I am actually having trouble thinking of a case where someone stood up for someone who was being harrassed or bullied. But firstly i would like to mention that i kindly disagree with you Mrs. Gaboury by saying that the day of Silence is deffinately to draw attention to the bullying on GLBT people in particular. IT was not created in general to draw attention to the bullying going on between everyone. After talking to my brother about it and researching it online, i've learned that the whole purpose of creating this day was in dedication of a boy killed because he was gay and to end the bullying of GLBT's. Although thats not to say that the day of silence made to draw attention to the harrassment of GLBT's could be a chance to also draw attention to overall bullying in our world. Honestly I don't think I should even give my opinion on wether it is " ok " to be gay because it is such a tender topic. I am ignorant to how GLBT people feel i am not one so i don't know if they really are attracted to the opposite sex or maybe there just confused, they're growing,hormonal teenagers honestly now. So i guess teenagers should not make that decision so young, but then again i really don't know i meen maybe they can tell for sure that they have zero attraction to the opposite sex at such a young age. Every person who is not GLBT obviously can not fully understand what it is like to be GLBT so we should not judge and form opinions on a topic we are so unfamiliar with. But say someone does know a person who is GLBT ,but really now they don't completely understand what its like and i don't think someone who is not GLDT should ever really be able to form an opinion. So actually i guess i am saying that GLBT people should in no meens have to go through life being harrased,and I will give that to the day of silence. But i will say that if a group every plans to participate in this again through our school they should in their best interests get the point across to the entire school body exactly what the day is meant for. If they had made sure people understood i do not think all of this confusion would have happened.
ok back to my case, well i am think ing of a movie I watched in spanish class. A latino girl and her friends were hanging around an area in america where a lot of illegal immagrants were working. Well some of the main characters friends thought it would be hilarious to yell "police" so that all the poor immagrants would run and flee away thinking they are going to get caught and sent back to mexico. The main character was so upset that they were going to do this since she recently discovered her own wealthy, high career father had never became an emerican citizen. Since she could relate to the other poor illegal immigrants she yelled and screamed at her friends for them to not yell "police". By doing this she was standing up for those less fortunate then her, and i am so trying not to get into the whole illegal immigrant controversy right now but this is the only example i could think of.
good night mrs. gaboury
zZZZZzzzZZZzzzzzZZZZzzzz- melissa
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Good morning Melissa. :-)
I know the Day of Silence was created to bring about the awareness of the silenced victims of violence due to their sexual orientation, but my point if that in high school and in our class, the idea is tolerance for all.
No matter how hard I try, there always seems to be some under currents of prejudice and fear of people who are unlike ourselves, in classes, in schools. Sometimes it is caused by religion, sometimes by political beliefs, sometimes by sexual orientation, sometimes by economic factors, sometimes by who-knows-what!
My idea was to show it on a much grander scale (not just the sexual orientation) so everyone could understand how painful it is to be separated off because of someone else's idea of what is natural and right.
Meaning: Some people feel religions are man-made and not natural. Some people feel one chooses one's sexual orientation and it is not natural. Some people feel mixing races is wrong. Etc.
My point is also to say let's look at this issue through the lens of something everyone can understand--being called names and being picked on. For the most part, everyone has had this happen to them, however, for the most part, most of us had not had to fear for our safety because of our sexual orientation or skin color or religion or anything. However, in parts of the world--this is real. Every day. People have to worry about their safety going to the mall. Going to a show. Going to church. Going to high school.
To me, that is unfair and unjust.
Just as you have a right to believe such and such about gays, gays have a right to believe such and such about you. And so on. Just as we have Meet You and the Flag Pole (not sure how active that is this year)and a room set aside for people to pray for their religion during the day, other groups have a right to do 'their thing.' As long as it doesn't interfere with instruction and other people's rights, that is. That's when harassing, name-calling and violence step over the line.
It is a tough topic. It makes people feel uncomfortable and unsure. That's okay with me. What I mean is, I understand how unsettling a topic can be when trying to balance society, culture, religious beliefs and then actual breathing people. So we all have to work it out and rework it and do whatever we do. That's okay. That's human.
I am glad that people are thinking about it. Even if most people seemed to be missing MY point. :-) Ah, the life of an English teacher!
I encourage all to look at the actual assignment, though. Since many people are saying that they are against this day because of their religion, let me tell you one person who stands out in my head as a proponent of the silenced. That is the story of Jesus. He stood beside the lepers and prostitutes and other silenced members of the society. He did not say they had no voice in life, he gave them voice. He listened to them. He did not tell them they were unnatural or wrong. He accepted or tolerated them. He may not have agreed with their ways but they were welcomed at his table. (He did not walk out of school to say they were 'disgusting' or pick on a kid and call him gay and fag.)
In literature I think of Atticus from TKAM. He stood up for Tom Robinson during a time that blacks were not given equal rights. He did the right thing regardless of how he was perceived by the society he lived in.
I think about many students who see someone getting picked on in the halls and they step in. My oldest son stepped in to a fight because one kid was being beat on the head with a pay phone handle! By a football player (my son was a skinny track kid)! He did it because of the injustice of it. He was also called many harsh names during his time in high school-now he wants to be teacher or a diplomat-and he speaks for the silenced. My other son did the same thing--though no phone was involved.
They are my heroes.
I am sure that you have done it and that the people you hang out with or in this class have done some amazing things-in the name of justice.
Obviously this in not just to you Melissa. :-)
Let me say one more thing-and this is not meant towards you Melissa. But it does bother me when people say they are religious and certain things are against their religion--yet they have no problem with cornering a kid or sneakily harassing a kid and calling him what is meant to be hurtful and derogatory names behind a teacher's back or anywhere else. That does not seem to be very religious of me. That seems very hypocritical and cruel. Not at all like the religion they proclaim to be part of. It bothers me equally when people are in a group that suggests acceptance and tolerance and they show neither.
My idea is tolerance. My plea is tolerance. Just as some wish to be tolerated for their religion, they must reach out their hand and tolerate people of other beliefs. Just as some people want tolerance for sexual orientation, they must reach out their hand and understand other's ideas. Just as some wish to show understanding of rights, they must reach out their hand to understand other's ideas.
I am not asking anyone to invite someone over for the holidays and sing songs, I am asking for a classroom and school environment and then a world environment where people are tolerated, if not completely understood and accepted.
Ah, world peace.
Well, have to get ready for Alex's b-day party. I hope this makes sense. And your thoughts and opinions are always valued Melissa. And everyone else's too.
Enjoy the weekend! See you Tuesday!
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