At my high school, as some may have heard on the national news, a Rev. Ken Hutchins came to our school to speak at our MLK assembly to provide how Martin Luther King affected him personally as a black man of the 1960's. However, at the beginning of his speech one of our teachers booed him. To me this was unbelievable and I knew nothing of Mr. Hutchinson's backround on protesting gay rights. Well once the teacher finally stopped, the Mr. Hutchinson began to unravel his life as a black man and how he at first disagreed with MLk's approach at gaining rights. His speech was beautiful. But yet again, it was interupted by another teacher who this time questioned him on how he could come and speak on equal rights when he clearly opposed rights to the gay community. No matter what anyone's beliefs were on this issue that day, they should have not been brought up in a speech which had now been ruined by teachers and their inappropriate behavior. Later this year, almost two weeks ago now, on April 25th, the Day of Silence was held at our school for it's third year in a row. This day is dedicated to those who have been "silenced" for coming out of the closet with their sexuality. With what I've experienced the two previous years on this day, is the most uncomfortable and emotional day in the whole school year. Those who decide not to participate for their own personal beliefs or indeciveness get rude and nasty looks, while others have actually been thrown into lockers for not participating. Nothing was done by our administration about these incidents, and the event has still been allowed to continue. So therefore this year, Mr. Hutchinson decided to gather protesters to come to my own, Mount Si High School, and protest this day for it should not be a matter that goes on within a school setting in a government funded building. It should simply not be permitted when so many feel uncomfortable going to school on this day, myself included. With a needed to retaliate against the humiliating and unrelated questions reguarding gay rights the protests began that Day of Silence Mornin. That's when it got even more out of hand, protesters then also came to protest the protesters. And 482 out of roughly 1400 students did not show up to school that day with the increasing contreversy. What type of administration lets a situation get this far out of hand?! The event should have never occured in a government building in the first place where innocent teenagers are used as community puppets. I am ashamed to have my administration not taking the necessary steps to guarentee student safety and education.
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