Today is the Day of Silence

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   dingdondingdonposted 12 years ago

   For those who don't know, the Day of Silence is about taking a vow of silence to raise awareness about the bullying LGBT students face. There's more info here: http://dayofsilence.com/

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      cindi hposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes!  My daughter is a junior in high school and she told me about this yesterday. She was excited to participate today as she has many friends who are gay. It is really funny because she will carry a card around with her all day stating that she is participating in the day of silence so if she is asked a question by any of her teachers, she can just flash the card!!

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         dingdondingdonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Your daughter sounds like a fine young woman. It's very heartening to see the amount of young people taking part.

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   BillyDRitchieposted 12 years ago

   Oh dear Lord in heaven.  Somebody had better stop before I find myself standing here up to my ankles in a puddle full of tears.
   
   Most of us went through bullying at some form or another growing up, and for various reasons.  Bullying is a terrible part of childhood to be sure, but gay and lesbian kids don't have the victim market cornered.
   
   Sorry, no sympathy here.

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      dingdondingdonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      There's a B and a T in LGBT, so stop saying "gay and lesbian".
      
      Nobody is saying they have the victim market cornered. They are saying LGBT students are killed and kill themselves at higher rates than hetero students thanks to bullying, which statistics prove. So.

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         BillyDRitchieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Perhaps they could try standing up to bullying, which is what I'm sure most people will testify worked for them.
         
         Or is it just easier to portray themselves as a victim?

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            dingdondingdonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            So it's their fault? I'm sure Nick Keto, who was just 13 when he shot himself because he couldn't stand the bullying anymore, didn't weigh up the odds and decide death was "just easier" than "standing up to it". Sadly sometimes standing up to your bullies doesn't work.
            
            Not to mention many ARE standing up to it. That's what the Day of Silence is about - standing up to bullies.

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               BillyDRitchieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               No, it isn't their fault.  Bullying is a terrible thing.  But it is also something most of us have had to deal with, and claiming that your brand of suffering is somehow worse for whatever silly reason is another example of how we have devolved into a nation of candy asses.....

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                  dingdondingdonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Nobody is claiming it is worse. I don't know where you are getting that from. They are claiming that it happens, which it does, and that it should not happen, which it should not. If you would like to see a day of silence for people who are bullied because they are poor or because they are bad at a subject or for any other reason you are quite free to create your own day, and I'm sure many people would be happy to mark it with you.

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                     BillyDRitchieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     Well, seeing as how a day of silence does, let's see, NOTHING to solve the problem of bullying, I think I'll stick with advising my son to walk away from such situations when he can and defending himself as he needs to if he finds himself in a bullying situation.
                     
                     Or does that make too much sense?

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                        dingdondingdonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        You don't have to do one or the other. That's a strawman argument.
                        
                        The Day of Silence is meant to raise awareness. If nobody knows about a problem how are they meant to tackle it? It's also meant to show solidarity, so people who have gone through this bullying can see that they are not alone, and plenty of people support them.

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                        Daniel Carterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        There are just a lot of red flags here.
                        
                        You are either a part of the problem or a part of the solution. What you've written is pretty clear.

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                           BillyDRitchieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                           I don;t bully gays and lesbians or transgenders or Buddhists or flutists or nudists or whatever, so I'm not a part of the problem.
                           
                           I also refuse to take part in ridiculous "days of silence" that do nothing to solve the problem.
                           
                           I'm trying really hard to get worked up over this, and dang it, I'm failing......Sorry about that.

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                              Daniel Carterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                              Shhhhhh....
                              I'm trying to observe by being silent now.

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      Mark Knowlesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Let me guess. Conservative Christian?

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         BillyDRitchieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Let me guess, bleeding heart liberal?

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      cindi hposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      oh Billy Billy  And you were bullied or the bully?  No sympathy? Really? None for the crass, intolerable world we are all a part of?  This was to be a beautiful thread and you've soiled it with your 'hatred'.

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         cindi hposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Better to be in a puddle of tears than  BLOOD

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         BillyDRitchieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Everybody has experience with bullying.  Its part of growing up.  Most of us learn to deal with it.  The fact that a certain group of candy asses cannot bring themselves to do so should cut no ice with anybody who actually survived childhood.....

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            Mighty Momposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Bullying was not nearly as widespread when I (and I assume you, Billy) were growing up. It is much more common now and with the Internet and cell phones, it's a lot easier to do and a lot more public when it happens.
            There are kids being taunted to the point of suicide.
            We're not talking one tough guy saying, "Hey punk meet me after school and I'll teach you a lesson."
            We're talking about groups of kids (girls, often) spreading vicious lies about other kids over the Internet.
            Whole nuther level of viciousness.
            
            We did not have anti-bullying progams when we were in school either. Because we did not go to school in today's environment.
            
            The hatred leveled against GLBTs (tweens, teens and adults) is REAL. It is brutal. It is lethal.
            Bravo to those participating to raise awareness and SENSITIVITY on this issue!

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               DTR0005posted 12 years agoin reply to this

               And thus one of the many fundamental differences in conservative and liberal thinking. Nice response from Billy - lolllllll

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               John Holdenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               And nothing like as vicious either.
               
