So the 13th was Day Of Silence. Participating in college was a bit of a different experience. No school board officials to combat. No "faggot" or "homo"'s being verbally pelted my way, not that it was ever a serious problem but in high school there were people to educate. Here the student population is pretty open and tolerant, it was preaching to the wrong choir. And since this was a wednesday, I didn't have any classes, which was unfortunate. It hindered my ability to spread awareness. Instead I spent the whole day with my friends who were either participating themselves or were very supportive. Of course I participated in charades and used a notebook from time-to-time for communication, which I felt badly about, but again, my friends were not the target audience.
I read yesterday about the right wing christian response to Day of Silence: Day of truth, where apparently kids who disagree with the movement are invited to disperse pamphlets and spread the word on why homosextuality is such a grave sin.
I almost puked, but they are entitled to free speech. I just wish they didn't feel the need to get defensive. Day of silence is, well, silent non violent protest, its whole purpose is to premote tolerance and to put an end to persecution. Isn't that what Jesus himself was trying to premote? It seems to me that many of his messages have been contorted to appease growing sentiment. Like the crusades, for example. Thou shalt not kill became its ok to kill as long as its not other christians. What does organized religion have to say for itself when it looks back on historical injustices like the 30 years war, the inquisition, and the holocaust? Not that in all of those instances the catholic church was behind them, but my point is that the prejudices held by organized religions in general set the stage for these sort of large scale atrocities, and, hello, go against the fundamental principles of the christian faith. Or is it that those principles only apply where other christians are concerned?
Adn those sort of horrible things arn't just in our past. Look at the situations in northern Ireland, Isreal and Palestine, the rwandan genocide? Its still happening! Why are we always trying to separate ourselves from one another? why is everyone so god damn elitist, huh? why do we need to separate the heterosextual from the homosextual, why do we have to say who can be married and who can't? Its like the 50's and 60's when we said who could use which bathroom or water fountain or attend which school?
Its enough. Its enough.
Can't we live in peace already? Can't we at least ACCept that there are different kinds of people in this world and different opinions to go along with them? Accept them and move on man. There is no need to shun them or persecute them.
Day of silence is just a bunch of people quietly exercising their hope for freedom from persecution, from being silenced. Why is that so threatening?
In conclusion, I'm saddened by this new "day of truth", but I guess in the end, I shouldn't be. Everyone has the right to stand up for what they believe in, thats the beauty of the first amendment of our great constitution which i love so much. But I can't help but look back at where humanity has been, and where we still are, and not see that further seperation and prejudice will keep us there.
Let me know what you guys think.
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