Gloria Aquino

5th period
1. The author of this work is David DeCosse.
2. The tile of this work is Edward Snowden and the Moral Worth of Civil
Disobedience the importance of this title is that it offers up an
interesting point what is the moral worth of civil dividends and uses the
example of Snowden.
3. This work was written in 2014. Important background of this work is
that Edward Snowden has released several top secret government
documents and had fled the country and people were questioning what
his motives were and whether it was the acts of a patriot or a traitor.
4. The intended audience is people who may have a prior knowledge of
Snowden and want to learn more. Also, those who have an interest in
civil disobedience and what its worth is in regards to society.
5. At the beginning of this passage he offers up a questions of what
Edward Snowden really was, a patriot, a whistleblower, traitor, and
lastly spy. This passage depicts Snowden more as a whistle blower or
patriot than anything else. He talks about the NSA and how Snowden
has released that information which greatly upset the American
people. Also states his motives which was the need for information
freedom, it wasn't the secret itself but that it was secret at all. He also
talks about the different types of disobedience and uses Martin Luther
King Jr. as a comparison. He lastly states the reason Snowdens actions
were not civil disobedience entirely because he did not face the
consequences. 123 words.
6. This work makes the argument that what Snowden did was not the act
of a traitor but the actions of a patriot/whistle blower. The author
portrays Snowden in a more positive light, that he released these
secret documents to inform the people. He saw something that he
believed was wrong and did something about it. Although, he made no
attempts to talk directly to those in charge which is a part of the steps
in true civil disobedience, the work makes the argument that the moral
merit was what made it the actions of a patriot. 94 words
7. What I learned from this passage is that sometimes the morals of the
government don't always match those of the people. I do believe that
Snowden did a good thing in releasing this information but I don't
believe he is a patriot or a true example of civil disobedience. He didn't
do all the steps and he also did not face the consequences and I
believe he should have said something prior to just releasing it all.
Maybe if his superiors had tried to cover it up and then he released it,
however running away to Russia is not taking the consequence.