Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Misleading video latest attempt to undermine GLSEN's 'Day of Silence'

Don't be fooled by the following video. It's not telling the truth:

 

GLSEN's Day of Silence is coming soon (April 19), which means that while this day will cast attention to the problems lgbt students face in America's school, the religious right will yet again try to undermine it.

Religious right groups used to push what they call "A Day of Truth" in which they encouraged students to tell the so-called truth about homosexuality. Then they advised parents to take their children out of school during the "Day of Silence."

Now they are pushing this thing called "Day of Dialogue." Now I really don't understand anything about this new thing. I personally think that they don't either. What exactly is the purpose of the "Day of Dialogue." Focus on the Family says:

The Day of Dialogue gives you, as a student, the opportunity to express the true model presented by Jesus Christ in the Bible—who didn’t back away from speaking truth, but neither held back in pouring out His incredible, compassionate love for hurting and vulnerable people. His example calls us to stand up for those being harmed or bullied while offering the light of what God’s Word says. 

Sounds like to me that the "Day of Dialogue" is the "Day of Truth" presented in a more innocuous manner, which does nothing to combat the problem of bullying, except for attempting to cast those who oppose "Day of Silence" as the victims of bullying.

 In that way, while it doesn't undermine the "Day of Silence," it undermines the problem of bullying. Certainly, no child should be bullied because of anything, whether it be personal beliefs or sexual orientation. But when it comes to lgbt students, we have seen how the problem of bullying can lead to negative outcomes, such as suicide.  "Day of Silence" was created to combat this problem But what problem was "Day of Truth" created to combat?

The idea that GLSEN's "Day of Silence" could help lgbts be more accepted in high schools?


1 comment:

Scott Amundsen said...

"Day of Dialogue" my hairy gay ass. When these people say "dialogue" what they REALLY mean is a monologue during which we as a community will be told that we make Jesus want to throw up and that we are destined to burn in hell for all eternity. And then they wonder why we quite rightly point out that their attitudes incite others to bully LGBT kids.