by popularresistance.org
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?
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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