<p>I'm going through hell with my group of friends because I have decided not to participate in it this year. I was involved in it last year and the more I thought about, the less it made sense. I am bi, I AM an adamant gay rights supporter and in my opinion the day is making it seem like it's ok to be silent when you are suffering. I was picked on for being bi because I went to a private school but when I finally STOPPED being silent, the bullying stopped and people just moved on. I am not following this day because I believe we need something more like a Day of Screaming, rather then a Day of Silence. </p>
<p>Is anybody else in the same boat? Or want to tell me why you personally are doing it? I am not here to criticize anybody because I have been on both sides of the issue now.</p>
<p>PS. That is how it is at my school, I'm sure at other places it actually turns out like it was originally intended, to show how many people actually DO suffer. But at my school, it's more kind of like a popular thing to do right now and most people don't even know why they're doing it.</p>
<p>I'm doing it just so I don't have to say anything in class. It gives me an excuse in Statistics when my teacher calls on me. Instead of looking like an idiot and not knowing the answer I can just keep my mouth shut. I don't really care about the cause behind it, it's kind of stupid if you ask me.</p>
<p>I never really heard of this until I saw all the fliers all around Plymouth and Canton, Romani. I really don't know anyone heavily involved in GSA either, and still don't understand what exactly it's about (?) since I wasn't able to read the flier. Care to explain it to me and other ignorant CC'ers? Is it a sort of protest against discrimination based on sexual orientation?</p>
<p>It's against the silence that people endure when they are in school because they aren't out of the closet (btw I kind of HATE that phrase). People will put tape over their mouths and hold pieces of paper that say "Pardon my silence..." Teachers don't have to honor their request and may make them speak. Alot of people last year did it to get out of participating in class. You will see people tomorrow morning handing things out if you eat breakfast in the cafeteria, especially at Salem. Our GSA has really gone down hill and I am not a member of it. The president is a very good friend of mine but she hasn't been at school all year due to cancer. The club just sits there and does nothing to actually help LGBT or their cause.</p>
<p>I agree with romanigpsyeyes' second post. I mean, it's one day. 1 class, your teacher is not going to call on you. The next day, and the next, and the next, you are going to look like an idiot once again. You're wasting your time if you don't care.</p>
<p>nschuchert: The Day of Silence isn't supposed to be a "get out of talking for a day" excuse. </p>
<p>This is a serious protest that has a great deal of meaning behind it. It calls attention and protests the silencing of LGBT individuals. Many do not understand the meaning of 'silencing'; my best way to explain it is by looking at Matthew Shepard who was brutally murdered (permanently silenced) for being gay. Thousands of others undergo bullying and harassment and have to remain quiet to avoid such ridicule. THIS is why one should participate in the Day of Silence. Not because they are lazy and don't want to talk in class.</p>
<p>"What are you going to do to end the silence?" = What are you going to do so there is no need for protesting the harassment and violence?</p>
<p>It's not supposed to be a lot of things, but people don't care either way about the idea, and use it to get out of class for a day and etc. Whatever.</p>
<p>We're supposed to end up "missing the voices of our classmates" and thus have a full on epiphany over what gays have to go through in keeping silent. Of course, I think it's a load of bull, but I live in New Jersey and go to a very socially liberal school, and we don't really see too much persecution to begin with. Gay kids, straight kids, it's superfluous -- unless I'm thinking about hitting on the guy, it doesn't really matter to me.</p>
<p>So the people who did it at my school got treated like crap, got things thrown at them, and were humiliated. They were so mad at me for not doing it because they felt like I wasn't sticking up for my beliefs. They don't realize that I have just as much as an opinion as they do and ended up wearing tape on my chest that said "Silence is not the answer. Stand up and SPEAK!" I gave out the same pieces of paper only mine said "Honoring the victims of hate crimes and those who were forced to be silent WITH silence makes no sense. I challenge each one of you who is participating to go to a rally or some other kind of protest that allows you to have your voice HEARD. Gay rights is not a one day thing!"</p>
<p>^^^ more than a day without speakin is kind of excessive and interferes with the 'learning process', but the protest for gay rights should be year round.</p>
<p>I saw about 15 that did it today-I would have, but I didn't know it was today! Somehow I thought it was friday...hmm. I'm pretty sure our whole gay-straight alliance participated...along with some other random folk and people who wanted to get out of participating(grrr). About 2/3 had tape on their mouths and the rest had signs around their necks. This one guy had a girl next to him with her hand on his mouth...random.</p>
<p>we don't have a GSA, and it really hurts when the ppl sitting next to me in class mock my gay friends. we don't tape our mouths or anything, and it's definitely not the cool thing to do, but i've done it the past 3 years b/c i really support its message. if nothing else, it's an internal struggle and (as a straight person) i get forced out of my comfort zone a bit. and as for the speaking out thing, last year some homophobes made t-shirts that said "say it loud, straight and proud." kind of obnoxious; i prefer the silent struggle/non-aggressive way. and then there are those ppl who are like "yay, all the gay ppl finally shut up today." as a talkative person myself, it just makes sense to me to do it, and yes, i got called on in class and answered (you're supposed to).</p>
<p>I think teh Day of Silence is more noticeable in numbers. If most ppl doing it are doing it legitimately, it'll say something when you notice that...nobody is talking. I don't know who did it to get out of talking--I know ppl who had to decline because they had class presentations that day and therefore had to talk for a grade. But the ppl I know who did it are normally loquacious individuals who talk a lot and participate in class very often. I found it very hard not to trip up myself--I'm very gregarious. Our math class is often talkative--and the most talkative ones participated. It was interesing how quiet it was today.</p>
<p>I don't have classes today through the end of the week, so just being silent around my house probably wouldn't prove much to anyone. I did the day of silence in 9th grade--that was the only year until this year that I ever heard anyone mention it (our ASB president that year advocated it). There's no GSA or anything at my school. I have a friend whose (much) older sister is gay, but other than that, LGBT rights/issues/anything don't have any presence on campus.</p>