Posted on 04/08/2002 3:22:27 AM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - School kids across America may have their first encounter with homosexuality this week and there's little parents or teachers can to do stop it from happening.
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a homosexuality advocacy group, is asking students nationwide to take a nine-hour vow of silence on Wednesday, April 10, to recognize and protest the plight of homosexual students.
Instead of speaking up in class, students ranging from sixth grade to college level are expected to distribute information cards, sport stickers and wear t-shirts that promote the pro-homosexuality message from GLSEN.
School faculty and administrators at "participating" schools can expect to receive cards stating:
"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 their 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?"
Currently, GLSEN estimates that students from more than 1,265 middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities "in all 49 states and Puerto Rico" will participate in the Day of Silence.
However, those numbers do not necessarily represent the number of schools that actively endorse the silent protest.
GLSEN permits a child or adult to "register" their local school or college on the Day of Silence registration page, without the endorsement of the school and its administration.
Silence As A Tactic
According to a 40-page Day of Silence Organizing Manual, silence provides homosexual activists and their allies with a tool that can make a "powerful statement of resistance."
Students participating in the Day of Silence are instructed by the manual to resist and protest what GLSEN calls the gender "norms" established by people who feel threatened by girls that act like boys, or boys that act like girls.
The GLSEN manual also states that disagreement with homosexuality has a "broader and deeper" connection to "oppressions," and tries to equate disagreement with homosexuality with racism, and discrimination against women and people with disabilities.
Homosexual Hit List
Day of Silence organizers suggest that children planning to protest April 10 "brainstorm" to create a list of people "who are likely to stand in your way."
Those people should include teachers, counselors and administrators that have "denied you their support in the past, or who've expressed bias against (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) people.
It is also suggested that the list include other children, school board members, people in the community and relatives "who have shown intolerance" of homosexuality.
The organizing manual notes that "people who oppose your issue are known as, you guessed it, your opponents."
A Year of Silence?
At least one conservative organization is in favor of keeping homosexual activists and their allies silent in the classrooms year round.
Robert Knight, director of the Culture and Family Institute, an affiliate of Concerned Women for America, favors extending the period of silence "indefinitely" so school kids can concentrate on their studies "and not be distracted and misled by homosexual propaganda."
Knight said it's wrong for children to be told the traditional values taught by their parents and churches are a form of hatred
"It's hateful in and of itself to suggest such a thing, and it's a way to silence people who disagree with homosexuality," he said.
Kids who favor marriage and family, Knight said, are being called 'bigot,' 'homophobe,' 'right-wing nut' and 'fundamentalist extremist' by homosexual activists.
While the name-calling against people who disagree with homosexual behavior continues, GLSEN complains that homosexual students are being harassed with terms like 'faggot' and 'dyke.'
Knight said he knows of a more productive way to stop the name-calling, and suggested schools place greater emphasis on teaching manners instead of promoting homosexuality.
"You can teach civility in the schools without promoting homosexuality as normal and healthy," he said. "They're saying you must promote homosexuality in order to make the schools safe for confused kids who might be abused by their peers.
"You can tolerate behavior that is wrong, but to accept and promote (homosexuality) goes beyond tolerance," Knight said. He clarified that events such as the Day of Silence are "aiding and abetting," homosexuality by using children "as their front line troops."
Knight asked, "How about leaving the kids alone?"
E-mail a news tip to Mike Betsch.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
yor publik skols at werk
I don't think that any power on earth could do that:-)
Somehow I expect that GLSEN just gave students from more than 1,265 middle schools, high schools... another reason to beat up the poor gay kid.
"All this was inspired by the principle - which is quite true in itself - that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying. These people know only too well how to use falsehood for the basest purposes.
..and do what about it..
Those people should include teachers, counselors and administrators that have "denied you their support in the past, or who've expressed bias against (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) people.
once again..and do what about it..commit a "hate crime" against them?
It is also suggested that the list include other children, school board members, people in the community and relatives "who have shown intolerance" of homosexuality.
RELATIVES???
The organizing manual notes that "people who oppose your issue are known as, you guessed it, your opponents."
I think that is what they hope for. GLSEN is looking for more Mathew Shepard's to wave around as examples.
However, if you are a gay guy and leave a bar with a couple of guys for what is supposed to be a sexual encounter and you get murdered, you are a victim.
It seems that if they really wanted to make a difference, they should be ending the silence about the consequences of leaving bars and having sex with people you don't know.
That's the sad thing. Shepard is their best example of hate-crimes against gays, but those same kind of crimes happen every day to all kinds of people. Being in a bar alone late at night is not the safest place, and leaving with strangers you don't know is really asking for it.
Choice 4 Truth has been organizing a counter-event to GLSEN's "Day of Silence" - click the image or link below to find out more.
TRUTH WITHOUT INTERRUPTION DAY-- APRIL 10 - "A Welcome and Measured Response to the "Day of Silence" Project"
"On April 10, homosexual activists and their supporters will hold "Day of Silence" events on high school and college campuses throughout the country, sponsored by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.(For more details, see www.dayofsilence.org.) It will be a silent vigil and the usual victimhood and "gay" rights claims. Participants will hand out material promoting homosexuality, bisexuality and cross-dressing.
How would you like to hold a counter-event the same day? We are calling it the Truth Without Interruption Day! Finally - a chance to get a word in edgewise!
If you'd like to organize one at your school, see below. You'll find links to: Talking Points (feel free to print this off and hand out); Tips for Organizing a TWID event; and a sample news release.
A list of the high schools that have registered with GLSEN to hold DOS events is at the end. If your school does not appear, it doesn't necessarily mean they aren't having a pro-homosexual Day of Silence event. Conversely, if it is listed, the administration may not have been told about it yet, or may claim no knowledge. The best advice is to check with your school newspaper and ask around - the word on the street is your best informant.
It's pretty simple - you just need people and some motivation! Godspeed to all you truth-tellers!
Talking Points (feel free to print this off and hand out)
Other Information:
Assemblyman MOUNTJOY opposes promotion of homosexuality in public schools
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.