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Day Of Silence

Written by Henry Bentley

Saturday, 26 April 2008

Here is a letter I wrote to hopefully make people aware of what is going on in the public school system. I called the superintendent of schools office, the school and school board. As of yet no one has called me back as is the case whenever I have a concern.

Dear Broadcaster:

I would like to see a report of why some of our public schools (Wekiva High in Orange County, Florida) are announcing and encouraging the participation in National Day Of Silence (Friday April 25th)(a day of protest the gay community put together to bring awareness to discrimination of gays and lesbians by putting tape over there mouths and or do not speak ). And why in a history class of Ms. Carswell was 20 minute devoted to the cause and students were encourage to participate. I also wonder what would be Wekiva’s response if the Fellowship of Christian Athlete were to announce “in protest of not having Good Friday off (the highest holy day of the Christian faith) we encourage everyone to skip school.” would they allow the use of the morning announcement for this purpose as they have for the National Day of Silence? I think not. Then what about the teachers who are trying to run a class with students having tape on their mouth?

So now we have a school encouraging the students to put tape on there mouths and the teachers can not have oral reports or quizzes that day nor could the student verbally participate. As a teacher I would find this very disruptive and unproductive. After all are not the students there to learn? Then there’s the numbers: about 78% of our population claim to be Christians and 1% claim to be gay. How are the gay’s being discriminated against? If they are, they might consider the “ Don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy. So I ask you. Is this why we send our children to schools.

The day after: The gay and lesbian alliance was proud to announce the had 400 students sign up for this demonstration. The participating students were given some cards (one for each class to hand to the teachers) and a bracelet so the teachers would know not to ask them any question. Some teachers choose to change there presentation in order to accommodate the movement.

I would be interested in your comments.

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Quick Response
written by Robert Gold, April 30, 2008

Henry, I would like to respond if I may but I have a question first. Are you opposed to the Day of Silence or are you opposed to the school encouraging it? The way you answer that question will speak volumes as to the validity of your argument.

If you are in fact opposed to the Day of Silence itself, then I don't feel as if you really have an argument at all. The quick and simple answer to your question is that, a group of students had the initiative to organize this event, plain and simple. If this is something that you are opposed to or do not believe in then I suggest that you also take the intiative and promote something that you DO belive in.

Your whole argument about 78% being Christians and only 1% being admitedly gay is completely backwards. It are always the groups that are in the minority that are discriminated against, so being only 1% of the population puts openly gay people at big disadvantage and opens them up to abject discrimination, and even violence.

Demonstrations like the Day of Silence seek to bring attention to EVERY type of discrimination and hopefully create a higher understanding and awareness of it.

Now, if you are opposed to the school promoting the Day of Silence and you ask how "we" would feel if there were a protest to have Good Friday off of school then I suggest you look up "seperation of church and state". It's in a little documment called the Constitution. I'm pretty sure that gay and l*****n does not fall under this definition.

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Erroneous comments
written by Darrin Roush, May 02, 2008

Dear Robert Gold,

Your comments to Henry Bently are way off base on at least two counts:

1. Henry's main point seems to be that public schools are primarily places of learning essential skills and not places for political activism. Besites political activism (like all activism) is based on a *subjective* set of values, beliefs, etc. How is that different than religion?

2. You say: "...I suggest you look up "separation of church and state". It's in a little document called the Constitution." Have you actually read the Constitution? No where in there, either explicitly *implied* is ANYTHING about the separation of church and state. I challenge you to send me a copy of the Constitution and show me where it says that. The first time that phrase was even used in U.S. history was in a letter between Thomas Jefferson and a Baptist minister, BUT not in the Constitution. If you're willing to admit a letter serve as authoritative commentary of the US Constitution, then you should be prepared to examine the preponderance of evidence found in many sources of commentary throughout our history. If you do, you will find that your (and the presently popular) belief that the State and Religion must be separate in all aspects is totally erroneous. Our society is everywhere permeated by our Judeo-Christian beliefs. Just because you don't like it doesn't give you the right to be a revisionist. Only the gullible and historically ignorant will succumb to your false ideas.

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Erroneous comments
written by Darrin Roush, May 02, 2008

Dear Robert Gold,

Your comments to Henry Bently are way off base on at least two counts:

1. Henry's main point seems to be that public schools are primarily places of learning essential skills and not places for political activism. Besides, political activism (like all activism) is based on a *subjective* set of values, beliefs, etc. How is that different than religion?

