25 replies to this topic

[Nick]

Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 18th, is the eleventh annual National Day of Silence.

This day protests the silence faced by
transgender, lesbian, bisexual, and gay people and their allies
in face of discrimination, violence, and harassment.

If you choose to be silent that's great, and if you don't that's just as great as long as you are respectful of those that do choose to. All I know is that some kids in my school last year went around harassing and trying to get the others to talk, and that's just disrespectful, whether or not you believe in what the day represents.

If you want more information you can go to dayofsilence.org.

I made this topic so that you can share reflections on what this day might mean to you or people you know. Also, when it's over we can bump it back up here and you can say something about what went on at your school (if anything).

Thanks all.

[RandomNameIgnoreIt]

Tell people they're supporting something by doing something for most of the day that they'll be doing anyway... BRILLIANT!

[Christopher Robin]

xD I talk a fair bit in school, no way I can stay silent.

[dolphinbomb]

I remember people doing that in my school last year by wearing all black and such

I also remember some idiot uber-christians wearing all white and scrawling anti-gay slogans on their shirts

[sonic]

I remember my buddy walking up to a line of gay kids sitting on the sidewalk and going "ok you stay gay, you stay gay, you stay gay, oh wait you look cool, you can become straight now.... no not you, the one in the hat." It was the funniest shit ever.....

But yea. Club soda at my school does it....
Its kind of retarded if you ask me, but hey. Its America and the great thing about the Us is that you can do stuff like this

[redlion]

I'll be staying silent.

Fuck the rest of them.

[Nick]

I remember my buddy walking up to a line of gay kids sitting on the sidewalk and going "ok you stay gay, you stay gay, you stay gay, oh wait you look cool, you can become straight now.... no not you, the one in the hat." It was the funniest shit ever.....

But yea. Club soda at my school does it....
Its kind of retarded if you ask me, but hey. Its America and the great thing about the Us is that you can do stuff like this

That sounds hilarious, real knee-slapper. Well, if they stayed silent during the thing then good on them - it shows they could just ignore your dumbass friend and stick up for tolerance - oh wait, I forgot, you think tolerance is retarded.

[Tim]

I'd attempt it, but the teachers would be like;
TIM GO TO THE OFFICE FOR NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTION
ROAROAROAROAROAROAROAROAOR!

[Tetiel]

Wow. Way to contribute to the conversation in any way. You didn't even form a complex thought before hitting reply. You know, I wouldn't have said anything if you had just repeated the mindless shit that the rest of the people in this thread have said, but you couldn't even manage that. Fail.

Mr. Red's in a bad mood. I'll go run away now

...after I post...

Anywho my college is doing this and most professors are respecting it however I have two conflicts with it really. One that it's not about discrimination in general but instead it's specific and two I have a class where I must speak and I also have a group project due very soon which I must speak in :\ I think it has good intentions but if it could be against racial or even appearance discrimination as well. I think it's a problem all across the charts, you see. That's all. Not of course saying anything against gays or... hell, you know already.

[Nick]

It's National? Wow, I wonder how they got so far out there. So people are not allowed to talk or something?

People choose not to talk, it's completely optional. It became national because people want to promote tolerance of others everywhere.

[Cript]

I remember people doing that in my school last year by wearing all black and such

I also remember some idiot uber-christians wearing all white and scrawling anti-gay slogans on their shirts

I really dislike that...even as an uber-christian.

The rule of freedom goes: You are free as long as your freedom doesn't infringe on that of someone else...If you wouldn't wear an anti-gay shirt one day, you shouldn't wear it some other day...people know where you stand. Don't get me wrong, I dislike them trying to convince others that being gay is ok...but they can have their voice and I'll have mine, I just don't see a reason to interfere with their opportunity to express it.

