So, the infamous Day of Silence has come and gone this year. This day, marked as such to remember the voicelessness of homosexuals and some of the torment they must suffer to remain in silence.
"Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of students in several Sacramento area school districts are being penalized by school officials for objecting to the homosexual advocacy "Day of Silence," according to a law firm handling many complaints." (Full Article Here)
I don't see the need to protest this day. I really don't. Anti-gay activists voice their opinions openly and without fear or repurcussion every single day. Anti-gay activists are not kept in silence or shunned for their beliefs, their lifestyle, or their sexual orientation.
So why begrudge homosexuals a day...one day...to recognize this sort of treatment? To recognize that they are being shut out and silenced? Forced to live in "closets"?
But, I suppose everyone has the right to protest what they want. And many students voiced their protest to the Day of Silence, and are now being punished by the schools. That's not right either. Perhaps these students felt as though they were being forced to "play along" with the Day of Silence; and that's not right. That would be kind of like forcing members of the KKK to protest against the mistreatment of minorities.
If anything, I think there was a mutual lack of respect here. Students should not have been forced to protest for gay-rights during the Day of Silence. But likewise, they should have respected the right of those students who wanted to participate. I'm of the mindset of if you don't like it, don't participate and don't listen. But I see no reason for one group to protest another group's protest.
Some people are going to try to tell me that the first group deserves to be heard, and I agree. But the reason for the second group to protest in the first place is because the first group is being heard.
It's like being in an argument. If you've sat and listened to the opposing side, and then they finally give you a chance to speak, but constantly interrupt you and yell over you to drown out your voice the entire time you are trying to speak, how much respect are you left with for them?
And, no doubt, people are going to try to tell me that the school is not the appropriate place for such advocacy as the "Day of Silence" to be staged. I disagree with this as well. Schools are and always have been the place for students to learn social skills, the Constitution, and how best to practice those rights given by the Constitution. That's why we send children to school, to learn about socialization, and to broaden their horizons by exposing them to other beliefs. This is done in the hopes that once exposed to those other beliefs, they will behave accordingly and not immediately fall into a bigoted rant.
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Thank god that there are other believers in Voltaire on this site. I agree completely. While I fully support the LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Intersexed and Questioning) movement, I don't feel that others should be forced to do the same. It's counterintuitive to force someone to superficially respect something that they object to. If anything, that inhibits acceptance and understanding and merely fosters an environment of tolerance because objections are not voiced and therefore not addressed.
--Mike
P.S. Awesome job with article incorporation.
"If anything, that inhibits acceptance and understanding and merely fosters an environment of tolerance because objections are not voiced and therefore not addressed."
I think that's a "best case scenario". Much more likely I think is the chance that it will bring about a feeling of resentment, which is what the Day of Silence is supposed to be advocating against.
And thanks for the compliment :)
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/fanaile-essence
From the mouth of an ally (A), I think the Acronym has gotten out of control.
That really is quite a mouthful (for an Acronym)!
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/fanaile-essence
Great blog, honestly. Very well thought out, however, the one part that confused me was
"would be kind of like forcing members of the KKK to protest against the mistreatment of minorities."
Did you mean "like members of the KKK forcing other people to protest against the mistreatment of minorities"?
"Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity--and I'm not so sure about the universe"
-Albert Einstein
Hm, now I'm second guessing myself... So forgive me if I have to spell it out for myself and then I can edit the blog to read the way I meant it :)
The KKK, as a group, is known as a hateful group towards all minorities (although, they are best known for their hatred of Black Americans). As such, they often mistreated minorities and advocated for others to mistreat minorities. So, if a group were protesting the mistreatment of any of these minority groups, would we force members of the KKK to protest along with them?
So, yea, I think I wrote it correctly... ?
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/fanaile-essence
Ahhhhhhhh...you meant a group of the opposite opinion...ahhhh ok got it. But isn't using the KKK a bit of an extreme analogy? Because the KKK are outspoken on their beliefs; these students simply did not want to participate in the gay advocacy rally. The KKK would have burned a cross...
So does this mean I'm missing something? I have a cold...so forgive me :P
"Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity--and I'm not so sure about the universe"
-Albert Einstein
It is an extreme analogy, and I pondered about its use... however, in the end, I felt as though it was the most recognizable example to get my point across that we can't force someone to go against their beliefs or force them to protest something that they do believe in, and then punish them for refusing to go along with it or voicing their disapproval.
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/fanaile-essence
The idea is that it uses the same strain of logic, which is all you need to prove that an argument is invalid.
Also, reply button.
Love ya, babe. :)
--Mike
The Day of Silence doesn't "just happen." Like all such protests, they have to be coordinated with the school in order to ensure that it is not disruptive, nor that it targets and harasses other students. When a parent decides to just "keep their kid out of school that day," but doesn't notify the school ahead of time, it is pretty rediculous to suggest that one's right to free speech has been infringed. When these same people engage in a "counter protest" that violates OTHER school rules (like dress codes), and again without making any arrangement with the school, they really should expect that there will be negative consequences.
