In two recent posts (here and here), Arthur Silber provides a different and fruitful perspective on the Wikileaks document dump, one that looks beyond the specific content of the revelations and their presentation by the media and political establishments, which were the concern of my recent post on the matter. In his posts, Silber speaks to the efficacy of the example of active personal opposition to the hideously brutal and destructive structures of power. As he notes in one of the pieces:
If you were to tell me that you could demonstrate that Assange is nothing more than an opportunistic seeker after glory, I would not believe you. I don’t believe that mere opportunists run risks of this particular kind. And in another sense, I wouldn’t care even if you could prove such a contention. Just as I will be demonstrating the importance of the leaks entirely apart from their specific content, Assange’s repeated actions take on their own significance apart from his particular motivation. My evaluation of Assange’s personal character might alter; my evaluation of the value and immense worth of his actions themselves would not.
Silber promises to expand on these themes in the coming days, and I look forward to seeing the results. I also look forward to seeing more of the genuine revelations of heretofore undisclosed crimes that will likely be emerging from the still largely unexplored documents, long after the media circus — and its political manipulators — have moved on.