Word of the Week…Whistleblower

whistle-blower (noun) one who reveals something covert or who informs against another.

Synonyms: betrayer, canary [slang], deep throat, fink, informant, informer, nark [British], rat, rat fink, snitch, snitcher, squealer, stool pigeon, stoolie, talebearer, tattler, tattletale.

The above is how Merriam-Webster defines the term that most of America and likely most of the international community is obsessed with right now. The nation is inundated now with yet another political debacle that involves mystery and intrigue in the oval office not unlike the past episodes in history like Watergate, the National Security Agency (NSA) Surveillance Controversy or the Iran-Contra Affair.

I have seen firsthand how politics can make people do suspect things when not intended to do so. As an intern in the Florida’s governor office many, many years ago, I saw a plethora of good intentions go rogue. Politicians can end up making some strange bedfellows when power is up for grabs, we have seen that time and time throughout history.

Since it’s everywhere all over the media, I have been thinking about the term “whistleblower.” What is a whistleblower? Is a whistleblower any different than a snitch or a tattletale? People use many words to say the same thing. Well to me the term whistleblower is implied when speaking in terms of government or corporate wrongdoings.

Is the low level meth street dealer called a “whistleblower” when they give up the distributor—no. They are likely a “confidential informant” (CI) from the law’s point of view and a “snitch” from the street perspective. Now is that any different from say Edward Snowden or Chelsea Manning? I would say no and yes. No because in essence that person is still being a plain ol’ tattletale, whether for good or bad.

It reminds me of an incident my daughter had a few years ago in the classroom when she was sharing with a friend an episode regarding her brother’s Playstation potty mouth. She repeated what he had said and someone not in the conversation, but obviously listening, told the teacher. Thus my daughter got reprimanded for repeating something that originated with her brother, now it’s laughable then it wasn’t.

First of all, I scolded her for divulging too much information about our family outside of our family. Secondly, I told her to mind her own business and leave her brother’s business to me. And thirdly, I told her, and I quote, “to make a mental note of this situation and stay away from that snitch in the future.”

Not too long ago that snitch asked my daughter why she doesn’t talk to her that much, on a social level. My daughter reminded that person of said situation and the reply was “oh yeah, my bad.”

Back on subject, no there isn’t any differentiation really of being a tattletale but there are variations of why one does so. Political whistleblowers should do it for the good of their country as those in government should always be accountable to their constituents. Most times the whistleblower, snitch, canary are insiders, or once were, to whatever situation they are seeking to blow up. Some do it for the good of the public and some do it for the good of themselves. Hopefully, we will see where this latest trail leads soon.