The Day of Silence Protest does not target or single out any student who does not wish to participate. It is a very passive form of protest. The responses of the fundamentalist christian groups that are attempting to "counter" these actions--with thier typical irrational hysteria and abuse--are very much intended not only to single out and harass the gay students, but also to use a state facility as a means of spreading a religious message (which is, of course, an unlawful act).
percivale
Percivale are you a teacher, if so I want to take one of your classes.
"A prime part of the history of our Constitution...is the story of the extension of constitutional rights and protections to people once ignored or excluded." ~US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
I come from a long line of educators, and I have always wanted to teach (High School English, to be precise). Unfortunately, when the time came that I had to make a binding decision about my future career, there were no protections against job discrimination for gay people anywhere in the country, and as an openly gay man it was unreasonable to think that I could keep my integrity (by remaining open about who I was) and not get fired the moment I was outed to the parents.
Even today there is very little protection, and here in the South at least a teacher who is outed can make a sure bet that he will be in the unemployment line in short order. Honestly, not teaching is one of the very few sad regrets that I have about my life. All I ever really wanted to do was to write and teach poetry. But, one's life is what it is, and I made my peace with it by deciding to fight so that someone who comes after me will be able to follow the dream that was denied to me.
percivale
"But, one's life is what it is, and I made my peace with it by deciding to fight so that someone who comes after me will be able to follow the dream that was denied to me."
You don't know much I can relate to that line, when I think of the people who came before me to make sure I have a chance at following mine. It's like thats one of my many motivations to help others even if I can only do so much.
*gives percivale a hug* lol yeah I know I can be really sappy sometimes... :p
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See my blog and I'll love you forever! Or at least temporarily: http://www.progressiveu.org/194914-i-think-this-is-something-every-american-should-read
...just kidding. lol. Thanks.
percivale
As one of the late bloomers to coming out of the closet, and then going to college--hell, I actually have done most things backwards, lol!--I applaud your integrity, sticking to your principles. I love literature. I write poetry. I showed my son your site, he loves computer games, video games, etc. And I love all creative endeavors--art, music, fiction, poetry, theatre, etc. I have family in Atlanta, Athens, and Stone Mountain, as a matter of fact. They've tried several times to get me to move there, but I can't until my children are off on their own.
Anyhow,
There are very little protections, especially in the South, for gay people. It is truly a shame that you are not a teacher, you would make an excellent teacher. I am not sure of what you do, but in some way I am sure that you are expanding the minds of others, which is part of what teaching is all about. You're doing it here, on Progressive U.
I want to fight the "good fight", and do by sending letters to senators, congressmen, etc. I vote. I wrote a few editorials to the local paper, of course only one was published. And I am back in college, seeking a BS in psychology, and then on to a MA and a PhD. Colleges aren't as finicky about gays as elem, middle, and high schools. I want to teach college. I have considered minoring in gay and lesbian studies, and am still thinking about it.
I live in rural south carolina, I no longer live in the city. So the resources for gays out here in the "country" are non-existant.
My biggest regret is that I waited so long to be true to myself. Yet I think it made me realize how important it is that young people have organizations like PFLAG, LGBT, etc. I had no one I could relate to, no one to talk to, etc. I thought I was perverted, unnatural, wrong, etc, and as I grew older and supressed more and more of who I really was because my family and society said it wasn't normal I began to lose myself entirely.
When I had my own children and ended up a single parent I realized their beliefs, principles, and ideas about others would be learned through me, through my example, I began to take a serious look at what I'd been taught. So I taught my children to look at the person as an individual--I taught them to be open-minded, to love others, and to be true to there selves.
When I came out the closet my daughter embraced me, she loved me and just wanted me to be happy. My son had just hit puberty and was a bit confused by it, and somewhat overwhelmed, but after the initial shock wore off he also embraced me and just wanted me to be happy. Same with my two best friends who are straight. So here I am almost 40, out of the closet for almost a decade, finally back in college, single, and wondering how the hell I got so old and am just now really beginnning my life. I sometimes feel like I was walking around in a daze for 20+ years and have finally woken up.
I am following my dream, finally. The journey towards it helped me learn what is really important and taught me how to be true to myself. Perci, you might not be an "academic" teacher, but you're teaching nonetheless. I've already learned quite a bit from you. So I say thanks, Professor Percivale.
"A prime part of the history of our Constitution...is the story of the extension of constitutional rights and protections to people once ignored or excluded." ~US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Thank you.
percivale
You're quite welcome. Just telling it like I see it.
"A prime part of the history of our Constitution...is the story of the extension of constitutional rights and protections to people once ignored or excluded." ~US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
He is quite awesome, isn't he??? Kudos percivale. You know I always love reading your insights!!!!! *hug* *smile* *kiss* yeah yeah yeah, you have more girl kooties now. *grins*
Ceila
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ceila30
http://www.progressiveu.org/160156-facing-same-sex-marriage
...in his pants.
(}:^P>)
perci