basquebromance
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- Nov 26, 2015
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The two men grew on different sides of the globe, yet they share many attributes. Both were raised by strong women forced to cope as single parents. Both had caring stepfathers who filled the void left by absent fathers. Both emerged from the chinks of society which few knew and many condemned. Both were outsiders enraged by injustices and engaged by politics. Both proclaimed new political eras for peoples empowered by the internet. Both attracted people with charm and cool intellect and both elicited death threats and accusations of anti-Americanism. Neither man left other people indifferent.
Yet one became the founder of Wikileaks and went to jail for it and the other became the president of the United States. Julian Assange and Barack Obama share so much but differ so markedly in their political destinations and in their conclusions about the internet as a medium of freedom. One sees participation in government as the means to do good for people, while the other sees it as the means for infl icting injustices upon people. One sees political power as something to be fought by a populace made stronger by the internet, while the other sees political power as something to be gained on behalf of a people made stronger by the internet.
abcnews.go.com
Yet one became the founder of Wikileaks and went to jail for it and the other became the president of the United States. Julian Assange and Barack Obama share so much but differ so markedly in their political destinations and in their conclusions about the internet as a medium of freedom. One sees participation in government as the means to do good for people, while the other sees it as the means for infl icting injustices upon people. One sees political power as something to be fought by a populace made stronger by the internet, while the other sees political power as something to be gained on behalf of a people made stronger by the internet.
Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange Calls on President Obama to End 'Witch Hunt'
Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, today made his first public appearance in two months, speaking to supporters from the balcony of Ecuador's embassy in London. Assange was granted political asylum in the South American country, but risks arrest if he leaves the embassy.
abcnews.go.com