               To compare fists, chinese burns, knuckling and the like to stabbing, shooting or even just a good old kicking is incredibly naive.

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            cindi hposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            The fact that everyone has had some experience with bullying may be correct, but that is is part of life is WRONG! It should not be ignored or accepted and that is what the day of silence is meant to do. Let the bullies of the world know that it will not be ignored or accepted anymore. Bullying of any kind, not just against gays and lesbians.

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   Daniel Carterposted 12 years ago

   If you have a friend or family member who is LGBT, if you've listened to their self hate, and then the hate heaped upon them in addition to their own, then you wish you could remove all that crap for them. If you don't have a friend or family member who is LGBT, then it's incredibly easy to assume a lot of things that aren't accurate.
   
   Yes, bullying happens to everyone. That point is clear. But the incidences to bullying, death and suicide are higher among LGBT people for very obvious reasons due to bigotry, religious abuse and more.
   
   Honoring with a bit of silence is about being human. If you're human, there is no harm in you recognizing any part of this. If you choose not to, fine. But please don't belittle and mock those who do.

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      dingdondingdonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Exactly.
      
      I remember reading a study that revealed suicide attempts are extremely high amongst bisexual and lesbian women, far higher than those amongst heterosexual women. This is not a coincidence.

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         Daniel Carterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         And, transgendered are the highest category of premature deaths, whether suicide, substance abuse, murder, and more. Unless you've ever met and befriended a transgendered person, you have absolutely no concept of what it is, other than "weird."
         
         Just imagine yourself trapped in a body when you know you are the opposite gender. And yet people continue to mock and point about it.

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            BillyDRitchieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Um, it's very simple, if you have a penis, you're a guy.  If you have a vagina, you're a woman.
            
            Gender is a hard thing to "argue".  Sorry about that.
            
            And remind me again how a day of silence is "part of the solution"?

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               Daniel Carterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I rest my case.
               
               The only cure for ignorance is a desire for knowledge. When desire is not there, ignorance persists, along with all the associated ills of society.
               
               My work here is done.

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                  BillyDRitchieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  If you are talking about promoting a do nothing "solution", then yeah, I'd say your work is done.....

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   habeeposted 12 years ago

   Mark and Billy, one doesn't have to be a Christian or a "bleeding heart liberal" to have compassion and empathy for others. I support the Day of Silence, and I'm a Christian and definitely not a bleeding heart liberal.
   
   Yes, Billy, many groups and individuals are targets of bullies. Does that mean it should just be ignored? I think this strategy sends a message to the LGBT haters in schools.

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   DannyMaioposted 12 years ago

   If people want to have a day for something let them! Personally I feel if parents actually teach their kids right from wrong then there will be less bullying. also anyone who killed themselves for bullying had to have other issues, that may have added to it but I doubt highly they killed themselves because of that and If they were able to talk to their parents they could have eliminated most problems. As far as the Gay issue I personally do not care what anyone wants to do as long as they don't flaunt it. obviously it is a genetic mishap because if everyone was born like that we would not exist. two men or two women can not reproduce. No one should bully, torture, beat or abuse anyone! Just treat everyone with respect.

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      Daniel Carterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Just a little obvious point here.
      There is no lack of children who are born unintentionally, so the idea that the gay or lesbian population taking over the world, and thus against nature for reasons of procreation just doesn't add up. It's a nonsense.
      
      Bullying does cause suicides, whether a person is straight or otherwise. So the other issues in addition to bullying that cause suicide are not related to gender issues at all. It's a transparent, universal problem. Most LGBT kids don't have the luxury of talking to their parents openly about it. And for that matter, what teens do you know are willing to talk to their parents because they have such a great relationship?
      
      But I get that you are respectful of others, and that is a wonderful thing.

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         DannyMaioposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I never meant to come accross as the gay population taking over? First that can never happen as I stated they can not reproduce. I'm not against anyone. I love everyone, also I believe every father some where down the line has a gay or lesbian cousin, uncle, aunt or whatever.
         
         Again if parents actually took some time and talked to their kids the kids would be able to speak to the parents. If a child doesn't feel comfortable then personally I do not think they really did a good job. I have four kids and everyone knew they can talk to me anytime. I told them nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes but if you use your head most times you can avoid problems. I told them if you drink, I do not care what time it is you call me before getting in a car with someone or you are driving and I will come and pick up up! had the sex talks at age 12 etc... they talk to me about everything and I have received phone calls to come and pick them up when one was 19. so it does work. My mother did the same to me. I just think if everyone taught at an early age things would be different. just my opinion.

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            Daniel Carterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            If I came off defensive, it's because I've taken a lot of crap in defending loved ones in this category. So, thanks for understanding.
            
            

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               DannyMaioposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I can Imagine! a lot of people are cruel today. I see it quite often. gay, fat, race etc... it is horrible but like I said I think if People want to have children they should take care of them, show them love and teach them right from wrong. If that was done we would not be seeing all this nonsense. You can have a day for anything but you if do not get to the root of the problem it will not get fixed! what happens a week or a month from now and everyone forgets this day? back to square one.

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