I believe the controversy over Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks site will never cease to exist, but personally I see Assange as more of the people’s hero than as a monster to be feared. Viewing the TED Talks interview with Assange helped to sway me towards having that stance.

The single largest reason I feel Assange is right in defending his website, is the Bradley Manning video that was leaked. The footage of soldiers laughing at the deaths of innocent people is something the American people should be aware of, and not something that should be covered up by the government. Those soldiers in the helicopter knew exactly what they were doing, and I don’t see any defense for them being found out.  This is an example of Assange’s WikiLeaks being used to uncover truth for the common people, truths of “true human rights abuses”, as Assange stated in his interview. The comment Assange made about the footage of the helicopter shootings, “they (the people in Afghanistan and Iraq) don’t need to see the video, they see it every day”, really hit home for me. If my country’s military is abusing basic human rights of innocent civilians, I believe it should be brought to light, and that those involved should be prosecuted. Assange’s website makes this possible.

Another reason I feel Assange should not be known as an evildoer, is that through viewing the interview I felt he believed that uncovering truth through leaks can do good for the world, and even change the world. He stated that he works to “police perpetrators of crime” through his work, and that he has a hope of “doing good with the release of the documents” through WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks also seemed like a fairly credible source for getting information. Assange said in the interview that if the website cannot fully verify a document, but feels it could be substantial, they will say that outright. Also, the people submitting information are “whistle blowers”. These individuals obviously feel that the general public has a need for viewing these documents for whatever reason.

I do understand the opposing views in this argument. I realize that some documents are confidential for a very significant reason and can possibly protect the safety of a country’s citizens.  Videos and information about outright abuse of human right and various other ugly truths, though I feel do not meet the criteria of that category.