[Kail]

I will try to be silent but my mouth is bigger than uhm..well its just plain big


""Offtop, SimonTheMine i like your sig good quility animation""

[Jewbert]

I doubt I could stay silent.. but then again I have no reason to be because I'm not any of the things listed. But I certainly will respect those who choose to stay silent. I won't torment or criticize someone who wants to do this....

[Nick]

Mr. Red's in a bad mood. I'll go run away now

...after I post...

Anywho my college is doing this and most professors are respecting it however I have two conflicts with it really. One that it's not about discrimination in general but instead it's specific and two I have a class where I must speak and I also have a group project due very soon which I must speak in :\ I think it has good intentions but if it could be against racial or even appearance discrimination as well. I think it's a problem all across the charts, you see. That's all. Not of course saying anything against gays or... hell, you know already.

Yes, I completely agree but my school has seperate student run days for each of these. Last year 88 black students sat outside the dining hall all day, didn't say a word, and went in for food protesting racism. They did at such a high traffic area it had an amazing effect. At the end they shouted, "Spread Love, Not Hate," in unison. It was just really powerful.

This day is for the homosexual community because it's not a race issue or a general discrimination issue. It's about violence committed because of sexuality.

I've asked my GSA advisor to forward me the speech she gave on Monday, and I'll post it up here.

[Tetiel]

Yes, I completely agree but my school has seperate student run days for each of these. Last year 88 black students sat outside the dining hall all day, didn't say a word, and went in for food protesting racism. They did at such a high traffic area it had an amazing effect. At the end they shouted, "Spread Love, Not Hate," in unison. It was just really powerful.

This day is for the homosexual community because it's not a race issue or a general discrimination issue. It's about violence committed because of sexuality.

I've asked my GSA advisor to forward me the speech she gave on Monday, and I'll post it up here.

Aha, well then that's different My school doesn't and I haven't heard of any other days elsewhere so that's all.

[Grizzly]

Wow. Way to contribute to the conversation in any way. You didn't even form a complex thought before hitting reply. You know, I wouldn't have said anything if you had just repeated the mindless shit that the rest of the people in this thread have said, but you couldn't even manage that. Fail.

rofl.

[Icey Defeat]

Honestly I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. The classes I'm in tomorrow are purely discussion classes (Issues in American Society), and I know atleast half of my class won't be participating. Not as fun. I appreciate the day, just wish it was about 6 months ago.

Sorry if I've offended anyone, though I really would hope I didn't

[Kyle]

I am very happy for those of you who participate, and all of my friends that do it as well, but I just cant stay quiet that long. A ton of kids at my school are doing it. It will be cool.

[travis]

I'm down.

[Lim_202]

I'm also staying silent. I was walking down the hall ease dropping as a usually do and I heard these kids talking saying " 'day of silence... That’s so gay' said boy 1 'well at least now we can tell who is gay in our school' said boy 2". My school is full of idiots although you do get great quotes such as "what does tedious mean?"

[Jeff]

For us, we don't have to stay silent during school, but some people stay for an hour after school and stay silent o.o

[sonic]

I actually think it went well at my school.
They respected the boundries and made it really responsible. They all even wore the same t-shirts. I was impressed, unlike the joke of last year.

I could not help trying to get people to talk..... I failed though. Good for them..

[Kyle]

I wish more people, including myself, had participated. I also wish they would have gotten the word out better and made shirts. It was a sorry turnout at my school

[Paradox]

We did it at our school, a big thing duirng the 20 minute break we have since we don't have school lunch.
4 kids got suspended.
Put tape over their mouths with the word silent, held up a poster and passed out flyers.
But of course, you can't pass out flyers without school permission.

So ya. But I was silent, so was 60 other people (had a list of names).
It was well organized at our school.

Also note.
The day of silence wasn't only for gay, bis, lesbians, or trans.
It's for people who support the cause.
Half the people who joined in weren't gay, just supported it.

Edited by Paradox, 18 April 2007 - 04:16 PM.

[cara]

I totally would but .. I have a french oral third period.
Ill just be quiet on friday to make up for it. -nod-