Some would call me an inspiration of my time. [1] I, Thomas Paine, was one of the first Americans to report on governmental accountability and transparency. In my famous pamphlet, Common Sense, I laid out a convincing argument to steer colonists away from the oppressive British government and look toward self-governing. I would be a great addition to the team covering Edward Snowden’s NSA leaks because of my commitment and experience.
“Common people can govern themselves justly and democratically. Liberty should not be forsaken for security.” [2] Those are a few of the core principles that I believe in and I think some of them have greatly influenced the thinking of Americans today. These beliefs will help in the success of covering classified NSA documents that show a record of an abusive and encroaching government, something I am very against. By adding me to the team, I will be able to stress the importance of this issue to the American public.
I would often say, “‘Character is much easier kept than recovered.’” [3] I have maintained integrity and upheld ethical standards throughout my career as a writer. I stand firm by my principles and I seek the truth. While I am more opinionated in my reporting than my partner, Woodward, I think in this case, an opinion is important. We shouldn’t be complicit in a situation where the government is taking direct advantage of us. I believe that my writing can provoke people and help them truly understand how this affects them. “Its message has been credited with transforming thousands of mildly disillusioned colonists into defiant rebels fully prepared to fight for a utopian new world,” [4] Roger Streitmatter wrote about my pamphlet Common Sense.
[1] Matthew Harwood, “World of Paine,” Columbia Journalism Review, 12 June 2009, https://archives.cjr.org/behind_the_news/world_of_paine.php. [2] Harwood, “World of Paine.” [3] Harwood, “World of Paine.” [4] Rodger Streitmatter, Mightier than the Sword: How the News Media Have Shaped American History, 4th edition (Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 2016), 27.Image Credits:
Auguste Milliere, Thomas Paine, Illustration, National Portrait Gallery, 1876, https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw04829/Thomas-Paine?LinkID=mp03422&role=sit&rNo=1.
Petar Pismestrovic, Under the Microscope, Illustration, Cagle Cartoons, 16 June 2013, https://www.cagle.com/petar-pismestrovic/2013/06/under-the-microscope.