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US Asks Hong Kong To Detain Snowden On Charges Of Spying
The United States has asked Hong Kong to detain Edward Snowden on a provisional arrest warrant after filing a sealed criminal complaint alleging espionage, theft, and conversion of government property. As The Washington Post reports, the complaint was filed in the Eastern District of Virginia - where Snowden's former employer Booz Allen is headquartered:
- *U.S. CHARGES SNOWDEN IN SEALED COMPLAINT IN NSA LEAK, POST SAYS
- *U.S. SAID TO CHARGE SNOWDEN IN NSA SURVEILLANCE DISCLOSURES
While there was really little doubt that the Justice Department would seek to prosecute Snowden over the leaks, the district chosen, according to WaPo, has a long track-record of prosecuting cases with national security implications; and while Honk Kong does have an extradition treaty with the US, there are exceptions for political offenses.
Via The Washington Post,
...
Justice Department officials had already said that a criminal investigation of Snowden was underway and was being run out of the FBI’s Washington field office in conjunction with lawyers from the department’s National Security Division.
By filing a criminal complaint, prosecutors have a legal basis to make the request of the authorities in Hong Kong. Prosecutors now have 60 days to file an indictment, probably also under seal, and can then move to have Snowden extradited from Hong Kong for trial in the United States.
Snowden, however, can fight the extradition effort in the courts in Hong Kong. Any battle is likely to reach Hong Kong’s highest court and could last many months, lawyers in the United States and Hong Kong said.
The United States has an extradition treaty with Hong Kong, and U.S. officials said cooperation with the Chinese territory, which enjoys some autonomy from Beijing, has been good in previous cases.
The treaty, however, has an exception for political offenses, and espionage has traditionally been treated as a political offense.
...
The chief executive of Hong Kong, Leung Chun-ying, said last week that the city’s government would follow existing law if and when the U.S. government requested help.
“When the relevant mechanism is activated, the Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region] Government will handle the case of Mr. Snowden in accordance with the laws and established procedures of Hong Kong,” Leung said in a statement.
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I want an arrest warrent for Dick, George W and Barry as well as Corzine, Bernanke, all of Goldman Sachs, the CIA, NSA, TSA and more.
No extradiction needed, just a good juge and a fair jury.
Hope he's outta HK by now.
Charges of Spying!?!
Who's spying on Whom???
DaddyO
PS:What a king size load of crap...
The charge of spying just oozes with irony.
I've had enough and enough is too much.
I think a lot of people have. Bringing this kid back here may be a major mistake.
The past is a precursor....
Obie: Mr Putin, dismantle thiose H bombs
Putin: Hah ha ha ha Up yours.
Obie: Mr Holder, charge him and bring his as back here for a show trial, we needs some distractions...
Holder: Hong Kong, Yo. Send his ass back here!
China: Ha ha ha ha ha Up yours.
usa usa usa.....if they are going to send him back they should just help him out and mercy kill him.....fuck this most fucking despicable govt of all time....the greatest brain controlling propagana fucks....these guys are the most purest evil of all kind.....so fucking evil no one can stand up to them.....unknown terrorist woven thru our entire fabric....roaches are envious.....fuck em...you have to be willing to die to defeat these fuckers....
All of this reminds me of a libertarian quote:
When governments become tyrannical, good people become outlaws.
Just ask the late Michael Hastings....
DaddyO
I beleive this is fitting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giaZnIr-faM
Boris is not so smart, but even Boris is knowing Snowden is never set foot in Hong Kong.
This is funniest laughter!
"Hello, I am secret informant, I am in <name of exotic location>. Please is don't arrest me!"
Hong Kong... Snowden is probably in doughnut shop across street from NSA HQ in Virginia, laughing great laugh, drink coffee and nibble jelly fill doughnut! Or maybe is rent condo in Bluffdale!
LOLSHIMP!
I like the way you think!
If smart as Boris, Snowden will be to hiding in non-extradition country.
I hear Cuba is nice? You've been? ;)
You can get an awesome Mojito there.......I've heard anyway.
Save Snowden!
Save Freedom?
DaddyO
Darn, saw through that one didn't you. Boris is right.
