Edward Snowden

There is much controversy on Edward Snowden either he is the modern day hero or an utter traitor. Now according to some U.S. Senators this is a wide and well known program, and that this a justifiable program due to the Patriot Act http://www.fincen.gov/statutes_regs/patriot/ The Patriot Act is a way to determine a terrorist and what appropriate action to take against a terrorist in the United States and all around the world.  (for a more descriptive information on the Patriot Act just click on the grey link). Examples of certain senators are the following:

"This is nothing particularly new," Chambliss said. "Every member of the United States Senate has been advised of this, and to my knowledge we have not had any citizen who has registered a complaint relative to the gathering of this information."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that Congress should take another look at the law, but suggested the outcry by some was not warranted. "Right now I think everyone should just calm down and understand this isn't anything that's brand new," he said.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/06/verizon-phone-records-nsa_n_3397058.html?utm_h

"I’m a Verizon customer," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said during an appearance on Fox News. "I don’t mind Verizon turning over records to the government if the government is going to make sure that they try to match up a known terrorist phone with somebody in the United States."http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/06/verizon-phone-records-nsa_n_3397058.html?utm_hp_ref=politicsp_ref=politics

Now whether you agree or not with these Senators to how ever degree of extent. I for one have heard from my peers, "Oh the government is listening..." via what ever communicational means that was said, but I have heard it all before. Emails, cell phones, and house phones. The reason I bring this up is only because I imagine my peers, friends, family are not the only citizens who feel this way. I certainly feel distrustful of government officials, so I do agree with some of the above text that is not new.

What I don't agree with are two things that I am seeing/ hearing. The first is the point this was a moment in the making from how our society is distrustful and etc. of our Officials. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/21/poll-sees-tough-count/ The link I have listed is from 2010 so I can imagine on how much more negative (hopefully positive) The American people do not participate in our government due to non interest (and feel everything is taken care of) and/or distrustful so when you hear someone say, " our government is so awful " please take a moment and inform them that our government is run by the people of the United States and we elect someone to represent us so participate and to elect more qualified people. There are not supposed to be professional Senators who remain Senator for more than 2 years. Any how the fact that the American public is angry about this invasion of privacy. Only when Edward Snowden slapped us in face with "proof" of what we have already suspected. We should of been angry a long time ago about this. My second reason is the fact that the Officials are trying to justify and pull some scapegoat with Edward Snowden. Painting an image of a traitor of the U.S. Who did this man  betray? The American People? From what I can tell the American People are happy that he validated what most had already suspected/ knew. If anything he just broke an employment contract of silence to the world on how - to - spot - a - terrorist - with cell phone intel - and what not.

 Before we start completely dismissing the Patriot Act is to understand that well it actually has a noble form of protection when you read what the purpose is. How one conducts it however is a whole other story. I say this because there is no actual "disclosure" to the American public of how this procedure was done before Edward Snowden. Some in Congress state they had no idea to what extent that this had on its citizens or that I didn't know, but that is such an excuse. What makes the Patriot Act a joke to me is the fact that it was not amended like it should of been. Did not have much rules to it. Amendments that were tried to be added to it did not fall through.

... the Patriot Act, which authorized this type of surveillance, was up for reauthorization in 2006, 10 senators voted against it. This past December, an amendment that required the NSA to reveal the number of Americans surveyed was shot down by a 43 to 52 vote. Another amendment that would have applied more transparency to the program failed 37 to 54. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/06/verizon-phone-records-nsa_n_3397058.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/07/a-patriot-act-history-lesson-how-warnings-were-mocked-in-the-senate/277612/ (a quick look at the attempt of adding amendments to the Patriot Act. Very informative I highly recommend it.)

After looking into this whole incident or scandal (whatever you call this) Did Edward Snowden do anything wrong? Yes, he did. Even though the intentions were amazing and very brave of him to do. He did reveal this not only to the American public, but the World. The ultimate purpose of that whole program was to fight terrorism around the Globe, but does this make him a bad person? No, it doesn't. He's just paying for a mistake that Congress made. Hopefully, this not only brings about a whole new way for fighting terrorism that is actually serving its purpose. Instead of invading the lives of innocent people, but it actually gets the American people to actually get involved in electing the right people to not only represent you, but to finally realize if your not going to partake in this Democracy. Do not be surprised when you lose control.