http://www.dayofsilence.org "The Day of Silence, a project of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in collaboration with the United States Student Association (USSA), is a student-led day of action where those who support making anti-LGBT bias unacceptable in schools take a day-long vow of silence to recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment -- in effect, the silencing -- experienced by LGBT students and their allies. BREAKING NEWS Day of Silence in Thousands of American Schools Today (April 13 2005) This year 450,000 students from nearly 4,000 schools in all 50 states and Puerto Rico are expected to participate. With nearly 200 organizational endorsers and several proclamations of support issued in cities and towns across the country, Day of Silence 2005 is the largest event, of its kind, to date. Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) has introduced a Congressional Resolution, which is currently seeking co-sponsors, recognizing the Day of Silence. ----- What an awesome initiative Have you heard of it ? Are you participating ?
Thought this was a good idea. I learned about it way late today though (well...yesterday technically since it's the 14th now). There was quite a heated discussion about it on another site I visit. One of the moms there got ALL up in arms and spent the morning calling her son's school after she read about it, making sure this wasn't going to happen there, and that if it did, she'd be sueing somebody. She was WAY over the top and doesn't even realize how stupid she was being about it. Kept saying that anyone showing her son any card explaining why they were being silent, they were basically making sexual advances at him! Loco much? Ugh. Well...apparently today (or the 14th), there's supposed to be some kind of Christian "day of truth" or something sort of in response...or to counteract or something? I have to find the article, but when I do I'll post it.
Here it is.... Day of Truth : "The Day of Truth was established to counter the promotion of the homosexual agenda and expresses an opposing viewpoint from a Christian perspective. Participating students are encouraged to wear T-shirts and pass out cards (not during class time) with the following message: I am speaking the Truth to break the silence. I believe in equal treatment for all, and not special rights for a few. I believe in loving my neighbor, but part of that love means not condoning detrimental personal and social behavior. I believe that by boldly proclaiming the Truth, hurts will be halted, hearts will be healed, and lives will be saved. The Day of Truth is scheduled for April 14, 2005. This is the day after GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educational Network) will sponsor the "Day of Silence." GLSEN’s Day of Silence encourages students to remain silent throughout the day and not respond to teachers or school administrators. It is part of their overall strategy to change how our society perceives homosexual behavior. But the Day of Silence is a misnomer, because what is truly being silenced is the Truth. In the past, students who have attempted to speak against the promotion of the homosexual agenda have been censored or, in some cases, punished for their beliefs. It is important that students stand up for their First Amendment right to hear and speak the Truth about human sexuality in order to protect that freedom for future generations. The Day of Truth provides an opportunity to publicly exercise our free speech rights." I have no problem with that either...whatever. But I can bet you money that when that mom reads about it she will be ALL about it, instead of all over the school to keep it out like the other...bleah.
I see no problem with their "Day of Truth" either, but the fact it's in reaction and in opposition to the "Day of Silence" makes it rather hateful in my eyes. They're basically on the side of bullies..that sums it up
OK, they do have a right to disagree with GLBT people but they are to begin with using this excuse to perpetuate their own insecurities using a misinterpretation of the bible to back up what they are saying. That aside they are using propaganda. When they drag out terms like, homosexual agenda, detrimental personal and social behavior, & say " It is important that students stand up for their First Amendment right to hear and speak the Truth about human sexuality in order to protect that freedom for future generations." or the way they worded "Silence encourages students to remain silent throughout the day and not respond to teachers or school administrators. It is part of their overall strategy to change how our society perceives homosexual behavior." Are all worded to proliferate their homophobic propoganda. They always use Honosexual adgenda & somehow make out like life itself won't be able to go on unless we all become straight. When they say that the participating students are encouraging students not to respond to teachers or school administrators they are in fact attempting to say that the kids are being insolent, disobedient, & naughty. I have friends who are in GLSEN & I can assure anyone who is willing to open up their ears enough to hear that at least around here the participating students are very responsive to teachers & school administrators. Maybe in writing but they aren't ignoring anyone. Fact of the matter is from what I can tell the school administration & teachers are all well informed iwith plenty of advance notice that this is going to happen. Most of the schools in town have their own GLBT groups with a faculty representitive. The cases I have heard of when "In the past, students who have attempted to speak against the promotion of the homosexual agenda have been censored or, in some cases, punished for their beliefs." The students were attempting to speak against this promotion by screaming homophobic victives. Hate speach deserves to be punished! That is detrimental personal and social behavior not anything that any of us are doing in our bedrooms. Now on top of all that, these jerks aren't even getting the point. This all came about because of the silence that teachers & school administrators practiced when a GLBT student was being bullied, beaten, or otherwise abused by fellow students & in fact some of the teachers.
Yeah, they certainly don't seem to get the point at all. I thought it seemed like a great way to "protest" without stepping on anyone's toes, y'know? I just do NOT understand this thing about the "homosexual agenda"...blah blah blah... like the woman I was talking about seemed to think they were going to try and "indoctrinate" her son into their lifestyle. I just told her she seemed to have quite a lot of insecurity of her own parenting skills if she thinks a kid who shows her son a card to read in order to explain the "day of silence", will be able to totally change her son's own views on the issue....obviously she's not sure she's instilled her values into her boy. Her trying to silence the "day of silence" at his school is sure as hell not going to help him though, if that's the case. Some people...I just don't understand how they cannot see their prejudice. She and the others on that site against this are those that keep bringing their biblical beliefs into it, but the bible and Christianity still does NOT condone discrimination and treating others like second-class citizens like these people often do, regardless of the lifestyle others may be living. I just don't get how they can't see that. It really bothers me....especially being a Christian myself.
lol Christian point of view? I always thought that Christians were supposed to LOVE. Pisses me off...I'm a Christian, and I'm bi, and I wonder how many other christians are homosexual/bisexual and won't come out because they're afraid their 'christian' friends and family will hate them? Day of Silence is awesome. I didn't actually participate this year, because I found out about it on the fourteenth. The reason I love it so much is I semi came out on April 13th. So it's symbolic to me.....But it's a good thing. ^_^ that's what I rambled this whole message to say.