Now NSA is to think Mr. Snowden arrive in Moscow! LOLSHIMP! Laugh so hard to expel early morning vodka through nostril. While Obama is form sternly worded speech, Putin brass balls is clanking!
Icelandic Member of Parliament Birgitta Jónsdóttir has offered to help NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden seek asylum in Iceland.
http://reason.com/blog/2013/06/11/icelandic-mp-offers-to-help-nsa-whistleb
Heard it on the radio on the way home. She's paying for a private charter jet to fly him to Iceland if the Gubmint there agrees to asylum.
Iceland...who would have thought?
And don't forget that Putin said Russia would help Snowden out in any way necessary, all he has to do is ask, etc.
Asylum from Persecution
Boris look for roomate (lose apartment - long story), maybe Mr. Snowden is like rent share in Minsk?
Safe houses all over, but thanks anyways.
I think my TiVo is fucked up; these episodes of Big Brother and The Bachelor weren't taped at the right times.
After the fucking our Wall Street goons gave Iceland, they wish to get even....
I'd be willing to drive up to the courthouse he is taken to. If only 0.1% of the victums of the NSA showed up, it would be pandemonium. Protest is the way to go. Don't sign a petition and get your name on a list. Put on a Fawkes mask and grab a molotov.
Anonymity is not the answer. My name is Darren McPhilimy and I think Snowden is a hero.
What a unique name.
There goes the neighborhood.
I'm the only one. Don't tread on me.
I'm in awe. I knew we were getting there. You just kicked the door down.
You can't hide from Big Brother. Why try? I am what I am and that's all that I am.
Thank you, sir.
I was thinking about all this on the riverbank today as I downed some beers. We can't stop TPTB from spying on us but we can let it all hang out and they can choke on it.
I'm gagging a little just thinking about it.
Where's Mark Felt when you need him?
My name is Patrick Gatons and I think Snowden is a hero too.
That's the way, Patrick. Welcome to the No Fear Club.
-Darren
Oh, I'm scared, but there is a time to stand for what is right is this country and now is the time. I won't be bringing any guns to the fight, but I will stand in front of the tanks in righteous indignation.
We can't all be Snowdens but we'll do what needs to be done when the time comes.
I believe it was George Patton who once said,
You sir, are a courageous man. I salute you.
Mark Twain, but great quote nonetheless
My name is Mark Mulvihill, I live in Hermiston, Oregon, and I LOVE Barak Obama! Keep up the good work, big guy, and keep the education reform dollars rolling my way!
Edit: That was just a joke; that's not my name.
I know who you really are, Bob D.
Oh, shit - the NSA is HERE!
2600? Told you.
Fuckin' blueboxers. ;)
I'm surprised that he doesn't change his name 6 times a month, like on BR. :)
Mark,
When all the dudes where saying "I'm Spartacus!" I didn't see anyone cracking wise. Thanks for mixing it up and being interesting.
I expect he will be tried in secret in a secret court. Maybe we shouldn't wait.
Maybe's it's one of those transparent secret courts. I'll let you know if I hear anything.
I think thats the part that frosts my ass the most. Its not like we didn't know there would be a trumped up complaint. We knew. But then they seal it.
Its like they're shoving it in our collective face. Here, look at it. Here, smell it.
I doubt he will ever make it back to the good ole USofSA.....the .gov is putting up a good show, but deep down, they just want this to die down.....
"...Bringing this kid back here may be a major mistake."
Snowden will be disappeared
"Snowden are now just a thing of the past"
"Children just aren't going to know who Snowden was"
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/snowfalls-are-now-just-a-thing-...
It goes beyond irony Alaric, it rises to the height of hypocrisy and then takes off on a crack/meth fueled trajectory into Absurdville.
Snowden points out that our government is illegally spying on us, in direct violation of our Constitutional rights, and he is the one charged with a crime!!!!?
In 1915, when Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to enact legislation for espionage he said the following;
"There are citizens of the United States ... who have poured the poison of disloyalty into the very arteries of our national life; who have sought to bring the authority and good name of our Government into contempt ... to destroy our industries ... and to debase our politics to the uses of foreign intrigue."
98 years later, our government has brought contempt onto itself and the worldwide financialization of the private sector has destroyed our industrial manufacturing base. It is time to hold those citizens who are responsible for these treasonous actions to the same standard in which Wilson introduced.
