Snowden & Manning

This is something I want to say and can expound on later, although I’m not sure anyone will really care here. I’m not entirely sold on whether or not Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning did the right thing. I’m not sold on the idea that they did they wrong thing either. Thats not my current point. But I strongly believe, whether or not they did the right thing, they shouldn’t get pardoned. People who are screaming for Snowden’s pardon already have me shocked. Are they screaming for Manning’s pardon? Hmmm, not nearly as loudly. What these men did broke the law. The law that exists to keep its citizens safe. Maybe also a little ignorant, but sometimes ignorance really is bliss and that is the best way. I think they should be tried in court and if found guilty of their crime, they should be punished because actions have consequences and life isn’t fair. They need to be men and face the consequences. Manning, whether by choice or not, is facing the consequences of his actions. Snowden should be as well. I don’t believe they should be pardoned or forgiven. Two wrongs do not make a right, even if done in the best of motives.

Honestly, I tend to lean towards thinking that both men did the right thing. That they are brave and true Americans. However, sometimes that means you break the law. And sometimes that means you have to face the consequences.

*Of note – I do not think there should be a death penalty. I just don’t. So I do not believe their consequence, their punishment should be death.*

And that’s all I’ve got to say about this for the moment.

I completely agree about the death penalty!! RYN: Certainly we can pray directly to God without asking Mary to intercede for us, but throughout the centuries, Mary’s intercession has obtained all sorts of special favors, graces and miracles for those who simply asked. It is really no different than asking our friends to pray for us. We just happen to ask the Mother of God to pray to her Son for us! 😉 When you think about the first miracle that Jesus performed, He did so at Mary’s request. He doesn’t refuse His Blessed Mother anything, so it makes sense to ask her to intercede for us. This doesn’t mean that asking for her intercession is going to automatically get us what we want, because she won’t ask for something that goes against God’s will or His plan for us.