“What’s the big deal?”
This is the response I hear most often when broaching the subject of privacy and the whole Snowden affair.
“My life is an open book. I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of, so I don’t really care who knows what I say or do.”
That may be true, but is that really the point?
Two of my children living in my house have a bevy of electronic devices (i.e. cell phone, iPods, e-readers, computers, etc.) One is 14 years old and the other is 22.
Now, for the 14-year old, we have total access. We know her passwords, we spot check text messages and emails, have friended her on Facebook, and look over her shoulder when she is online. It is not that we distrust her, but she is a child and still under our protection. Our job as a parent is both to keep her safe and to help her navigate through the good and bad of communicating electronically. Whether or not you have set up the same rules for your teenager, you probably understand why we do what we do. We know that minors have yet to acquire the wisdom, life-experience, skills and discernment needed to live independently. In other words, children need parenting.
On the other hand, if we were to engage in this same level of involvement with our 22 year-old, you would say that we were over-bearing, over-reaching, over-protective, and, well, just wrong.
Why?
Because he is adult.
And as an adult, our gut tells us that he has some rights. These rights include the right to privacy, the right to expression, the right to his own beliefs, the right to not have unwarranted searches of his property and possessions, the right to protect himself and his property from invasion, and the right to be treated as innocent until proven guilty. If some of these sound familiar, it might be because our founding fathers guaranteed these rights in the amendments of the United States Constitution.
So what is the big deal about Snowden’s revelation that our government is actively collecting and storing every single electronic communication that you create?
Is it that our government no longer considers its citizens as independent adults? Are we seen by the government as children needing care and supervision? Do we want the people in our government to view themselves as responsible to oversee its citizens, or as public servants that work for and represent a free people? And, do we as a people want our citizens to view themselves as responsible, self-governing, capable adults?
I think the big deal is in the answers to these questions.
Respectfully,
Sharon
Very well stated. Your comments are making me rethink my original stance on this issue. I was definitely planted in the “what’s the big deal” camp but now I’m pondering that position. Thanks.