A trial would be difficult because TPTB would disallow all the evidence of unconsititutional activity Snowden wants to bring forward against the gubbmint on the grounds of "national security." Everything is a secret to the people, nothing can be made known to us, while the seeing eye atop the pyramid sees all.
BTW, an interesting article regarding limited hangouts and other agendas at work here (enjoy the rabbit hole):
"Is Naomi Wolf (or Edward Snowden) Working for the NSA?"
http://disinfo.com/2013/06/is-naomi-wolf-or-edward-snowden-working-for-t...
He's staying at the house across the street.
This is it, you fuckers. We are on to you.
A formal indictment? I am surprised they didn't execute an extraordinary rendition and ship him straight to Guantanamo, where they could proceed with the obligatory waterboarding, electric shock and fingernail pulling.
The Barbarians are at the gate.
But hey, in good news Jeff Skilling got his sentence reduced today. I guess theft pays (Bernanke, Corzine, Skilling....et al) but espionage doesn't. The problem with Edward Snowden isn't that he is is a "criminal", it's that he's the wrong kind.
The problem is that he isn't a criminal.
I agree, hence the quotes around "criminal".
I like your sentiment cherry picker but an up arrow puts me on the NSA list of people needing special retraining at a local FEMA camp...
Slave labor camps. Arbeit mach frei.
+1 for Cherry Picker -- it's too late for me to be retrained.
Quo Vadis? I'm going to meet my fate gladly.
The Law of the Land
The US government has officially invoked the Espionage Act in response to whistleblower Edward Snowden’s leaks of the massive and continuing violation by the NSA of the National Security Act, plus federal court rulings over the last few years, as well as portions of the onerous USA PATRIOT Act.
We are constantly bombarded with the disingenuous drivel about our country being “a nation of laws,” yet consistently we see that the laws are selectively applied against the enemies of the plutocrats or overclass!
Under existing laws, and after both the public admissions and public lies uttered by the Director of National Intelligence, Gen. James Clapper and the NSA Director Gen. Alexander, the immediate arrests of these two culprits should be undertaken.
Not to arrest Clapper and Alexander is in complete contradistinction of existing law.
To fully uphold the aforementioned laws, impeachment proceedings should commence against President Obama, Vice President Biden and Attorney General Holder, along with the arrests of previous federal lawbreakers, Donald Rumsfeld, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Roberto Gonsales.
Obviously, as these actions aren’t underway, America is not a nation of laws, and any such proclamation is blatantly fictional!
Just as President Obama has repeatedly stood before the American people and brazenly and falsely proclaimed that the banksters broke no laws (perhaps one should say his banksters, since he is in their pocket?), his administration once again flaunts those very laws he has sworn an oath to uphold (and claims to understand).
Lawlessness rules across America, with the overclass making the rules.
Since the passage of the national defense legislation in 2006, during the Bush administration, which exempted the Department of Defense (Pentagon) from Freedom of Information Requests (FOIA), and the NSA comes under the purview and provenance of the DoD, the only possible way to ascertain when the NSA is breaking federal laws is when a whistleblower, such as Mr. Snowden, comes forward.
Obama’s holy war on whistleblowers continues unabated!
I imagine the complaint is sealed because they know what else he took. This will be interesting...
If they are not scared, they would let the people know what they are hiding. They forgot they work for the people.
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what your country is doing to you."
Scared? I reckon there are more than a few folks in the govt that are terrified... Edward Snowden might be the Pope of Greenwhich Village right now... We'll see.
Sealed because they can. Sealing protects lawyers, judges and the politically powerful, and occassionally, they will seal to protect victims. They want you to think they seal for the good of the people.....BULLSHIT!
Just like they are arming Al Qaeda in Syria for our own good as they destroy our civil rights at home for fear of Al Qaeda. Pissed doesn't begin to describe the way I feel.
Under seal? Yah, right, can't have the public knowing what the particulars are.
This whole thing is going to be a kangaroo court if they ever get their hands on him.
Obama has abused the Espionage Act to the point it is worthless for the original intent it was to be used for. Snowden did not aid the enemy (unless you consider U.S. citizens the enemy). Snowden told the public what its government refuses to acknowledge; that it is breaking the spirit of our laws. The embarrassment factor is not aiding the enemy. The government would not have to worry about embarrassment were it not continually doing things against its citizens best interests.
