Rights Watch
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