I was impressed by what you wrote above, but then read this on your HN profile:
My most controversial (gauged by variance in karma as downvotes and then upvotes rolled in) ever comments were about the issue that has been most discussed on HN since early June 2013, namely Edward Snowden's disclosure of NSA documents and Snowden's role in today's world. I'd be glad to see NSA surveillance programs under much more strict legal scrutiny and oversight by Congress. But I think it's more significant than many people notice that Snowden traveled first to the territory of China and then to Russia as the documents were disclosed, so I can't count him a hero any more than I can count Kim Philby as a hero. Both were misguided and ultimately unhelpful to the world in some of the same ways.
How can you make such a radical (I mean that as a compliment) case for non-violent freedom fighters yet you don't consider Snowden a non-violent freedom fighter (which is implied by you considering him a non-hero).
I'm not so eloquent today, so I'm going to have to let this comment stand as it is for now. Hopefully many readers can see for themselves the contradiction that is so obvious to me.
I'm not eloquent today either, because I have pressing work matters to attend to, but to keep this in context, I'm very glad that the freedom fighters in Taiwan were careful NOT to be collaborators with the regime or any of the agents of the Communist Party of China. I wish Snowden had taken the same care to not give comfort to other dictators while decrying conditions in his own country. Thank you for asking.
I agree with some of your perspectives, but sorry I have to agree with the criticism here. Your opine on this is really disgustingly nationalist. I, too, know to an extent people who were in Taiwan in the 1970s and onwards, those who organize protests in Hong Kong (including those who have just finished jail terms for the same), etc. Unfortunately, that doesn't change reality. It just informs on one past reality.
Also, for someone who constantly adds links to the Albert Einstein institute... something established after he died, I wonder how you reconcile your US nationalist, anti-Snowden views with my favourite Einstein quote: Nationalism is an infantile disease; the measles of mankind?
As long as we're all firmly in the "the problems are global" camp - as per the UN Human Rights commissioner's comments - can't we just agree to drop the ridiculous hat tips to nationalism already?
I'd be happy to see a people power democracy movement bring freedom to people in any country. Freedom belongs to everyone. But a hard-headed realist about winning freedom for people everywhere from all of humanity will recognize that some national regimes today are more harmful to the cause of spreading freedom than others.
Err, "the cause of spreading freedom"? Forgive me if I'm lax in my 'meri-rhetoric, but isn't that the same one where we're either with you or against you? Doesn't seem to have turned out so well for recent victims of assistance, now does it? (Iraq, Afghanistan...)
There is zero evidence that Snowden has "collaborated". The articles you link to in your profile are purely opinion pieces.
Are you as harsh in your judgement about the "freedom fighters" of Taiwan who ended up putting into power rather corrupt DPP politicians? That would be unfair, just as your condemnation of Snowden for purely circumstantial connection to China and Russia. He did not give "comfort" to those regimes. You're showing an excessive bias against anyone who shows any association with the regimes of China or Russia. I lived in Taiwan for 5 years so I understand where it is coming from, but it is built on blind hate, it clouds your reasonableness.
My most controversial (gauged by variance in karma as downvotes and then upvotes rolled in) ever comments were about the issue that has been most discussed on HN since early June 2013, namely Edward Snowden's disclosure of NSA documents and Snowden's role in today's world. I'd be glad to see NSA surveillance programs under much more strict legal scrutiny and oversight by Congress. But I think it's more significant than many people notice that Snowden traveled first to the territory of China and then to Russia as the documents were disclosed, so I can't count him a hero any more than I can count Kim Philby as a hero. Both were misguided and ultimately unhelpful to the world in some of the same ways.
How can you make such a radical (I mean that as a compliment) case for non-violent freedom fighters yet you don't consider Snowden a non-violent freedom fighter (which is implied by you considering him a non-hero).
I'm not so eloquent today, so I'm going to have to let this comment stand as it is for now. Hopefully many readers can see for themselves the contradiction that is so obvious to me.