Edward Snowden Gets Sam Adams Award 3361

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Ray McGovern and the Sam Adams party have presented the Sam Adams award to Edward Snowden.  I am delighted.  This from Ray’s account of the event:

In brief remarks from his visitors, Snowden was reassured — first and foremost — that he need no longer be worried that nothing significant would happen as a result of his decision to risk his future by revealing documentary proof that the U.S. government was playing fast and loose with the Constitutional rights of Americans.

Even amid the government shutdown, Establishment Washington and the normally docile “mainstream media” have not been able to deflect attention from the intrusive eavesdropping that makes a mockery of the Fourth Amendment. Even Congress is showing signs of awaking from its torpor.

In the somnolent Senate, a few hardy souls have gone so far as to express displeasure at having been lied to by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and NSA Director Keith Alexander — Clapper having formally apologized for telling the Senate Intelligence Committee eavesdropping-related things that were, in his words, “clearly erroneous” and Alexander having told now-discredited whoppers about the effectiveness of NSA’s intrusive and unconstitutional methods in combating terrorism.

Coleen Rowley, the first winner of the Sam Adams Award (2002), cited some little-known history to remind Snowden that he is in good company as a whistleblower — and not only because of previous Sam Adams honorees. She noted that in 1773, Benjamin Franklin leaked confidential information by releasing letters written by then-Lt. Governor of Massachusetts Thomas Hutchinson to Thomas Whatley, an assistant to the British Prime Minister.

The letters suggested that it was impossible for the colonists to enjoy the same rights as subjects living in England and that “an abridgement of what are called English liberties” might be necessary. The content of the letters was so damaging to the British government that Benjamin Franklin was dismissed as colonial Postmaster General and had to endure an hour-long censure from British Solicitor General Alexander Wedderburn.

There has been a determined attempt by government to justify the need to intercept everybody’s communications, all the time.  We have, yet again, had MI5 claim there are many thousand violent Islamic terrorists running around the UK, (yet somehow not managing to kill anybody).  The cry of “paedophiles” is raised, as always.  I can imagine them suggesting the entire population be shot dead, and justifying it as making sure they get the paedophiles.  The tabloids would go with that.

There still had not been a single credible claim by the mainstream media that any named individual has died, despite that contingency being trotted out all the time as the reason Snowden and Manning should not have revealed state crimes and abuse of power.  I am hopeful that, with the internet still largely free to the dissemination of information, out next massive whistleblower is only weeks away.

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3,361 thoughts on “Edward Snowden Gets Sam Adams Award”

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  • Daniel Rich

    Q: It is an internal mutiny above all else: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

    R: I have to disagree.

    I would prefer the word ‘balanced’ instead of ‘right,’ as ‘balanced’ leaves room to ‘sway’, whereas ‘right’ only is ‘balanced’ by ‘wrong.’

  • Daniel Rich

    Dear Daniel,

    The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has done it again—placing JVP on its blacklist of top ten “anti-Israel” organizations.

    XXXXXXXX

    But the ADL does not get to define Jewish values. In fact, we are proud that our work reflects a Jewish tradition that requires justice for all people.

    The ADL did get one thing right. They described JVP as an organization with national impact that recruits grassroots supporters and influences the mainstream public debate about Israel.

    And we do it with a fraction of the $55 million budget that the ADL has to try to bully the Jewish American community into toeing a line that does not reflect our community’s values.

    XXXXXXXXXX

    Sincerely,

    Rebecca Vilkomerson
    Executive Director

    P.S. The momentum in the media has already turned our way. Publications like Salon, the Daily Beast and the Jewish Daily Forward have all published pieces critical of the ADL’s smear tactics.

    Time is ticking…

  • Ben

    ADL’s top ten list of anti-israeili groups is complete with a sidebar.

    Anti-Semitism
    Combating Hate
    Israel & International
    Civil Rights
    Education & Outreach

    Hmm. I wonder how self-awarness factors in their calculations,

  • Macky

    Anon: “Macky, the leader of the Rochdale gang and nine of those others convicted are Pakistani. Another was found guilty but couldn’t be convicted as he had done a runner… to Pakistan.”

    Nice retroactive slippery try, but the Habbu-Clown Troll was actually referring not once, but twice to the Oxford case;

    http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2013/01/uzbek-cotton-slavery-campaign/#comment-389572

    http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2013/06/pandering-to-racism/#comment-415054

    The additional point that you also missed iro of his comments on this case, was that he made it on the thread in which he was seeking to defend the now scrapped racist immigration surety bond scheme;

    http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2013/06/pandering-to-racism/

  • Sofia Kibo Noh

    Phil. 8.21pm

    Thanks for this and all the others.

    Fatima Bhutto – Poet and writer: “What does revolution mean to you?”

    “…but the idea of revolution is much older than that. It is an internal mutiny above all else: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration…” </em

  • the terror

    I usually spend winters in Ted Kaczynski’s shack and summer in Osama bin Laden’s steel-vaulted bunker, but I might start to mix it up a bit. Since Operation Gladio came home, the US has become a prime destination for vacant criminal-mastermind lairs.

  • Sofia Kibo Noh

    Thanks All.

