Day of Silence

[LycanBlade]

I dont kow if there is already a topic about this....if so sorry DX

Did anyone else do it this year?
whether you did or didnt what are your opinions on it?

Just in case you dont know Day of Silence is a protest against hate crimes against gays,lesbians,bisexuals, and transgender indaviduals. you cant talk the whole day and if someone asks why you arent talking you show them a card that says:

TODAY, I AM SILENT
Please understand my reasons for not speaking today.
I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and there allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment, prejudice, and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO END THE SILENCE?

you dont really have to have the card or anything but i mention it cause its the easiest and most present example of what its about....so opinions?

[Moon_Stone]

Hmm, I actually wish I would have heard about this before now. I've heard of the "National Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day" but not this. (Geesh.) -That's really sad... and speaks volumes about where our society as a whole is.

Personally, I think any demonstration that protests the injustices handed out and lived with daily by the GLBT (etc.) community is a wonderful thing. I live in California and we have had a lot of issues taking place here- on the issue of gay marriage, in particular, and our infamous "Prop 8".

(A quick history of what I'm talking about)... A court case came about that challenged the current state law (and the at-the-time current state constitution), saying that barring marriage between same-sex couples (and further, that the state's constitution did not state that a marriage must be between "one man and one woman", thus was actually not barring same-sex couples from marriage and never had been,)...was unconstitutional, and by continuing to allow these barring, discriminatory activities, was exercising a law that was actually not there. The case was heard; the plaintiff challenging the constitution won... and for approximately 8 months, same-sex couples were issued marriage licenses by the state as well as were permitted to marry in any venue and under any religion they chose. It was regarded as the end of constitutionally-endorsed discrimination, which actually "hadn't been there" in the first place. Of course though, the right-winger's and their fundamentalist beliefs wouldn't stand for this.

The November 2008 California ballots included a measure called Prop 8, which was intending to not only bar same-sex marriage in its entirety in California, but also re-write that portion of the California Constitution- to have it certainly and specifically state that the only legal, recognizable marriage is that which takes place between "one woman and one man." On a very, very small margin, Prop 8 passed; and the constitution was amended to clear up that "linguistic indiscretion" that had apparently been present in the earlier version, as was evidenced by the some 18,000+ couples who were permitted to marry in that small 8 month window. Proposition 8 was written in such a way that it not only bans same-sex couples from a legally-recognizable marriage, but also opened up the gates for this group to work toward effecting the dissolution of all the marriages that had already taken place. Since that day, I and a very large amount of the CA populous, have been working to protest this decision. It is, yet again, in the court's hands. (If anyone here is interested in knowing more about the California Courage Campaign that is heading up the protest activities I'm talking about, just let me know.) :28:

Now then... all that said, California is one of the most "liberal" states. (Then again, for a lot of other things in this state, we have to first get a permit to even have the thought of disagreeing with something.... Oh, and then, we'll be taxed. A lot. And then we'll be taxes some more after that. And a few fees will be charged too... but then we can think.) -Ok, I'm getting off my bandwagon now... but I did want to mention all that's been transpiring in CA lately to further illustrate this point: Collectively, and seemingly everywhere... we're moving farther and farther backwards when it comes to equality for all.

So... if anyone wants to protest by having a day of silence, I'm all for it. If they want to protest by holding up signs or boycotting businesses (speaking of which, a HUGE financial supporter of the CA ban on gay marriage was Outback Steakhouse)... or heck, even a sit-in would work for me. Anything that is heard by the masses and makes an impression... that's all we can hope for. The rest is up to "The People."

It is so sad that we still fight this battle to equalize all human beings and bring equality to all.

Thanks for posting this, Lycan. It's something that definitely bears discussion... and I love how this post wasn't confined to the GLBT forum but was instead posted in the "for everyone" section.... this really, truly is for everyone.

Bright Blessings! :28:

~Moonstone

[LycanBlade]

(DISCLAIMER: idk how this post will sound to other people but just so you know I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST ANYONE OF ANY RACE!!!! this is meraly an opinion of peoples mind sets)


indeed.....see in my personal opinion....at this point in time./....people think that as long as they dont rag on black people its all good.....all the hate that used to be focused on black people is now focused on gays lesbians ect.......... wich in my opinion its all BS, if your gonna hate somebody you need to hate those who hate based on steriotypes and lifestyles.

it seems that is becoming a part of human nature to hate and defile people who are different then them to make themselves feel better, and thats just wrong.

now onto discussing day of silence: If you want I will let you know next year when its about to happen....actually il make a new thread for next years when that time comes around =D. This year alone there were about 300 some odd people in my area alone who participated =D.

so does anyone else wish to discuss this?

[Bryanna]

Though it has good intentions and I'm 100% for gay rights... I don't think being silent helps. It just shuts us up for a day. So I do talk. However, I always try to educate people about why keeping gay marriage illegal is unfair, and how using the word "gay" as an insult is not only immature, but offensive as well.

[Moon_Stone]

I hear ya, Bryanna. Though, protests can still be effective when done so in silence. Sit-In's and Walk-Outs were done so silently, and they were some of the most effective means of protest back in their day.

Evolution of "gay":
Original definition: (adj) "happy, joyous"
Current usage: (noun) often the preferred synonym for 'homosexual'
Secondary current meaning: (adverb) "lame, developmentally slow/deficient"

Per the dictionary, the adverb usage means "in a gay manner." ...Yes, very insulting.

Thanks for posting. :28:

~Bright Blessings~

[LycanBlade]

well what Bryanna was saying in sorta true....it really does have a huge effect...i mean when you have a group of protesters shouting and waving signs....most of people have learned to tune that out....... but when one of your best friends....or one of the most talkative people in your class is dead silent for a whole day....its makes you wonder and ask questions....so in a way it does more then being loud ever could... not to mention every year the silence is also a sort of memorial thing for someone who has died....for no better reason then they were a homosexual

this year (2008) it was in honor of the memory of Lawrence King

so the silence really serves 2 functions

[Moon_Stone]

That's awesome you honor someone each year, Lycan. I wish more people could take a moment (or day) of silence to recognize and pay homage to a life that was taken so pointlessly.

Quietly or loudly, I'm all one for protesting these injustices... and as long as no one is getting hurt, any way someone chooses to use (or not use) their "voice" is a step in the right direction, I believe.

(...Now, if only we could get the rest of the world on the same page...)

Blessings to you!

~MoonStone

[Bryanna]

I hear ya, Bryanna. Though, protests can still be effective when done so in silence. Sit-In's and Walk-Outs were done so silently, and they were some of the most effective means of protest back in their day.

Well, if someone actually wanted to rally up and stand outside of Parliament or whatever holding signs but keeping quiet, that might work. But a few people at school shutting their mouths for the day (half of them breaking their vow of silence anyway) doesn't do much.