The above is what is printed on the cards handed out by students participating in the National Day of Silence, a movement that started in 1996 at the University of Virginia. Students refuse to speak to peers and, permissibly, teachers for a certain period of time on the assigned day (the length varies depending on individual school groups). They find other ways to communicate, using hand gestures, facial expressions and writing messages in legal pads that they carry around with them. The idea is that, because lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual students are pressured into silence by their evil intolerant peers, the silence of the participants reflects that silence and brings attention to the LGBT cause.
Which, ironically, is perfectly fine for an anti-gay rights person.
Think about it: If you’re in an argument with a particularly vocal opponent, there is nothing you want more than to have that opponent just shut up, no matter how long. In fact, I’m convinced the idea originally came from an anti-gay rights person. This is how the conversation might have gone:
LGBT-supporter: Furthermore, we will not tolerate your intolerance of…
LGBT-opponent: Will you just be quiet for one day?!
LGBT-supporter (after thinking): …That’s a great idea!
LGBT-opponent: All right!
Of course, that might not be entirely accurate.
Interesting counter-reading of the strategy. Are you suggesting there should be a day of LGBT noise, then?
ReplyDeleteActually, I'm one of the people enjoying the silence.
ReplyDelete