Hong Kong is China...I believe the lease was up a a while ago. Who is at the State department? Jesus.
It's under a new arrangement but its like dual-management. It's in China's interest to have a "free" zone where it can play the free-market capitalist card but still have a lot of control of the overall situation.
Exactly. It's China-light, but it's still China. Hong Kong is only allowed to practice it's ventures as long as China says. What political influence would anyone gain by listening to the US right now. They have a song bird singing.
They wouldn't, it would be signing a death warrant for an entire City. Seriously Alphabet soup agencies are going to sacrifice an entire 'neutral' area of diplomacy for a single asset. Not likely. Smells more like a probe to collect local assets in Hong Kong, see who's willing and desperate.
Given how the US Govt has treated Brdley Manning the HK Govt could well refuse to extradite on the grounds that he will likely face inhumane treatment is he is sent back to the US.
Double irony coming from the Chinese but there you go.
The NSA is furiously sifting through information to get some dirt on any of the Supreme Court Justices in Hong Kong, so they can get a ruling in favor of the US. The NSA will show them what American justice is all about.
The NSA does not serve America, we are just the host country for Oz. Snowden nailed it when he stated the obvious. In order for the governed to give their consent they need to know what the government is doing
The USA wants to extradite someone from China for SPYING. The irony is as breathtaking as the vacuum between galaxies.
China should respond by requesting that the US extradite the NSA and any administration officials involved with spying on China for trial there.
Problematic complications
I wonder if he'll end up in the same prison as Jon Corzine.
Wha-what???
If he loses the case he can get himself into the Icelandic embassy.
No embassy but a consulate and Honourary Consul Ms. Gardarsdottir on D'Aguilar St.
.
D'Aguilar St.
And if all else fails, he could meet up with a traveling live band in Lan Kwai Fong and make his escape as a "roadie". Lose the glasses, dress like Chester Bennington, and put that hair up into a multi-colored faux-hawk -- he'll blend right in.
No, best get out the Elvis rags and tout street food.
Find a tubby HK girl, steal her dress, and smuggle himself out as a PBoC member's secret "DRAGon Lady".
good luck, Edward
God is on his side, little good that does these days.
And the people now have their own sealed indictment of the NSA. The fuckers should study what happens to Stasis following regime change.
They will try to apply commercial threats/pressure, which is a fucking joke when you think about it.
This is not a copyright pirating case.
Nuremberg trials for the lot of them...
Every. Single. One.
How do we make it happen? These assholes have got to be stopped.
Are you serious? Well, how the fuck would Crockett do it?
That's a tall order.
Time to remember what being an American entails.
Crockett had a couple hundred guys to die along side of.
Checked your blog. Do you live in NJ? That's your first problem.
.
Pennsylvania. Wouldn't be caught dead in New Jersey.
Sent you a PM. I have kin up there in occupied territory.
I don't know nothing about PMs but I'll check it out. Cheers.
PS I clicked some links I but I didn't see a message. Is this how most revolutions fail?
OK, np. So I sent you an email.
Not to appear to be moronic -- I started designing and hosting websites back in '96 -- but I don't see an email either. Maybe it's slow. This must be how most revolutions fail. Washington and Jefferson just had really good sysadmins.
Yep, dunno. Looked up your domain. Guess we will meet on the other side, brother.
try editor at crockett etc.
...I don't see an email either. Maybe it's slow.
Sometimes things take a while to get through PRISM.
Well, how the fuck would Crockett do it?
Davy or Sonny?
"And you said you don't watch TV." - Tubbs
I wonder if there is a clause that would block extradition in the likely event of torture. manning anyone?
I hope HK gives the US Gov the middle finger.
Hopefully, he's not in Hong Kong anymore.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/21/us-usa-security-snowden-iceland-idUSBRE95K0WT20130621
And hopefully, the link is a ruse.
Trust no one when its your ass on the line and always leave yourself an out...meaning...stay the fuck off planes.
Jus sayin.
Even without this extradiction/ detain request he had only three months visa-free stay in HK and if he overstayed could be deported under the law. Needs a plan B through zed now that the train has left the station.
