GLSEN - DAY OF SILENCE

4-08-2002 | self

[NYer]

As many of you are aware, this Wednesday - April 10, high schools across the US will participate in a GLSEN sponsored event. On that day, students who support the Day of Silence will remain silent in school and hold up a card with the following statement on it, if called upon in class:

“Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment, prejudice and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end the silence?”

My 15 year old told me that the posters have already gone up in her school. She ripped down 2 of them and was caught by a teacher who advised her that she was destroying "school property". She told the teacher that she does not support this movement. My guess is that the teacher doesn't either, as no charges were pressed.

My daughter would like to make her own statement on Wednesday, by also holding up some sort of card. We've discussed borrowing the wording from the other card to compose the one she will bring to classes. I can't think of a more creative "thinking" community than this forum. Please share your ideas with us. Thanks

[Hugin]

Why not just give us the name and phone number of the school, and the name of the pricipal? A good freeping will have a lot more impact than your daughter's sign. And if it gets picked up by talk radio the school adminstrators will be very busy explaining why those signs are school property for a long time.

[Technocrat]

What am I going to do to end the silence? I'm going to give you an "F" on your oral report, and reduce the participation component of your grade this term.

Here's one:
Please understand my reasons for bringing this sign today. I am questioning the propriety of bringing into a public school, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and their allies. I cannot see how people who express their sexual preferences publicly should have any place in this forum. I restate my first amendment right to hold prejudice and to discriminate against who I choose, be it in casual association or employment settings. I believe that a sexual agenda has no place in compulsory public education, and that such voices should be silenced here!

[Maedhros]

An idea:

[GSWarrior]

Trolling for queers again?

[Maedhros]

?

[NYer]

Great suggestion! I knew I could count on forum members to come up with a sound and solid response.

[Maedhros]

BTW, #4 is a joke.

(I guess I should have made that explicit with a sarcasm tag.)

[GSWarrior]

As someone who worships God, I find that sign in questionable taste.
I was (probably incorrectly) assuming that you were looking to bait some of the homosexuals who occasionally post here.

[my4kidsdad]

Excellent statement....but I agree that it'd also help if we freeped them!!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"My daughter would like to make her own statement on Wednesday, by also holding up some sort of card."

My suggestion would be for her to speak, instead of holding an anti-speaking card.
Seems like they are trying to get students not to talk, so talking would seem the appropriate action.

[RAT Patrol]

I thought only the gays were supposed to remain silent. There is a counter protest "Truth without interuption day". If you do a FR search you will find it.

What about the prejudice and harrassment of religious kids? Who is going to do something about that?

Pre age of consent kids should not be labeling themselves or participating in this sort of thing.

[NYer]

You make a good point! A conservative organization suggested that the 9 hours of silence be extended indefinitely in order for the other students to learn.

[EdReform]

See the thread Homosexual Activists Want to Silence Nation's Youth for information on how kids can respond.

[Drango]

You think we can get 'em to shut up for a full year?

[glockmeister40]

To all of you young people - the only thing that the queers are after is you. They just love new, young stuff. The part about injustice is all crap. Designed to play on your sympathies. Did you every wonder why these degenerates were persecuted in the first place?

[arepublicifyoucankeepit]

Didn't I recently see a post about a teen who wore a "Straight Pride" sweatshirt to school. In the end the court supported his right to wear the shirt.

Personally, I feel that the pro-homo activists are not only recruiting kids into the lifestyle they are also using those who fall for their lies to further their political agenda. It has no place in school.

[yankeedame]

No,no,no! This reply has to be short (easy to read) and funny, perferably with a sting. And, alas, no, I can't think of anything but with so many clever Freepers out there it should be no probem.

[NYer]

*Should homosexual behavior, cross-dressing, and sex change surgery be the basis of a whole new range of special rights in this country?
We think this is absurd. But that's what is being asked-no, demanded. Those who disagree are more and more frequently being silenced, one way or another.

* Ironically, the strongest supporters are those who will get hurt the worst. It is those in the "GLBT" lifestyles who stand to lose so much.
They are likely to live shortened lives or contract incurable diseases. Some will permanently disfigure their bodies before they've even made the decision about what their college major is! And those of us trying to warn them are the bad guys?

Please-open your ears, minds and hearts-and hear the truth today. It may extend or save the life of someone you care about.

This is precious!! Thanks for posting the link! What an absolute waste of a day for students intent on learning, to have to find their own voice in this idiotic situation.

For those who are interested, here it is:
Truth Without Interruption Day