Snowden Draws Standing Ovation At 'Truth-Telling' Awards Ceremony - GovExec

[WillyT]

Snowden Draws Standing Ovation at 'Truth-Telling' Awards Ceremony
By Charles S. Clark - GovExec
April 30, 2014


Andre Penner/AP

<snip>

Introduced by an emcee acknowledging that “some in the audience may not be comfortable” honoring him, ex-National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden received a standing ovation on Thursday when he weighed in via video link from an undisclosed location and accepted an award for “truth-telling.”

“A year ago there’s no way I could have imagined I’d be being honored in this room, never imagined this level of support,” Snowden told a packed National Press Club ballroom at the 11th annual Ridenhour Prizes sponsored by the Nation Institute and the Fertel Foundation.

“I thought the most likely outcome would be spending the rest of my life in prison,” said Snowden in explaining his decision last spring to leak thousands of classified NSA documents exposing domestic surveillance of Americans’ telecommunications metadata. “I did it because it was the right thing to do, and now I see I’m not the only one who felt that way.”

Appearing tieless and in a coat on a shaky feed projected on a screen, Snowden blasted James Clapper, director of the Office of National Intelligence, for “his famous lie,” a reference to Clapper’s March 2013 testimony—later modified—before the Senate Intelligence Committee denying suggestions that the NSA was collecting data on Americans’ phone calls.

“When Clapper raised his hand and lied to the American public, was anyone tried? Were any charges brought?” Snowden asked. “Within 24 hours of going public, I had three charges against me.”

The former Booz Allen Hamilton technologist whom some call a traitor repeated his assertion that “as a contractor, I had no whistleblower protections.” He said he had expressed his concerns about the domestic surveillance activities to supervisors but said he knew from the fate of other whistleblowers that disclosure was his only option.

<snip>

More: http://www.govexec.com/defense/2014/04/snowden-draws-standing-ovation-truth-telling-awards-ceremony/83509/

[KurtNYC]

1. "I thought the most likely outcome would be spending the rest of my life in prison,” n/t

[sabrina 1]

18. Which makes what he did all the more courageous. Knowing that in the US Whistle Blowers are being

persecuted while the perps are treated like elder statespeople, it goes without saying now that anyone who witnesses corruption in our government and decides to report it, CAN expect to spend the rest of their lives in jail. Had Hong Kong handed him over to the US when they were requested to do so, he would be suffering the same fate as Chelsea Manning right now. Torture, isolation, denial of basic rights, while the War Criminals roam free, some even contemplating running for office.

[billhicks76]

24. Weed Out The Fakes

Anyone here who opposes Snowden is an enemy of the people's freedom and is simply a mouthpiece for the war machine. I do not trust anyone who makes it a priority to defame him or diminish his accomplishments. This man sacrificed his life essentially for our freedoms. He is the true hero and he didn't have to use a gun to defend us. I'm so sick of the bot-like polemics against him from a tiny but loud self-serving clique that can't possibly be actual democrats. Thank You Edward Snowden...you are a real person,youve had an evolving, cathartic personal journey and you have served this country rather than the corrupt figureheads who have usurped our identity for their own personal gain and evil intentions.

[2banon]

2. K&R'd

[Capt. Obvious]

3. This thread may break my new adblock on :rofl:

[randome]

4. "The Sun came up today." There. I'm a truth-teller, too.

Difference is, I have evidence of my truth.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Don't ever underestimate the long-term effects of a good night's sleep.[/center][/font][hr]

[WillyT]

5. But Alas... No Awards...

[randome]

9. Yes, but I'm not looking for any, either.

But that was a good riposte!
[hr][font color="blue"][center]You should never stop having childhood dreams.[/center][/font][hr]

[sabrina 1]

19. The US Government is conducting a massive spying program against its own people =

"the sun came up today"?

I thought about that for a minute, and decided that at this point in our history, it is, sadly, a good analogy.

At least now we accept the facts of our own government violating our rights, or 'the sky is blue'!.

Now to decide how to stop these crimes against the people.

Thanks to Snowden and all the Whistle Blowers, to Ron Wyden and Udall and all the others who continue to expose these crimes until someone is held accountable. The people thankfully do take their rights very seriously, which is why of course, those who are violating them have tried so hard to keep their crimes a secret.

[randome]

25. You know full well where I'm coming from.

The 'evidence' Snowden has submitted has been weak or non-existent to me and to many others. It really is as simple as that.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[sabrina 1]

26. I know the facts. If you are not coming from that point, then no, I do not know where you are

coming, nor do I want to.

I support this democracy, I do not want to live in an oppressive, surveillance state where the rule of law does not apply to the powerful.


I kind of like the idea of America.

I consider anyone who isn't coming from that pov to be part of the problem.

[Union Scribe]

30. Yes, I think we all do.

You haven't exactly been subtle.

[The Straight Story]

23. Not to a blind man (nt)

[Oscarmonster13]

6. ...

I for one would have been one of those applauding.


Too bad he's right about the charges...nothing will happen, the spying is part of the infrastructure of the internet now...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell .

[Estrella Fugaz]

8. Good

He deserved it.

[Blue_Tires]

10. dupe

http://election.democraticunderground.com/10024891953

[grasswire]

11. enduring thanks, Ed Snowden!

Courage!

[ballyhoo]

12. Thanks, Eddie. We owe you

a debt of gratitude. The thing with Clapper ain't over.

[1000words]

13. How will all these "Paulites" fit under the bus?

[woo me with science]

14. Huge K&R. Thank you, Edward Snowden!

[DeSwiss]

15. K&R!!!

''The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it.'' ~Morpheus

[center][/center]

[grahamhgreen]

16. Hear hear!

[Generic Other]

17. Anyone who values their freedom should stand for this man

[sabrina 1]

20. They do! Which is why he and Greenwald and all those exposing the crimes, are receiving these

awards.

[Generic Other]

22. I feel like I must repeat this for the benefit of those

planning to come post something negative about him. I confess I have have been surprised at some DUers' attitude toward him.

[sabrina 1]

27. I know, I understand the necessity of doing so!

[Enthusiast]

21. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!

[xiamiam]

28. wonderful that he is appreciated and that he keeps Clappers' lie at the forefront

none of us should ever accept that Clapper lied ..I've got so many on ignore since Snowden that I can't see anyone trying to distract from the seriousness and courage of this exceptional young man..while a few here on a democratic discussion board continue to attempt to smear him, the rest of the world is uniting in appreciation..interesting phenomena when juxtaposed with early du and thought processes here...

[sabrina 1]

31. Clapper, former CEO of Booz Allen, a Private Security Contractor and total Bush loyalist. At one

time considered to be the enemy of Democracy by the 'Left'. Bush/Cheney privatized our 'national security' to these thousands of Private Security Orgs ensuring billions in profits using FEAR as a selling point.

Clapper was a Bush appointee, kept in place by the administration we elected to RiD US OF THESE War Profiteers! H LIED to Congress but nothing happened, he SHOULD have been FIRED at least, instead he is now writing NEW RULES to silence WHISTLE BLOWERS!

What is going here? Weren't we told to elect Dems to STOP all of this?

[WillyT]

29. Kick !!!