No platform policy, equal rights, idiocy and students

Reading the news items about the unending stream of political and other shenanigans by the modern students, one has to pinch oneself every few minutes to make sure one is not dreaming himself into a lala land. That feeling of unreality is, probably, our defense mechanism when coping with stuff like this.

Just to make sure the innocent reader knows what it is about: "no platform policy", as defined by the students means that a person planning to make a speech at a students' gathering will be checked in advance and, in case the person's political and other beliefs clash with what the students' governing body believes in, such person will be not allowed to speak. Welcome to the new era of youngsters' freedom of speech.

And here is a timeless passage from one of the typical representatives of the above mentioned students' governing body.

Richard Brooks, NUS vice president union development, explained the union’s stance, saying: “There are six organisations on the NUS no platform list.

“This is very different to a safe space policy which is based on the idea that every single person has freedom of speech and everyone has equal right to freedom of speech, however some people have more equal rights than others.

“We’re making sure marginalised groups get their views heard.

“Both of those policies are democratically decided. They are not a part of a wider debate around censorship.

“I think everyone has freedom of speech but people’s platforms are different.”

To repeat for those who think they misread it:

...some people have more equal rights than others.

You are making history, Richard. Stalin would have been proud of you and Orwell is vigorously turning in his grave. Smile, ijit!

Richard smiles.

Update: the video recording of that dumbo: