BLOG POST #11: EOTO Whistleblower Presentation Reflection

One may believe they have a strong understanding regarding a certain topic which is exactly how I felt about the concept of a whistleblower, until I listened to my fellow classmate's EOTO presentation. Hay's Turner dissected the concept of a whistleblower in her presentation, and did so in a manner that was captivating and informative, causing me to have revelations about the topic. 

A whistleblower refers to someone who makes confidential information public without permission, typically with the intent to expose unjust actions. The reasoning behind a whistle being symbolic of this act is because of the manner in which a whistle is used to captivate those around it, which is exactly what whistleblowers are attempting to do. The foundation of this concept is a means of prioritizing the interests of the people therefore, holding organizations and higher ups accountable for actions that may be wrong. 

In order to encourage the class to conceptualize what a whistle blower truly is, Turner explained the situation regarding whistle blower, Edward Snowden. Snowden worked for the National Security Agency and exposed the U.S. government for surveilling American citizens. What really took me aback was the outcome of this situation, as the government was violating American's constitutional right to privacy yet there was no form of accountability for the government. Contrary to the U.S. government being punished, Snowden was punished, as he was charged for three different criminal charges as well as possibly 30 years in jail. Although these were the charges, Snowden did escape to Russia where he now resides in order to avoid these charges. 

Through this instance, I was able to learn about the importance of having good reason and intent to bring about a positive impact when whistleblowing. For example, Snowden claims his intention was to expose the federal government for its constitutional violation. The most impactful takeaway for me regarding whistleblowing, is the conflict between government interest versus public interest as these matters often go head to head when a whistleblower steps forward.