Snowden's revelations in the summer of 2013 forever changed the way I perceived the world, and for that, I am eternally grateful 🫂. 

That summer, he opened our eyes to the mass surveillance programs that were spearheaded by the United States and its allies. The evening started out like every other summer evening. We had a few friends and neighbors over that evening, all gathered on our deck, enjoying the fresh air as my dad grilled for everyone. 

But the topic that dominated our discussions that evening was that of Snowden and what he showed the world, that night would forever change me. I remember discussing this in great detail with the adults that were over that evening. I felt it was wrong to accept this as a normal reality, I felt it was wrong that a government could do this to its people and not warn them, but one adult's comment stood out: "It’s better to give up some privacy in order to know what the bad guys are doing." All evening I wrestled with accepting his comment as the truth I should repeat, but deep down, I felt it was misguided. 

However, I was still young and had been taught to never argue with an adult about my opinion. That out of respect for their years of experience, I should not contest an adult's viewpoint, as my limited years meant I hadn’t gained the depth of knowledge and understanding that only time can bestow, potentially weakening my stance in any argument. So, I didn’t argue my opinion too aggressively, but that night, lying in bed, my thoughts spiraled. That evening didn't pass like other evenings did; it marked a transformation in my thinking. I became more discerning, more skeptical of the narratives presented by the government.
I am who I am today, partly because of that night. 

Thank you @Snowden  🙏🫂🏆