The Huffington Post is a news website and blog that features a range of topics including world news and politics.  It is often utilized as a site that features commentary from other news sources, columnists, activists, bloggers, etc.  This excerpt was published here because it includes information that about the controversial website, WikiLeaks, and Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks.  Assange and his site are known for posting private information about our nation that our government may be keeping secret from our nation’s citizens.  Micah L. Sifry is the author of “WikiLeaks and the Age of Transparency.”  His interest in writing on this topic and Assange is because Sifry firmly believes that “the knowledge of how to build and maintain such networks is now widespread.”  WikiLeaks is not a Wiki, but is website that publishes and allows commentary on government documents that have been leaked.  WikiLeaks is known for its controversial material, and have often been sued over its publications as they can pose a threat to national security.  WikiLeaks is important because it is providing information and even giving security to individuals who believe that the government is keeping vital information from its citizens.  Sifry’s main point in writing this excerpt is to make light of the fact that technology is changing politics.  In this day and age, with the ease of being able to link together publicly, technology is making it easier to spread information and connect ideas from individuals from countries all around the world.  Silfry makes a convincing argument as he makes the defensive argument that “anti-WikiLeaks backlash is futile” because “the transparency movement is not going away.”

I like Silfry’s argument because he makes logical points backed up by hard-hitting evidence of the awareness success that WikiLeaks has brought.  I personally think that WikiLeaks is just as it allows individuals to exercise their First Amendment rights, however, it somewhat terrifies me as I realize what the government really may be keeping secret.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/09/wikileaks-assange-transparency_n_820348.html