Mariah Idrissi | We Should Support No Platforming (7/8) | Oxford Union

[Music] I now look to Moorea addressee to close the case for the proposition tonight no pressure I just want to start Katie by saying the whole 72 virgins things it's it's really outdated and unauthentic and it's 2019 can we please stop trying to interpret books in different languages into our own language because we don't understand what we think that's the first thing also I feel like you've really played into what Jack was saying before about insulting and using that as an asset to your speech so you kind of proved his point thank you again before I begin I just want to thank the organizers for bringing me here today this is actually my first time speaking at Oxford Union and it's my first time visiting here as well so thank you [Applause] I know that men are won over less by the written that by the spoken that every great movement on this earth owes its growth to great orators and not to great writers Adolf Hitler 1925 Hitler was one of the world's most influential speakers he created the largest German political party he conquered a dozen nations and he slaughtered millions of innocent people during his reign his words possessed his audiences making promises that his empire would last a thousand years and he did this through more than 5,000 persuasive speeches the Nazi propaganda minister wrote in his diary that Hitler was known to write his own speeches and edit them up to five times for Adolphe Hitler public speaking was so important that he wouldn't trust anyone to write his own speeches Hitler was many terrible things but one thing he was not terrible at was his way with words similar to someone here not that bad thoughts become words and words become actions however there is little or no accountability for those inciting hate and oppression but instead we wait to punish them when those words have consequently manifested whilst we have the right to freedom of speech we must be aware that as humans everything we put out verbally comes back to us if we positive oh not yet please I'll come back if we put out positivity we attract that and if we put out negativity we do the same I'm aware that some of you reject the idea of God but there are those of you like myself who believe in it family I hope these words resonate with you couldn't fire coul be and it is God told us in the Holy Quran over a thousand years ago that you only have to say it and it will be words hold power much popularity in daily affirmations and dream boards have risen now more people are grasping the understanding with the science behind speaking things into existence words become realities by writing on shop windows and restaurants no blacks no dogs no Irish this was not just words this was an actual reality for people and dogs though one second as well those few words empowered a movement towards something negative and yet there was no crime attached to it we also consciously understand the power of words as we don't allow pedophiles to have a platform to spread their beliefs and we shut down rapists as soon as we find out that there's been a crime against them however we still apparently don't see a crime in a racist having a platform to express their poisonous ideologies on huge platforms including social media this is where the injustice lies in allowing those unfit and unqualified to have a platform to speak on behalf of people we can no longer undermine the power of words as we've seen its influence on the world this new phenomenon around freedom of speech without any accountability for one's words as a threat to our society if we look back in history here in Britain during Elizabethan times high treason was considered not only something done physically but verbally by just speaking out against the elite could lead you to being hung drawn and quartered this very extreme and sadistic way of punishment fortunately is abolished however our history shows us the important people placed in words and they really understood the consequences that may come forth from your choice of words especially when one is in a position of authority a great book I read a few years ago called how to win friends and influence people really changed my mindset it improved how I speak and therefore made changes to my world around me for the positive this book taught me how to listen more more importantly and these changes didn't come from me making drastic physical changes of my life I simply adjusted my words and listened to the words of others more there's a Turkish saying from the clash of ideas comes the glimpse of truth freedom of speech is important but when spoken there needs to be the right decorum it's not just about what you say as we know it's also about how you say it otherwise if spoken with little respect the one speaking should anticipate little respect in return yes [Music] okay yes Jesus was the director of European services joining with the BBC and he had been speaking up for three years yeah no they all said they did not speak up in him that's what we're doing we say no you know people like I'd also like to point out but you said that you two times this instead I just want to stay put because we're here I just thought was relevant so just to touch on that the Hitler thing was more about showing that power of words because as much as we say everyone should have the freedom it was his words that led to him doing what he did that was my point [Applause] I'm gonna finish and then I'll go back to the other point Manuel reminded that points of information should be short and factual thank you your words become your world a quote by Nadeem Kazi and we can see the evidence today my mom grew up in Birmingham being bashed on a daily basis and now the irony that Britain's national dish was voted a chicken tikka masala so just remember sometimes you really can swallow your words we could make the world a better place if we just gave better thought to what we say and how we say it thank you you

Channel: OxfordUnion

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Length: 9min 2sec (542 seconds)

Published: Wed Jul 10 2019