Of course Assange is doing 'the right thing/s' as well as perhaps occasionally making the human mistakes/errors that we all make (and sometimes should make) and, which we are not always responsible for.

Anyone with even a decent modicum of humanity, intelligence, research and observation skills can see why Wikileaks is an important contribution to the evolution of humanity.

WL has actually been long, so long in the waiting, Pilger knows it, Ellsberg knows it (he says there should be a pentagon papers every year), Amy Goodman, Chris Hedges, Mandela, Cryptome, even the philosopher Derrida discussed the inevitable role computer technology and technology would have in/on freedom of speech and war (democracy after 9/11 etc).

WL's role in our world & these issues have been an expected no brainer for a long long time. And obviously, Assange knows it.

The effects of a very real orwellian control on media and information is incredibly widespread, being a good consumer and citizen means being a good propagandist for corporate and political interests.

Intelligent capable people in journalism still only care about getting a good job in media and are willing to forgo the facts in order to get the best position and pay available. The mentality in our educational institutions is actually leveraged towards this attitude.

The brilliant element of WL is it strikes at the very heart of society and post modern culture, government and law, we are forced to see that we are greedy warmongering genocidal maniacs and this beautifully trickles down into every other area of society that needs to be touched with the truth... The joke that is the publishing industry, the music industry, the arts, the humanities, the hypocritical propaganda machine that is hollywood, etc.. Shedding light on the integrity of these systems while also revealing that we can produce, perform, media, art and music, etc with greater skepticism and integrity, depth.
Because the way things are now does not cut it, the tv saturated, narcissism epidemic is destructive, banal, dangerous, limiting, petty, nihilistic, vapid, old, tired, scary, etc...

The introduction of intelligence into society can be a hard thing to over simplify, which can be troublesome, but, I think a good way to challenge people to work a little harder in learning about how the world they live in works. How they feel about the choices they make.

My hope is that people are tired of talking about cars, handbags and tv sitcoms decade after decade and that maybe people might feel a little more fulfilled in their lives if they knew more about where everything came from, how to go green, how to fight cancer, who made their porn, how deep human feelings go, what is the dream life of humans, what to do about the piles of plastic and garbage that fills the sea, and why is a mental life something inspiring to possess, how to take meaningful risks, etc..

And why educating ourselves is more important now than ever.

WL is an important psychological event for all people.

As far as Assange 'being in the spotlight' who does not need approval?

Seriously.

In his position you would have to be bat dung crazy to not need the support and approval of your peers.

Basic studies show that we work better within a supportive group dynamic and with the recognition and approval of our peers.

Which surgeon would you trust one that wants to work on his own or one that needs and wants the guidance of people working with them that they value and trust?

His stress payload has to be massive.

But he can take it. Or rather, he takes it, imagine that.. !

His needing approval and support from his peers and from his supporters is a healthy reaction, one that we should feel happy about.

If he did not give a crap what anyone thought then that would be something else entirely.

As far as this nonsense in sweden all I can say to that is he can travel anywhere he damned well pleases and good for him, think of that, and- I doubt that this would be the case if he were a 'criminal'.

The 'criminals' are training animals in the swedish government's circus which horribly abused Assanges rights.

You are not under the same dangerous, malicious, illegal, hypocritical and two faced scrutiny he is under.

I actually believe that he's incredibly sensitive, which I view as an asset to what he's doing, acuity, I also think he's trying to 'wake us up' which makes him inevitably and inspiringly a very romantic figure.
These are character elements that are really suited to filling many a disastrous void in our political, social and cultural structures, reawakening our greatest muses, ones which he turns to and shares with us.
The amazing reality is he's far more socially ethical than most people, I am pretty certain he'd be so even if he were not under these conditions simply because he is intelligent and intelligent people always have specific criterion, not expectations, expectations, which are the general norm for most people.
Unless of course we choose to develop an active criterion for ourselves.

Point being, what are you by the will of your own conscience, doing consistently- to better our world?

I hope he continues to find safe harbors and moments of respite, comfort, relaxation, affection and good company, support, release, and the complete freedom to do his work anywhere he sees fit.

He is fighting for your freedom, your privacy, your rights, even your sanity. In many ways, your world and the world your children will inherit.
Be inspired by WL!!

And,
we owe Assange and WL all the respect we can muster.

MissMusk@ your the one putting the innocent in danger. Assange printed FIRST DRAFT REPORTS!!! He didn't remove the names of Iraqis! He's setting up people, including people not involed in any of these goings on to be shot!

Are you going to unkill those who die to make Assange feel powerful and clever? You and Assange are as irresponcible and brutal as Dick Chenney or George Bush. You don't care who dies, as long as you feel smug.

As for the rape accusations. If he's aquited, well and good. But who are you to convict the victim? I smell hypocracy.

... and not so surprised at the appearance of the bogus rape charges, that were dropped.

It was nothing more than a smear attack, and those of us who have bothered looking at all the information available about it find it almost funny when it's rolled out in an attempt to sway peoples opinion about julian and wikileaks.

I am in awe of the fierce integrity of Julian Assange and the entire WikiLeaks team yet again ...

So Thomas Devine, what you are saying is...that the three wise monkey approach to accountability is less of a threat to innocents than Assange & co exposing the negation of it by any of the coalition forces.