So, just to sum up, Assange is a rapist, Snowden's a narcissist and nut job, Greenwald's a pervert,

[Blanks]

196. I wasn't clear on Manning.

No, I don't think he's a hero. Someone used him as an example for how whistle blowers are treated as a justification for the inappropriate behavior of Snowden. I can see; based on my last post, how you might come to that conclusion, but that is not my opinion.

I believe that heroes are an invention of the media to manipulate people into a certain behavior. To get us to feel a certain way about things.

Rosa Parks simply refused to move to the back of the bus. She didn't choose to be a hero, she was just tired. She was chosen as a symbol for the movement because her character was above reproach.

I expect she would have been content to remain anonymous similar to the guy who brought the 'watergate scandal' to the forefront (one of the reasons why she was such a good symbol).

As far as the pentagon papers, it was leaked to the press, and the press sought legal advice - choosing to publish because they felt that they were protected under the first amendment 'freedom of the press' protection.

There is a difference between believing that something was handled correctly and believing that the person who handled it is a hero. Some things should be revealed to citizens - I'd rather they were revealed by people who have met with others and decided the merits and evaluated the downside. This is how it was handled in the pentagon papers and the watergate scandal, and by the people who selected Rosa Parks as their symbol for the injustices created by hatred based solely on race.

A lone cowboy trying to single-handedly right the wrongs of the world is the model I disapprove of. I suppose it gets all the libertarian's blood to pumping, but as a method of problem solving (see Ron Paul's accomplishments in congress for an example), it is completely ineffective.

That's my beef about the whole Snowden thing, revealing the secrets (to the press) is ok, revealing the secrets in the manner that he did is not ok. Since I don't believe in heroes at all; the entire debate about whether Snowden is a hero or not - is a complete waste of time.

If we treat him like a hero; how many other dumb asses can we expect to step forward with government secrets and expect a ticker tape parade?