Analyzing Patriotism and Edward Snowden

Patriotism/Edward Snowden Intstitution: Edward Snowden, 30, well-known for his previous job as a contractor in the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), is presently living in Russia since his escape from the United States via Hong Kong, due to a revelation of extensive internet and phone surveillance carried out by U.S. intelligence. He used to live with his girlfriend in Hawaii, but after the revelation, initially left for Hong Kong, where his identity got public through UK's Guardian newspaper, with his consent.

The U.S., as they filed charges, asked local officials for his deportation. Snowden thus left Hong Kong on 23rd June primarily for Moscow, but with the intent of seeking refuge in Ecuador (BBC News, 2013). Background As reported, Edward Snowden was brought up in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and then moved to Maryland later, near the headquarters of NSA at Fort Meade. He joined the U.S. Army in 2003, but had to leave his training with the Special Forces after breaking both his legs accidentally.

He initially worked as a security guard at NSA, and later on IT security at CIA (Central Intelligence Agency). It is said that his rapid growth through intelligence ranks was due to his computer expertise. Later, he acquired a CIA post with diplomatic cover in Geneva, in 2007. He started working as an employee of various external contractors at the NSA in 2009, including consulting firm Booz Allen. He was formally discharged of his duties on 11 June, 2013 (BBC News, 2013). Documentary- The documentary Citizenfour, directed by Laura Poitras, is a real-life international thriller.

This spellbinding behind-the-scenes narrative discloses the encounters of Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald with Edward Snowden in a hotel room in Hong Kong, where Snowden handed over the confidential documents of mass indiscriminate and illegal annexations of privacy by NSA, as evidence to them.

Citizenfour presents a scenario of above-mentioned hotel room in Hong Kong, where Poitras, Greenwald and Snowden were making attempts to cope with the uncontrolled media outside, forced by the circumstances, to take quick decisions that would have its impact on their lives as well as others around them. The way the documentary displays the governmental surveillance, the audience can actually feel the dangers involved. Viewers, after watching the film, will never feel safe about their phones, credit cards, e-mails, web browser or digital footprint, as they used to do earlier.

Citizenfour, apart from being nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Documentary Feature, has earned multiple awards and honours, since its world premiere at the esteemed New York Film Festival (HBO, 2016). Zeitchik aptly remarks that environmental movements have been the stimulus of many documentaries but only few come up with such ideological ambition as in Edward Snowden's "Citizenfour, a movie of grand scope that also tells an intimate personal story" (Zeitchik, 2014).

Edward Snowden: A Patriot or Traitor As disclosed during an interview with Brian Williams, on being asked whether he considers himself a patriot or a traitor, he confidently replied a patriot. But, he further explained that patriot is just a word, over-echoed and devalued now-a-days, which does not mean to prioritise one's service towards government above everything else. Rather, it means "knowing when to protect your country .. countrymen .. constitution" from the intrusions and advances of adversaries (Cole, Esposito, Dedman & Schone, 2014).

It can be anything, bad policies, officials, faults of governments, or things that shouldn't have been tried or simply went wrong. As he communicated to The Guardian that the revelation in Geneva, about the actual functioning of his government and its impact on the world, disheartened him to the extent that he realised that he was "part of something that was doing far more harm than good" (Cole et al., 2014).

His response to Williams' question of whether he regards himself blameless or has done a public service, according to himself, was very stimulating. He pointed out that throughout history, at many points the right thing is not always legal too. There have been times when you need to break a law to do something right, resulting in civil disobedience. It's just that you should be sure of what is at stake and that.