Political asylum request coming up, if needed.
Iceland is already on it. They have to make him a citizen to do it but they did that for Bobby Fischer.
Anyone note the name of party in Iceland's Parliment that is working on it? The Pirate Party. I think they are pretty big now and are instrumental in telling the EU - F U.
Iceland is not in the EU
And Birgitta Jónsdóttir is also associated with Wikileaks.
He seems like a bright guy...he knew what was about to be unleashed on him.
I would hope he has already set up his "deadmans switch" should anything untoward happen to him...something they really don't want revealed.
And the switch is out of the hands of media, the pole dancing ex and all the rest...we'll see...you can only really rely on yourself and your preparation in a situation like this...he's dealing with nation states & their ever changing laws & alliances of the moment, instead of whats right.
He would know this already.
+1 for your use of "untoward."
Well I had to dial it back out of my own sense of reason...just because accidents happen doesn't mean a plan came to fruition.
But it sure would be suspicious ;-)
I lost track of the thread the other night where we have a disagreement...but I want you to know, I think we both want fair justice, on the other...
This one (the topic at hand) is a slam dunk...it violates the Fourth, our contract with lawmakers, thus our consent to be governed by them.
If you're talkin' about what I think you're talkin' about, manslaughter is fine with me.
I am.
And from all appearances thats what it is.
Sometimes over zealousness (on his part) leads to things beyond his control, he should have considered that, for this he is guilty of manslaughter, from what we know. The consequences are real for the Rambo/Wackenhut wannabes.
To say its unfortunate, is to imply an unintended, unfeeling word...there are no word(s) sometimes to properly convey a confluence of events that lead to a tragedy.
Outside of unintended.
It doesn't help, I know, its no solace for anyone, in either of the families involved.
Just wanted to set our thing straight.
That's about the size of it.
Xactly he worked for the boys who are now after
Appostate - I duno. How difficult is it to get a mainland visa, pop over and come back for a new 3 month stay? No one's taken his passport away. Or he could wait out the collapse within the mainland. There are some very nice parts. Sichuan mountains for example.
Ahh, yes he would have to apply for a China visa (one day). Possiible at the border to Guangdong but otherwise through the CTA. If he did that before he went public no problems likely. However after that questions might have been raised unless they wanted him there on Chinese soil.After going public he would have most likely been flagged if he went to Macau, or any other SEA country. best bet on a tanker in the SC sea.
SEA countries would be under a lot of pressure.
China or Russia would be immune.
yes, if he is really 'important'...then maybe Russia should transport him to Iceland via nuclear sub.....running the US coast of course.....
If he's taken into custody I guess the internnet pretty much goes dark ... have you decided what your own personal response will be?
Yes
Ultimately, yes.
at the very least ill stop buying Starbucks
LOL.
DJ - Sometimes, when I come down out of the hills, I have felt tempted by the banana muffin.
when the feds placed that call I hope the chinese just laughed and hung up on them...
it's like calling Iran and asking for our drone back.
this country is run by idiots, dangerous, power mad, control freak ones, but idiots non the less.
Pleeeaaase, People from HK are not Chinese. They are better than that. They are after all schooled in British law and manners and thus they must abide the law and hand over poor Mr. Snowden. Beijing will most likely not make a fuss. Why would they? Snowden really has nothing to offer Beijing.
i hope you simply forgot to put in the sarc/
otherwise, you are either ignorant or naive.
The White House told perjurer AG Holder to release the news of the Snowden indictment anonymously on late Friday afternoon, a dead time for news coverage. Obama doesn't know what other goodies Snowden has up his sleeve. The Snowden case shows the NSA operated outside the law on a massive scale. Nixon had to resign over bugging one office in the Watergate. A lot has been going on since April 15, the date of the Boston bombing. Does Snowden have any secret information on that event? And, of course, there is the question of whether Snowden was acting alone or in concert with otheres in the government to discredit the Obama administration. One thing is certain, the press in America won't report any news until after the news is sanitized, unlike the Guardian newspaper. Just look at the coverage of reporter Hastings' death, a guy driving at high speed through red lights for no reason, then his vehicle crashing and blowing up in flames. Don't expect the LAPD or the lamestream press to follow up on any reports of gunshots before Hastings zoomed through those red lights.