    Terror. 12 05am

    In terms of the purpose of the Charter, peace, success is not the wars the UN starts, but the wars the UN stops. So Syria – no US aggression – that’s the UN working right.
    That said, the countries that don’t like to blow up the world are trying to reform the UNSC. A few simple changes would help a lot. They got shot down in a vote this year ($$$!) but they’ll be back.

    Daniel 12 18am

    I would prefer the word ‘balanced’ instead of ‘right,’ as ‘balanced’ leaves room to ‘sway’, whereas ‘right’ only is ‘balanced’ by ‘wrong.’
    Goodnight.

  • Ben

    I’m reminded of the unforgettable Bill Murray moment from Caddyshack, wherein he recounts his days as a caddie for the Dalai Lama. ‘Oh, there won’t be any tip, but I can tell you, that on your deathbed, you will achieve total consciousness’.

    Murray, always in character, replies “So, I’ve got that, going for me”.

    My Precious…………

  • Ben

    “I greatly admire…”

    Jeez. This is starting to sound like the prelude to interrogation, but what the hey?

    Terror; In this squishy id enviro it’s a common courtesy to keep one’s consistent; ya know?

    Have you posted here under some other nym?

  • Reluctant Observer

    Just swinging by again… checking… [3 hours pass]…

    Don’t see no reason for regret in bugging outta here. Miss some of the good guys though… some even still post here. No reason to include CM in that list, given his performance lately 😉

    Will check back in another while. Maybe.

    *

    Nice to see your posts though, Sofia.

  • Daniel Rich

    This is the story of 9/11, brought to you by the media which told you the hard truths about JFK and incubator babies and mobile production facilities and the rescue of Jessica Lynch.

    If you have any questions about this story…you are a batshit, paranoid, tinfoil, dog-abusing baby-hater and will be reviled by everyone. If you love your country and/or freedom, happiness, rainbows, rock and roll, puppy dogs, apple pie and your grandma, you will never ever express doubts about any part of this story to anyone. Ever. LINK.

    Fun @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e50L3HOp_QE

  • the horror

    What’s a nym?

    N’aie crainte, I’m sure that I have been allotted more disk space at Camp Williams than you, but the developmentally-disabled panty sniffers of the NSA lack the resources to crack much of my burgeoning dossier. They’re on the defensive. Soon they’ll be helplessly at bay.

  • Daniel Rich

    @ Ben,

    When you start digging and find into what, what and what, the ADL’s presence is rooted, you ‘ll understand that Mr. Frank was the victim in all this, not the dead and raped 13-year-old girl [almost 14, as some journals suggestively add].

    That’s the exact history I can live without. No, I don’t embrace extra-judicial killing. Not back then or now.

    I think true justices is the harbinger of peace amongst a people, not a shredder that exhausts more pieces of malcontent in a cardboard coffin, somewhere in the middle of an invisible circle.

  • Kempe

    “We hear and read the term “Islamophobe” bandied about quite a bit now. Is there an equivalent hyphenated phobia to describe the fear and hostility that Muslims have for secularists and atheists ”

    Atheophobia.

    Or maybe rationalistophobia or truthophobia might be appropriate.

  • Mary

    Extreme weather not only heading this way but towards Japan too.

    October 24, 2013 by Common Dreams

    Fukushima Water Radiation Doubles Overnight
    TEPCO says heavy rains to blame; two large typhoons headed for Fukushima over weekend
    http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/10/24-1

    ‘As the two typhoons approached Honshu, concerns were mounting over the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Tokyo Electric Power Co. drew fire Sunday for failing to prevent rainwater brought by Wipha from overflowing concrete walls enclosing tanks containing radioactive water. At one monitoring point, the spilled rainwater was found to contain strontium-90 at a level of 710 becquerels per liter, 71 times higher than Tepco’s self-imposed limit.’
    Oct 23, 2013 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/23/national/big-typhoons-may-collide-off-honshu/#.UmoQ7a9wbSd

  • Mary

    Albert Einstein and other Jewish people possessed the foresight in 1948 to know what lay ahead. They wrote:

    TO THE EDITORS OF NEW YORK TIMES:

    Among the most disturbing political phenomena of our times is the emergence in the newly created state of Israel of the “Freedom Party” (Tnuat Haherut), a political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties. It was formed out of the membership and following of the former Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organization in Palestine.

    The current visit of Menachem Begin, leader of this party, to the United States is obviously calculated to give the impression of American support for his party in the coming Israeli elections, and to cement political ties with conservative Zionist elements in the United States. Several Americans of national repute have lent their names to welcome his visit. It is inconceivable that those who oppose fascism throughout the world, if correctly informed as to Mr. Begin’s political record and perspectives, could add their names and support to the movement he represents.

    Before irreparable damage is done by way of financial contributions, public manifestations in Begin’s behalf, and the creation in Palestine of the impression that a large segment of America supports Fascist elements in Israel, the American public must be informed as to the record and objectives of Mr. Begin and his movement.

    The public avowals of Begin’s party are no guide whatever to its actual character. Today they speak of freedom, democracy and anti-imperialism, whereas until recently they openly preached the doctrine of the Fascist state. It is in its actions that the terrorist party betrays its real character; from its past actions we can judge what it may be expected to do in the future.

    /..
    https://archive.org/details/AlbertEinsteinLetterToTheNewYorkTimes.December41948

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