Posted on 04/27/2006 2:53:17 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Middle and high school students across the Madison area, the state and the nation are silent today. But it's not a collective case of laryngitis or a sudden religious vow that's cut down on the conversation.
Instead, students are joining together to protest bullying and harassment of gay and lesbian classmates through the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network Day of Silence.
Brian Juchems, program director of GLSEN's south central Wisconsin chapter, said all Madison high schools, a number of area high schools and "a large chunk of Madison middle schools" have students who are participating in the event that includes many heterosexual as well as gay and lesbian students.
At Cherokee Middle School, for example, about 80 students signed up to participate, Principal Karen Seno said.
The Day of Silence, Juchems said, has been around for about 10 years with growing local interest. He said middle school involvement is relatively new, but that sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students are particularly aware of bullying and harassment, especially based on real or imagined sexual orientation.
The event coincides with today's release of the national GLSEN organization's 2005 climate in the schools study, which reports that a third of all students, gay and straight, have been physically harassed based on their perceived gender identification and that three quarters of all students have regularly heard students being called "fag" or verbally bullied.
Many of the students will break their vow of silence tonight with a rally at the Capitol at 5 p.m. which will draw attention to anti-gay bullying in schools and will protest the proposed ban on gay marriage that will go to referendum in Wisconsin this fall.
"...is anywhere safe?"
Seems to be that the only safe place left on Earth is in the arms of your Mother. But then, she might be a lesbian who makes you call her current girlfriend, "Daddy." *Rolleyes*
Pockets of this nation are really f-ed up. I happen to live near one. Luckily there are still many way stations of sanity that still exist, i.e., any Red State. ;)
Too many mothers are killing their children before they even get to their arms.
It's called Brainwashing 101!
Would the school also support "Day of Truth"? This is a neglected point of view by most schools.
http://www.dayoftruth.org/resources/default.aspx?cid=3559
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.
Silence isn’t freedom. It’s a constraint.
Truth tolerates open discussion, because the Truth emerges when healthy discourse is allowed.
By proclaiming the Truth in love, hurts will be halted, hearts will be healed, and lives will be saved.
The Day of Truth is scheduled for April 27, 2006. 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. 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.
Schools sure have changed. We would have run this whole stinking bunch out in my day.
More Day Of Silence garbage.
More on the leftists latest effort to take over America - pantomime activism.
Will this latest technique of activism emerging from the left prove fruitful?
ROTFLMAO
Great idea. I wish they would keep their freaking mouths shut all year long.
Could the democrats have a day or two like this ? :-)
If I see Mr. Armstrong in the area, I will make sure to kick his hippie a-s.
Yep. That's about it, Clemenza! That's why I live and work outside of the City Limits...though unfortunately what happens in Madistan ends up effecting our whole state. :(
HAHAHAHAHahaa... I wonder if anyone has that email account....
Other emails adds that could work:
rimleybrown@uranus.net
baxterbrownbutter@backdoor.org
...you get the idea...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.