In this world there are many secrets. The point of a secret is it is a fact that is hidden from others. Everyone has secrets, some of which no one wants let out. The governments of the world perhaps have the greatest secrets. How the military moves, who talks to who, how involved in an event were they really, those kinds of things. And for every government secret, there are people who want to know them. The website WikiLeaks, lead by Julian Assangue, is that kind of group. They recieve information from informants, then publish them for the world to see. These actions have drawn both praise and denouncments. The governments and banks are certainly NOT fans of the group.
Those who support WikiLeaks claim that they have a right to know what is happening. Are governments really working in the best interest of the citizens? Are the banks cheating the customers? Is the military gunning down civilians as well as the enemy? and if so, is it intentional? Anyone would want to know that. It helps a person feel safer about who they work with. Such an action is also protected under the 1st Amendment of free speech. In the case of WikiLeaks, they never actually did anything illegal. They themselves never hacked servers or stole files, it is all sent to them by outside contributers. People have a right to know.
On the opposite side is those who think WikiLeaks is dangerous. Releasing all that information puts a strain on alliances in the Middle East. A leader there who secretly opposes Iran suddenly has that fact put out in the open. Terrorist groups are also given a greater view of who their enemy is. Informants, spies, all of them are in danger if such information is posted where anyone can see it. Some people say these actions are attacks against the U.S and other nations. Governments and banks who may be involved in less then moral actions obviously dont want others to know about it. This can earn groups like WikiLeaks some powerful enemies, as well as being labelled spies or terrorists.
Ideally, secrets should remain secrets only so long. After a set number of years after a war, for example, the information about that war should be made public. After a leader dies, release cables and other hidden details about him. Secrets only erode trust between a government and the people they are keeping secrets from. As useful as they are at the time, a secret can become a detriment in later years. An organization that refuses to reveal secrets only shows how untrustworthy they are.
Facts:
1. "Camouflage is a game we all like to play, but our secrets are as surely revealed by what we want to seem to be as by what we want to conceal."
2. WikiLeaks has published over 3,890 diplomatic documents.
3. A lack of trust in a goverment leads to lack of loyalty, which can lead to revolts.
Eric,
ReplyDeleteAnother good blog. Your paragraphs are clearly defined and well-organized.
One suggestion: Insert the facts that you wrote in your list at the bottom into your text. I would like to see how you construct your arguments around these facts.
Keep up the great work!
GR: 98