Under government orders the UK press scrubbed the news that British intelligence spied on G-20. Those bastards never heard of the Internets.
Actually: Independent and FT both ran it. Daily Mail won't on principle (that being "rabid middle England toadies"), The Sun / tabloids won't due to ownership, and the Telegraph is a Mixed bag of Irksome Five year olds, so what do you expect? They ran it anyhow once it involved an official Turkish complaint (observe the forms, pip pip). And the BBC has a large splash page on it right now.
The general response was: "Everyone knows about GCHQ and Menwith anyhow, we're just too polite to acknowledge it". Our history channels still run history, not "Aliens" stuff, and the general consensus is that we're all adults, and can handle being told about such naughty things. (Perversly, we're probably proud that we do more of it than the yanks, but there you go, that's what losing an Empire and being a Monarchy will do to a sense of national pride).
Whether or not anything but a polite parliamentary inquiry handled by friendly MPs and judges does anything about it, is an entirely different matter, of course. [Spoiler: they won't; it'll probably feature as a joke in Private Eye and "Have I got news for you" though]
Thanks for the clarification.
The UK still (nominally, and if you get caught, revolving door once you've served is fine) fires MPs in disgrace for taking "cash for questions" (aka lobbying) so there's still some slight measure of trust left in the system. Not much, but a little. As a Monarchy / Parliamentary Democracy, it doesn't really shock the natives if Power is Wielded in the interests of those with a vested interest. (If anything, it's expected).
Any switched on UK resident is far more worried about police being inserted undercover into "radical" groups [An undercover police officer posing as an environmental activist co-wrote the leaflet at the centre of the McLibel court case, the Guardian has reported. [BBC today] and the privatization of ACPO (which, if you prod too far, will get you visited by the wrong sort).
Bottom line: the UK works on the principle that if you look out for it, you'll get a (very rough) idea of how things are playing out, and you can (to a degree) be honest / snarky about it in the media. There's hard limits, of course. Then again, if you break into the Queen's bedroom for a cuppa, you'll end up a free man with a story to sell. Not seeing the same fate for any burglars in the White House.
But why did Channel 4 cancel Time Team?
That's meeting the hard limit there.
It's worse than you think.
Sky news and BBC news did not show any story about the 2009 G-20 spying sanctioned by gordon brown, so there was a cover-up and almanac is correct.
I just linked to the BBC webpage which outlines the story:
The claims, reported by the Guardian newspaper, are that GCHQ - Britain's electronic eavesdropping agency - spied on foreign politicians and officials attending two G20 summit meetings in April and September 2009.
UK intelligence agencies set up internet cafes specifically to enable them to read the emails of those taking part in the summit, the paper quoted the leaked documents supplied by Edward Snowden - a former contractor to the US National Security Agency - as saying.
If you mean "on TeeVee", well, you might be right. I've not watched TV for over ten years, so you might be right. But: Sky? Really? You expect truth from Murdoch?
Good luck with that one.
Oh, and you're full of shit: Here's BBC Parliament showing Paul Flynn asking a very pointed question of William Hague about GCHQ. As I said, if you look for it, you'll find it. Might not be on the 6 o'clock slot, but I never claimed that. "If you look for it"... Obviously, I'm not naive enough to think anyone watches said channel, of course. But it's still aired.
what a tool that hague chap is...
The suposed dashcam videos I've seen on the internet are stunningly inconclusive.
Auto blogs question the damage to the Mercedes, and others have links to U of W
hackers who take control of auto computers, overriding brakes and accelerator.
And instead of reporting this suspicious death of a really ballsy reporter, the MSM
that I've seen is all focused on some fat actor who died of his fat condition
"prematurely", or possibly conveniently.
This whole thing stinks and I have no idea how the small group of awakes
can stop this concerted assault on our Constitution.
Other countries have a sense of identity with their fellow citizens, they are able to coalesce
into undirected groups for common ends. Brazil, Turkey to name two. I'm afraid our culture of 'individualism'
has made us each an isolated pocket of frustration.
There is no commonality among Americans beyond Coke or Pepsi.
We are otherwise sliced and diced into tiny pieces of what should be common humanity;
identifying with our honed and textured demographic, not our felllow citizens.