The road to North Korea

picture taken from internet

When I was a student at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, I joined protest actions in defense of academic freedom. For me academic freedom is important not only  because it allows students to explore and pursue all ideas without fear or restraint but more important, it teaches us discernment and  how to make reason a powerful instrument and weapon in resolving issues and conflicts.

Most of the time, our protest actions were just within campus where we held forums, mini rallies or even concerts and street theatre. But sometimes we would foray out of the campus to shout our sentiment and outrage only to be violently dispersed by the military in slavish servitude to the dictator Marcos.

During those repressive times, protesting was not the safest thing to do. It required courage and  not just anger. But we stood up for what we believed was important not just for us but for everyone including those who will come after us.

It is thus with anger and disgust when I read about a group of student activists who ganged up on Budget Secretary Butz Abad who came to the UP School of Economics to explain his side on the Disbursement Acceleration Program that he created but parts of which were deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

For me this is a serious breach of academic freedom and it was committed by the very students who
can march and rally to their hearts' content now instead of studying because of that very freedom.

When we invite somebody to our place, it is only expected that aside from giving him the basic courtesies paid to  a visitor, we take responsibility for his well being and safety. To do the opposite is dastardly and is actually called treachery. If we deem a person to be an enemy in the first place, then why invite that person at all?

True to form, the militant students who initially gloated about their ignominious accomplishment changed their tune and later claimed to have been the ones manhandled by the security escort of Sec. Abad as they defiantly refuse to apologize. Yet at the same time, they can claim that the period of sober debate is over for the Secretary.

Wrong. When people resort to lying to argue their cause the period of sober debate is not over. It is futile. University officials and even the student body have no choice but to throw the books at them and apply the necessary sanctions indicated .

Ironic that at the time that we mark the period of over four decades when we lost our freedom through martial law, the virus of authoritarianism manifests itself again in a most ugly manner, this time not from the powers that be but from aspiring tyrants of tomorrow who behave like they have acquired the monopoly on truth.

These youth, fortunately not that many, would like to make our country in the image of North Korea where they and only they will have the undisputed claim to what is right and true. They deserve to be properly educated.

No apology, no graduation.