The Live Debate: Is Snowden a Hero?

Experts on both sides will debate live on stage at the Hero Round Table

FLINT, MI – IS Edward Snowden a hero, or a traitor? The Hero Round Table, the largest conference on heroism, will host a live one-hour debate next month to find out.

Snowden instantly became famous—and an outlaw—when he released documents proving the US government used mass surveillance on its own citizens. Since then, he has fled the country and become a fugitive living in Russia.

The Hero Round Table brings together people from all walks of life interested in creating real-life heroism. Its founder, educator Matt Langdon, says Snowden presents a particularly difficult case for hero experts.

“On the one hand, he did exactly what we train people to do: he spoke out when he saw someone doing something wrong,” Langdon said. “But he also broke US law to do so. So is he a hero or a villain?”

Langdon says the conference will allow the debate to unfold between experts on both sides. Representing the pro-Snowden view is Coleen Rowley, a whistleblower who outed corruption in the FBI. Rowley also traveled to Russia to present Snowden with an award for his actions.

On the anti-Snowden side is retired US Marine Corps Major, Dan Pantaleo, who was present in the Pentagon during the 9/11 attacks. Pantaleo says government surveillance protected American lives and that Snowden betrayed his country.

The debate will be moderated by Scott Baker, editor-in-chief of theblaze.com.

“This is a debate unlike any other you’ve seen,” Langdon said. “There will be no easy outs or soft answers. We’re going to push both experts and find out what’s really going on in the Snowden case.”

Langdon says the debate will be open to all conference attendees. Speakers include world-famous psychologist Philip Zimbardo as well as athletes, storytellers, educators, nonprofit leaders and scholars.

About the Hero Round Table:

The Hero Round Table is a cross-disciplinary conference on heroism in today’s world. Talks and discussions come from experts in the worlds of psychology, education, philosophy, sports, storytelling and more.  The Hero Round Table provides an opportunity for those interested in heroism around the world to meet, collaborate, and learn how heroism thrives.