Topic > “Do the ends ever justify the means?” - 573

Edward Snowden is a 29 year old male who has solved the biggest mysteries about what the NSA, the National Security Agency, is actually doing. His confidential leaks are some of the most crucial political leaks in history. On the other hand, Snowden created controversy in America and made people distrust the government, even though he used illegal means to obtain this information. (Luce) Edward used rhetoric, scholarship and deception in his reporting to the public. However, the question arises: “do the ends ever justify the means?” In my opinion, I think the end of this dilemma is justified. Edward, a former NSA employee, released classified information about our government to the public that invaded our privacy. It is estimated that Snowden took approximately 1.7 million classified documents containing information about the NSA. The public knows more about his leak involving wiretaps and a database that stores every single call made in the United States. They are screened for keywords that may signify terrorism or other illegal activity. (Greenwald)However, the United States of America is known for democracy, a government in which the people have a say. A dictatorship is where the government tells its people what to do and can keep secrets away from the public eye. With our cultural practices in America, we routinely have strong national pride. So this leak, going against our own government, made some people believe that Edward Snowden was a traitor and a spy for Russia trying to sell national secrets. Others, who believe our government has secrets to hide from us, believe Snowden is a hero. (Luce) When asked how Edward felt when he first made the NSA files public, he responded, “I see… middle of paper… Jack. "Jack Kerwick - The Case of Edward Snowden: Reason versus Rhetoric." townhall.com. Np, 7 January 2014. Web. 12 May 2014. .Luce, Edoardo. "Edward Snowden did us all a favor, even Barack Obama - FT.com." Financial times. Np, Nov. 3, 2013. Web. May 12, 2014. .Sanger, David, and Eric Schmitt. “xpostfactoid.” Edward Snowden, rhetorician?. Np, 9 February 2014. Web. 12 May 2014. .Wittes, Benjamin. “Edward Snowden is Russia's puppet now.” New Republic. Np, 19 April 2014. Web. 12 May 2014. .