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Manning, Snowden and the Modern Day Whistleblower

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ollow" href="click here=hp_c4"> Chelsea Manning [1]  verdict came down,  Senator Grassley (R-IA) submitted a resolution proposing a national holiday for whistleblowers  and unanimously "July 31st" became National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.

The irony is not lost on everyone, for what "appreciation" has been shown to  PFC Bradley/Chelsea Manning  and  NSA leaker Ed Snowden  who have been nothing but demonized? Manning now  sentenced to a shameful prison term for telling the Truth  while Snowden's  still on the lam having to make nice with America's enemies  out of necessity as the  debate between "hero" or "traitor" rages on  here at home.

Shouldn't the debate be about the  content  and  context  of the leaked information?

Isn't that what should ultimately be important?

There are some who would have you believe the means with which a leaker leaks is more important than all of that and oh, by the way, the leak itself?

Clean up on aisle 7 !

Blowing the Whistle

Government  whistleblowers and other information leakers  have one thing in common, a secret. A secret they no longer wish to keep. A secret so immense -- at least to the bearer, they feel the world needs to know about it, usually at any cost.

In fact, whistleblowers often "give up everything", sacrificing their livelihoods, lifestyles, reputations and sometimes their safety, all in order to protect those they believe they are protecting.

In the case of   National Security  whistleblowers, that usually means YOU.

While most people would remain silent, a whistleblower cannot. Whether the disclosure is about waste, fraud, abuse or malfeasance, the general intent of the whistleblower is to apprise those whose best interests are not being rightfully served.

According to the  Government Accountability Project 's Whistleblower.org , their "composite definition" of a whistleblower is taken from combined state, federal and international cases and is,

"An employee who discloses information that s/he reasonably believes is evidence of illegality, gross waste or fraud, mismanagement, abuse of power, general wrongdoing, or a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety. Typically, whistleblowers speak out to parties that can influence and rectify the situation. These parties include the media, organizational managers, hotlines, or Congressional members/staff, to name a few."

But, There's a Right and Wrong Way to Blow

In  July of 1778, Congress enacted the first whistleblower protection laws ,

"That it is the duty of all persons in the service of the  United States , as well as all other inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or any other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states, which may come to their knowledge."

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Cheri has worked in media for more than 20 years in one capacity or another. Her media years were spent mostly in broadcast radio; from being a live on-air radio host to creating and implementing engaging and effective marketing and promotional (more...)
 
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