(A quick disclaimer: As with any politically-themed post here on the Shattered Lens, the comments below reflect the opinion of the author — Lisa Marie Bowman — and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions of any other contributor.)
I want to take a few minutes to ask you to help make film history.
Right now, Jason Bourque (the writer of End of the World and the director of Stonados) is raising funds for a very important film and he needs your help. The film is called Classified: The Edward Snowden Story and, as of this writing, with 19 days left, Jason has 84% of the funds needed.
Because I believe in the importance of this project and because, based on his previous work, I have faith that Jason Bourque will give this story the treatment that it needs and deserves, I am asking everyone to consider watching the 2 minute pitch below and, if so inclined, going over to www.snowden.sx/ and helping out.
On a personal note, I usually avoid making any sort of overt political statement here on the Shattered Lens. Those of you who are skilled at reading between the lines will probably have picked up on the fact that, in general, I lean to the right on economics and to the left on social issues. (Or, to put it in Shattered Lens terms, I’m a little more conservative than the Trashfilm Guru and a little more liberal than Dazzling Erin.)
However, at heart, I believe in freedom — freedom of speech, freedom of choice, and the right to privacy. That is why I think this is an important film that deserves to be made and why I encourage everyone who can to consider helping out.
Thank you.
Through the Shattered Lens 
This certainly looks like an interesting project, and while I don’t have a ton of sympathy for Snowden’s personal reasons for doing what he did — he’s a far-right Libertarian conservative who was out to sell his services to the highest bidder for years — I do think this whole media onslaught against him has been pretty ridiculous. In short, I don’t think he’s either the “freedom fighter” his supporters paint him as nor the “traitor” his detractors claim him to be. I think he revealed some genuinely useful information that the public needed and deserved to know, and even if his motives for doing so were base and petty — he hoped to embarrass the Obama administration simply because he didn’t like them and thought he’d make a name for himself (and a quick buck) in the process — he still did exactly the right thing because, goddamnit, the government and the telecom industry have no right to spy on us and we never would have known the full extent of it if Snowden hadn’t blown the whistle.
Oh, and almost everyone is to the right of me politically, socially, and economically, so you’re in good— and plentiful — company!
LikeLike
Usually, whenever I’m asked about my political beliefs, I just reply that in 2012, I didn’t vote for Obama but I didn’t vote for Romney either. 🙂
As for the NSA, it’s frustrating that people don’t seem to realize that the minute you make excuses for one administration then you’ve essentially made the same excuse for every future administration, regardless of who wins each election. The minute we say it’s okay for a Bush or an Obama to use the government to spy on American citizens, then we’ve also said that it’ll be okay for a President Clinton or a President Christie to do the same thing.
LikeLike
Exactly. One of the reasons I’m always flabbergasted by the complaints of the “Tea Party” crowd that government is getting too damn big and nosy and intrusive these days is that these same clowns didn’t give a good goddamn when Bush and Cheney’s NSA was spying on their calls and reading their emails, but now that a black guy is in office, they’re suddenly worried about him and his NSA doing the same thing. And, on the other side of the coin, you can easily find self-professed “liberals” who were upset when right-wingers were spying on them, but don’t mind it at all now that a guy who claims to be “one of their own” is doing it. Honestly, it feels more like politics is a spectator sport between two teams than it is about anything even remotely resembling principles anymore.
LikeLike
Oh, and I voted for Jill Stein in 2012 and was darn pleased to do so!
LikeLike
Good heavens, Jill Stein has silver hair! Honestly, how often do you see a woman with silver hair running for federal government? I’m so accustomed to see women with ostentatious taste in earrings and tight bleached perms on campaign posters. It’s actually fairly surprising to see a female political candidate who doesn’t look like a Stepford Wife.
LikeLike
Jill’s an interesting and articulate person with plenty of really good ideas, as well — pity we don’t give so-called “minor” political parties much chance to get their message out here in the US, in most states ballot access laws are pretty well rigged to make it nearly impossible for anyone other than Democrats and Republicans to get enough signatures to run for office — not to mention the vast amount of money it takes to get your message heard once you do get ballot access.
LikeLike
Pingback: Edward Snowden: 1983-present | The Seeker