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Comment by phildeschaine | Hacker News Reader

Interesting that it was written by his father's lawyer on behalf of his father. Makes me wonder if this is the first contact his father has had with him since this whole thing began.

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Imagine, if you will, a father who knows he needs to make a public statement, one that will be scrutinized by an entire world. A father wanting not only only convey his pride but also to help sway a country's opinion. Such a father might well turn to a legally-educated, historically-knowledgable third-party, one well-versed in writing convincing, lucid arguments, for guidance and oversight. I think I would.

He certainly chose his counsel well.

This collaboration between the father and Fein is fitting since Bruce most certainly knows Glenn.

Bruce Fein and Glenn Greenwald both were both panelists on the West Coast Civil Liberties college tour last fall (http://www.yaliberty.org/tour/fall2012).

It also contains hardly any emotion (I argue that the rhetoric used in the letter indirectly appeals to Edward). I was shocked by this.

I read an enormous amount of emotion in the letter.

Did you miss the last paragraph?

Everyone's different, and fathers vary, of course. But I certainly read significant emotion in the letter.

I have no doubt this ordeal has been excruciating on the elder Snowden, as he helplessly watches the international bartering for his son's life and freedom. What I find admirable, and where the emotion and strength lies, is that there isn't the slightest hint of wavering in the father's resolve--no pleading, no hand-wringing. An incredible gesture of thanks, loving commitment, and support.

I have little doubt it will impact Snowden in much the same way it did me.

I'm sure there's a backstory, that we'll never be privy too.

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