1. I don't think Snowden's transgression would be as noble as, say, an SS officer not tracking down enemies of the state instead of blithely repeating "I was just following orders."
"But that's the whole point! Snowden here REFUSED to 'just follow orders' and--"
Yes, yes...I'm just saying that while the sentiment might match (might being the operative word) we're miles away from Nuremberg here, let's not cheapen it by calling every single instance in which our governments step over the line Nazi-esque.
"Ah, but it STARTS small, and then--"
I refer you to my previous statement. :p I'm not saying these NSA violations aren't bad (how many times must I have stated that so far? lol) but simply that it's not on par with the WORST state crimes of humanity, which in my opinion would be the Nazi (as well as the Stalinist) regime.
"But that's a weak defense, saying that just because it's not AS bad we shouldn't be offended by this--"
1. NOT a defense of the NSA (how many times have I said THAT so far?) :p and
2. I really do say this because I think invoking comparisons with the Nazis not only cheapens that atrocity but, indeed, cheapens this one as well. After all, fairly or not, there's some stigmatization today against invoking Hitler/the Nazis every time someone wants to signify something bad...to the point where it's become a joke...
Which cheapens both the actual crimes of Hitler and the Nazis (which is bad) and makes whatever is being compared, directly or indirectly, to Hitler or Nazi-related activity either sound like a Godwinned-joke or else hysterics and not something to be taken seriously.
If you shout at me "Look out, Obi, there's fire over there, get out of the way"...I'll probably at least look over my shoulder and likely get out of the way. (Unless you're trying to lead me into the fire, but then, who here would want to see me burn...come on, mapleleaf, I've set you up...say it, you know you wanna...)
But if you say "OHMYGOD OBI THERE'S A FIRE AND IT'S SO BAD IT'S LIKE BURNING DOWN THE REICHSTAG BAD IT'S LIKE NERO BURNING DOWN ROME BAD IT'S LIKE A NUCLEAR BOMB GOING OFF AND THEN THE EARTH HURTLING INTO THE SUN BAD OHMYGOD GET OUT OF THERE THAT FIRE IS WORSE THAN HITLER!"...
:p
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Ghost Ratings updated
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