April 25 - National Day of Silence

Sharon den Adel · 04-25-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pensacola_niceman

Why is this national day of silence necessary? All you're going to do is cheese-off those people who are opposed to homosexual rights and marriage. It will be counterproductive - just like gay pride parades are.

IMO, this day should make all those opposed to homosexual rights to bow their heads and feel ashamed of themselves, shamed of even thinking that it would be perfectly acceptable to take someones rights away from them.
It should be day for all those opposed to homosexual rights to grow a conscience, and feel disgusted with themselves for thinking the way they do.

We should also have a day each year where we take away rights from hetersexuals, and let them know what it feels like to be treated like a second class citizen. At least this way, they may realise how wrong in their opinions they really are.

forester814 · 04-25-2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

I don't know exactly how people protest this observance ... do they actually state that they're in favor of bashing gay and lesbian students?

There's no other way to interpret the "protest" of a day to bring awareness of gay bashing.

My two cents, Tristan:

They tell themselves the day is ACTUALLY about promoting the gay agenda, or gay marriage, or whatever else... rather than face what the day is actually about.

Showing ANY empathy or solidarity on any issue that even MENTIONS the word "gay" is a chink in the homophobic armor, and some people just can't deal with ANY gray on the "gay issue."

garysher · 04-25-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharon den Adel

IMO, this day should make all those opposed to homosexual rights to bow their heads and feel ashamed of themselves, shamed of even thinking that it would be perfectly acceptable to take someones rights away from them.
It should be day for all those opposed to homosexual rights to grow a conscience, and feel disgusted with themselves for thinking the way they do.

We should also have a day each year where we take away rights from hetersexuals, and let them know what it feels like to be treated like a second class citizen. At least this way, they may realise how wrong in their opinions they really are.

What "rights" do you feel are being "taken away" from these school children?

And are the same "rights" taken away from any school children who suffer bullying or just the ones who think they're homosexuals?

garysher · 04-25-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tristanrobin

It's not about gay marriage - it's about protesting the abuse of gay students in high schools

it has nothing to do with gay marriage

why should we care about people who are against gay rights? do they care about us?

Why don't you care about school children who are bullied for other reasons?

It seems the homosexual activists have no answer to that question other than to pursue their own elitist goals for special protections.

Sharon den Adel · 04-26-2008, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysher

What "rights" do you feel are being "taken away" from these school children?

And are the same "rights" taken away from any school children who suffer bullying or just the ones who think they're homosexuals?

There are many schools, over here especially, that claim to have an anti bullying policy, but ignore it when it comes to some gay kid being tormented. I know, I was one of them. Ever been spat at and kicked and abused in the classroom, and have to look at the teacher just sitting there with his arms crossed, allowing the torment to continue?
I was basically kicked out of school because they couldn't be bothered even giving these kids so much as a detention. I missed out on an education because of that, and it's something I will always be bitter about. Some time down the track I plan to sue the school, as they failed in their duty of care to me.

It might not seem that school kids have rights taken from them because they are gay, but in my experience, gay kids get treated worse than straight kids. You bully a straight kid and you get suspended. Bully a gay kid and the teachers will just stand there and let it happen.
The schools are allowed to ban kids from bringing same sex partners to their school formals/debs/prom nights. Apparently, kids are only allowed to bring their dates if they are of the opposite sex. This in itself is blatent discrimination, as the school is preventing these kids from being themselves, and would rather they hide away and never reveal their true self.

So there are many rights taken away from school kids, and the big one is the right to be protected.

tristanrobin · 04-26-2008, 05:31 AM

which is EXACTLY what the Day of Silence is about

pensacola_niceman · 04-26-2008, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysher

Yes she did by supporting this whimsical "National Day of Silence" which is:

"when students around the country will take a vow of silence to draw attention to anti-GLBT harassment, discrimination, and name-calling in our nation’s schools"

Why aren't they taking a vow of silence to draw attention to kids who are bullied for being black, fat, tall, small or have British accents?

Don't they care?

Kids with British accents deserve to be bullied

pensacola_niceman · 04-26-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forester814

Agree or disagree, Day of Silence drew HUGE news coverage and visibility today.

