Day of Silence

[morningrob]

Well today we had the first Day of Silence at Drew Univ. Theo School. It went rather well. Our events included a chapel service and a break the silence event at the end of the day. The professors and and adminstration were rather supportive of the event. At the break the silence event were were able to address about 75 future ministers about glbt issues. OK- so they all were not there for the event, but if they are getting free food they can hear me speak. Hopefully people were reminded about the issues glbt people face. Overall it was a great day.
Furthermore, if I may throw this out- how come Soulforce is not an official supporter of this event?
Go to www.dayofsilence.org for more info

[Zerbie]

Just participated. Almost didn't - I didn't know where I could get those little business size cards explaining why you aren't talking. Luckily, I passed the LGBT coalition table on the way to my first class today, got some cards, signed up as an official participant, and got a free tee shirt. YAY! I'm really sold on the free tee shirt thing! Unfortunately, I'm small so the shirt is a tent, but that's okay, it's an important statement.

I missed the break the silence rally, was at dinner with my husband. But I adhered to the silence pretty well, which is weird in the voice department at school because everyone's first thought is I over-sang or was sick and had to rest my voice because of some problem. So I handed out cards mostly *there*. Oh but - some other singers in the department were also in DOS tee shirts, so there were several of us.

I too am curious why we didn't hear DOS talked about more on this forum. Thoughts anyone?

[Emproph]

The Alliance Defense Fund (http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=3737) sponsors the "Day of truth." This is from the "Day of truth (http://www.dayoftruth.org/about/default.aspx)" site:

I am speaking the Truth to break the silence.
Silence isn’t freedom. It’s a constraint.
Truth tolerates open discussion, because the Truth emerges when healthy discourse is allowed.
By proclaiming the Truth in love, hurts will be halted, hearts will be healed, and lives will be saved.

The Day of Truth is scheduled for April 27, 2006. This is the day after GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educational Network) will sponsor the "Day of Silence." GLSEN’s Day of Silence encourages students to remain silent throughout the day. It is part of their overall strategy to change how our society perceives homosexual behavior. But the Day of Silence is a misnomer, because what is truly being silenced is the Truth.

-My response to their response:

{-misnomer >noun -an inaccurate or misleading name. 2 the wrong use of a name or term.}

They not only blanketly dismiss the purpose of the “Day of Silence,” reflection upon and out of concern for the victims of unnecessary suicides, homicides, beatings and bullying,

but also depict those concerns and self reflection as an agenda to promote the acceptance of sexual behavior,

and then furthermore disparagingly describe the very word “silence” used in our attempt to do so, from a noun to a verb!

By characterizing the word “silence,” a word intended as a noun, as in “a moment of silence” they characterize it as a verb, as in “to silence them.”

And how do they do this? By using the word, “misnomer,” to describe our use of the word “silence” as dishonest, and do so in order to qualify their use of the word “truth” as being truthful.

Their use of the word 'misnomer' to describe 'silence' as a lie, IS A LIE!

“Misnomer” could not describe their use of the word “truth,” as in “Day of Truth” more accurately. Either they’re that stupid, or they think we and everyone who supports us is that stupid. Anybody? I ask because I cannot believe they could be that stupid. (now I'm in denial! :eek:)

No surprise I know, just a bit of nitpickage on my part, profound though it may be, all the other bigoted hypocritical arguments they present are pretty much same ol’ same ol.’

[schoolboi]

I recieved great reports from students who participated in DOS here in Lynchburg City Schools. Most of those who participated are straight, and several of in my youth group! I'm so proud!:p

[Zerbie]

Again. You. Nail. Head. ;) What would we do without ya? :D

If a lie is heard often enough it begins to sink in on a deep level and that is why if they repeat the lie often enough people eventually believe it. They also seem to trust that folk are not going to invest the energy to think through the logic/illogic of what they are saying, on the surface it "sounds" logical, acceptable, mainstream, whatever. Takes some delving to get at what's wrong with it.

I first heard of this DOT thing months ago and felt furious. Pretty impossible to perceive it as anything other than a totally skewed attack. Now, I don't know, I think I'll laugh at these people.

Yesterday some dude with an ENORMOUS placard stood next to the Day of Silence table (okay, about 20 feet away) preaching anti-everyone hatred. Ludicrous name-calling scrawled all across his placard. I hadn't made up my mind yet as to whether to participate in the Silence or not until I saw him with that placard, and thought, Okay THIS is why I have to participate! As I passed him on my way from the Silence table to class he was saying, "I've been a preacher for 30 years, I've spent most of that time on college campuses and I Can Tell You that I know college students, and college students Do Not Know Christ!!!!!"

I laughed out loud. Yeah, and *he* does? I had to laugh because the whole scenario was so sad, it was either that or get angry or depressed, ya know? All I could think was, he's devoted 30 years to this misguided, cruel, short-sighted, un-spiritual behavior all in some quest for God's approval - what an awful tragedy.