Someone once said that “there are no secrets that time does not reveal”. I’m inclined to agree, for it seems to be especially true in the world in which we live as well as it being especially true in the matters of state secrets.
I have had the pleasure of watching “The Fifth Estate” recently, being a fan of Benedict’s work in general and finding myself on a plane back to the first world and my home at current. It is an excellent film, and by that I mean that it is neither of documental value nor worthy of ridicule. I don’t believe that it needs to have documental value. It asks a great moral question quite aptly in it’s current form.
Now, bear in mind that there is no future in politics, so I believe that any state secret must be revealed, but the is a moral universalist approach to this as well. Yes, whistleblowers and informants must be protected. Yes, this is the most effective way to prevent putting innocent lives in danger. Everything else is fair game.
State secrets are how governments continue to fight for power, a power which must be limited and minimized by the people. Facilitating free speech and disclosure by protecting whistleblowers and informants is a more valuable democratic act than voting. Putting those lives in danger for any purpose is treason.
There are individuals from the Wikileaks founder, to Chelsea Manning, to Edward Snowden who have graced our consciousness with whistleblowing acts of truly historic magnitude, but I don’t believe that they deserve a cookie.
Having simply lived up to the basic duty that all citizens have doesn’t make them into spectacular individuals. It simply makes them citizens. Those among them who, however, failed to protect the identities of wistleblowers and informants in the process should be harshly judged: not because they protected democracy, but because they valued their own infamy more than the lives of those who do.
After all, if you’re going to do something wrong, do it right.
Much love,
Zen Politics
“Deep Throat Whistle Blowing” – Published January 12, 2014
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