Even those that misguidedly skipped school or created anti-gay graffiti in protest added to the publicity and public awareness that we were seeking on this issue.

Sampling of headlines today:

1.
Day of Silence peaceful at Desert Ridge High

12 News Phoenix - 54 minutes ago After a tumultuous month of disputes over a gay-straight alliance's observance of the Day of Silence, students at Gilbert Public Schools' Desert Ridge High had a peaceful observance Friday that was ensured by an increased presence of police officers.

2. 250 skip school, 275 join in Day of Silence

East Valley Tribune - Apr 25 12:34 PM About 250 Desert Ridge High School students didn’t go to school Friday — about a third of those students claiming they were ditching to protest Day of Silence, principal Dan Coombs said. VIDEO: Watch Tribune's Nicole Beyer report

3. National Day of Silence

Planet Out via Yahoo! News - 2 hours, 59 minutes ago SUMMARY: Hundreds of thousands of students will take part in today's national Day of Silence to combat bullying of LGBT students.

4. Almost one-third of students absent as supporters, opponents of Day of Silence air their views at Mt. Si High School

Seattle Times - Apr 25 11:37 AM Almost one-third of students absent as supporters, opponents of Day of Silence for gay and lesbian students' rights air their views at Mt. Si High School.

5. Anti-gay graffiti mars Day of Silence

The Charlotte Observer - Apr 25 10:02 AM Students across the Charlotte region are participating today in the national "Day of Silence" observation to express solidarity with gay and lesbian students who have been bullied and harassed. Charlotte-Mecklenburg school officials say the event is taking place without incident on most campuses, despite earlier talk of counter protests from students who feel they are being pressured to mute ...

How does this signify any kind of success? Kids skipping school, graffiti, and a large police presence? Is this really what you call a positive response?

pensacola_niceman · 04-26-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tristanrobin

I don't know exactly how people protest this observance ... do they actually state that they're in favor of bashing gay and lesbian students?

There's no other way to interpret the "protest" of a day to bring awareness of gay bashing.

I don't think most people who protested the observance believe that bashing gay students is OK. I think the heartburn comes in by making a special case out of it. After all, NO students should be bashed or bullied - gay, straight, or whatever.

pensacola_niceman · 04-26-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharon den Adel

There are many schools, over here especially, that claim to have an anti bullying policy, but ignore it when it comes to some gay kid being tormented. I know, I was one of them. Ever been spat at and kicked and abused in the classroom, and have to look at the teacher just sitting there with his arms crossed, allowing the torment to continue?
I was basically kicked out of school because they couldn't be bothered even giving these kids so much as a detention. I missed out on an education because of that, and it's something I will always be bitter about. Some time down the track I plan to sue the school, as they failed in their duty of care to me.

It might not seem that school kids have rights taken from them because they are gay, but in my experience, gay kids get treated worse than straight kids. You bully a straight kid and you get suspended. Bully a gay kid and the teachers will just stand there and let it happen.
The schools are allowed to ban kids from bringing same sex partners to their school formals/debs/prom nights. Apparently, kids are only allowed to bring their dates if they are of the opposite sex. This in itself is blatent discrimination, as the school is preventing these kids from being themselves, and would rather they hide away and never reveal their true self.

So there are many rights taken away from school kids, and the big one is the right to be protected.

That certainly isn't right; however, I maintain that NO kids should be allowed to be bullied.

I was bullied in Junior and Senior high school because I absolutely sucked at all sports. I couldn't play any sport worth a shit. The other boys would get all pissed off when I got up to bat because they knew I couldn't even hit a slow pitch. Basketball was even more laughable.

As such, I HATED PE! I ended up dropping out of school in the 11th grade because of this. What a waste. I never had a senior year, prom, reunions, etc....... I feel the public school system failed me too. None of this had anything to do with being gay (as I'm not).

I got my GED and eventually a degree in Engineering, so my education worked out in the end. However, the experiences of high school were taken away from me because of my inability to play sports.

Does this sound similiar to the experience of gay kids?

By the way, I did finally find I sport I like - golf.