Posted on 04/04/2005 10:35:12 AM PDT by Clint N. Suhks
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The "Day of Silence" — the annual homosexual-themed day involving thousands of public school and college students nationwide — will have a Christian counterpart this year.
The "Day of Truth" will serve as a counterpart to the "Day of Silence," allowing Christian students to take a stand for their beliefs. It will take place April 14, one day after the Day of Silence.
Day of Truth participants will wear a T-shirt reading, "The Truth Cannot Be Silenced," and also will pass out cards to their classmates expressing their beliefs. The inaugural event is being sponsored by the pro-family legal group Alliance Defense Fund and is being promoted by pro-family groups nationwide.
Its counterpart, the Day of Silence, is sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and began in 1996 with students vowing a day of silence as a way to protest what homosexual activists see as discrimination against homosexuals, lesbians and "transsexuals." It has since boomed, and organizers say last year an estimated 100,000 students participated. In some instances, school officials have taken part, creating uncomfortable situations for conservative students.
Joe Infranco, a senior attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, said too many students have heard a "one-sided message" on homosexuality within their schools.
"In one sense [the Day of Truth] is a response to the Day of Silence," Infranco told Baptist Press. "In another sense it's an attempt to break this public school indoctrination in favor of homosexuality."
The Day of Truth is being held the day after the Day of Silence for a reason, Infranco said.
"We wanted to be respectful and permit the other side their day to express their message," he said. "We're not afraid to have the Gospel compete in the marketplace of ideas."
But there also is a legal reason it's being held when it is.
"Any school that permits the Day of Silence will be required to permit the Day of Truth," Infranco said. "For a school to allow the former and not the latter would be viewpoint discrimination, which is impermissible under any circumstances. The courts have unanimously struck down any restrictions based on viewpoint discrimination."
The Alliance Defense Fund has pledged free legal representation to any student who is discriminated against because of their Day of Truth participation, Infranco said.
The Day of Truth was inspired partly by Chase Harper, a Poway high school student in San Diego who opposed students in his school participating in the Day of Silence. Last year he was suspended after wearing a homemade T-shirt that read on the front, "Be Ashamed" and "Our School Embraced What God Has Condemned," and on the back read, "Homosexuality is Shameful" and "Romans 1:27."
ADF filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Harper, claiming that school officials participated in the Day of Silence and that Harper's religious freedoms were violated. The lawsuit is still pending.
"The school that he attends was getting increasingly active with the Day of Silence," Infranco said. "In fact, they were stretching the events out to nearly a week. They were purposefully setting up the school schedule and events to accommodate the Day of Silence. There was tremendous pressure being exerted on the students to be a part of this and to approve of this."
The card that Day of Truth students will pass out reads: "I am speaking the Truth to break the silence. I believe in equal treatment for all, and not special rights for a few. I believe in loving my neighbor, but part of that love means not condoning detrimental personal and social behavior. I believe that by boldly proclaiming the Truth, hurts will be halted, hearts will be healed, and lives will be saved."
On the issue of homosexuality, Infranco said, many people feel they "don't have a voice."
"For many people [the Day of Truth] is a point of entry into the debate," he said, "and it's a way that they can respectfully and in a Christ-like manner say, 'We do not approve of this message. We don't approve of the lifestyle. And we think it's important that there be an alternative voice in society.'"
Day of Truth T-shirts and cards can be ordered online at www.telladf.org/truth. The website also has questions and answers about the event, as well as a radio and television advertisement that includes Chase Harper, the high school student who took a stand last year in opposition to his school participating in the Day of Silence.
If only they would take their own advice!
The "love" that dare not speak its name is now the "love" that can't shut the fell up.
I thank God I live in a town where A Day of Silence would never be permitted. Anyone who even suggested it would be laughed out of town, scorned, scolded, etc....
Good luck Tim Bueler...
"The Truth Cannot Be Silenced,"
AMEN! Good for these peopls.
Has anyone else heard of this particular event being held in schools? I'm going to try to get my daughter (high school senior) to make sure they promote the Day of Truth.
"It has since boomed, and organizers say last year an estimated 100,000 students participated."
Wow, out of the millions of high school students a whole 100,000 participated. Some "boom".
The more insidious part of the entire "Day of silence" nonsense is the active participation of the schools. There wouldn't be a "boom" if not for that, imho.
Cool. Take a stand.
as it should be
Read this and Have her or you call Tim Bueler President of HSCCA.
Having read the card the kids are supposed to hand out, seems like a waste of time. The message on the cards is so generic that almost anyone can agree with the sentiment, including gay rights activists. If people are going to take a stand, they should be as clear in their message as the kid in San Diego was.
I am speaking the Truth to break the silence.
I believe in equal treatment for all, and not
special rights for a few. I believe in loving my
neighbor, but part of that love means not
condoning detrimental personal and social behavior.
I believe that by boldly proclaiming the Truth,
hurts will be halted, hearts will be healed,
and lives will be saved.
I'd like the idea of a "Day of Silence," if only they would shut up for those 24 hours!
Homosexual Agenda Ping.
Good for them. I hope the "Day of Truth" speads like wildfire. And their presentation sounds very loving, very strong, and and just the medicine that is needed to counteract the homosexual indoctrination. Give kids a chance to stand up for the truth, to be able to even hear it!
Let DirtyHarryY2K and me know if you want on/off this pinglist.
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