2. You say: "...I suggest you look up "separation of church and state". It's in a little document called the Constitution." Have you actually read the Constitution? No where in there, either explicitly or *implied* is ANYTHING about the separation of church and state. I challenge you to send me a copy of the Constitution and show me where it says that. The first time that phrase was even used in U.S. history was in a letter between Thomas Jefferson and a Baptist minister, BUT not in the Constitution. If you're willing to admit that a letter serves as authoritative commentary of the US Constitution, then you should be prepared to examine the preponderance of evidence found in many sources of commentary throughout our history. If you do, you will find that your (and the presently popular) belief that the State and Religion must be separate in all aspects is totally erroneous. Our society is everywhere permeated by our Judeo-Christian beliefs. Just because you don't like it doesn't give you the right to be a revisionist. Only the gullible and historically ignorant will succumb to your false ideas.

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Wasted Words.
written by Ricky Moore, May 16, 2008

First: to Robert. i agree.

Second: to Darrin, and Harry.

Re point 1:
The only valid conclusion Harry offered was that the observation of a National Day of Silence by schools would be disruptive and unproductive. That is all. There are no other premises in his statement, only questions and subtle opinions. If the students' mouths are covered, how much of a disturbance could they be? As far as "unproductive"; none of these students ears were covered, or that was not indicated within his diatribe. And so the observance of this Day would not be unproductive if the teachers simply taught. As far as having Good Friday off. Write a petition, Harry. Obviously it accomplishes more than online Kvetching. Most schools are apparently more than willing to allow the observance of religious holidays, as well as National 'holidays', by giving everyone, including non-believers, the day/s off. (Should the kids be made to go to class on Memorial day, Christmas?) No one was said to have skipped school to observe this Day. And most 'grown ups' believe in closing the mouth more often to allow the eyes and ears to take in more information. If anything, i think these students with their closed mouths rendered themselves, in doing so, more capable of paying attention. Which would make the observance of this Day a rather productive affair.

Re point 2:
"The U.S. Constitution is the work of several men, directly and indirectly. The three most notable persons whose work influenced the Constitution but who were not involved in its writing are Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Thomas Paine." What is an Amendment to the Constitution if not a single letter admitted to "serve as authoritative commentary of the US Constitution".

"Baptists played a critical role in the early development of the separation of church and state in America. After Thomas Jefferson was elected president, the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut wrote him a letter protesting the fact that in their state “religion is considered as the first object of legislation.” Jefferson replied in 1802 that the First Amendment prohibited the U.S. Congress from taking such action, “thus building a wall of separation between church and state.”" As president of the United States of America, Thomas Jefferson, defined the First Amendment as "building a wall of separation between church and state." Although these exact words are not in the Constitution, in this exact order, Jefferson clarified, for everyone concerned, what the First Amendment was meant to do, and did so in very clear English.

Third: to Harry.
You lead me to believe that You are a religious man. Well, Jesus said what we do to the least among us, we do to Him. If being a member of a group which makes up just 1% of the population does not qualify one as being the least among us, then what does? If indeed just one percent of the population is homosexual, i suggest You revise Your approach to this issue.

As for a Day of Silence: God said be still and know that i am God. If that didn't mean be silent, what did it mean? Silence is golden. i don't recall who said that off the top of my head, but i like it, and i think most people agree with the statement. It is never disruptive or unproductive, neither is it a bad idea, to be silent and think about You thoughts and beliefs, to be still.

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Response to Robert
written by henry, June 14, 2008

Robert, Thank you for your feedback. I am not opposed to the “Day of Silence.” I feel everyone has the freedom of speech or silence as maybe the case as stated in Amendment I of the constitution.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
I am opposed to the school administration playing video clip during the morning announcements, then teachers in history or math classes trying to get the popular kids to help promote the event. My daughter (who is in the top 15% of her class and very active in the school) had pressure put on her (by administrators) to help create a second video (produced by the school during school time with school equipment). I feel that I am not sending my child to school to be pressured in supporting something that is against her convictions by people in authority over her.
I have no problem with student initiating and organizing events, in fact I would encourage such activities, as they did two weeks later in protest of a time change of the start of school for the next year. This event did not make the morning announcements nor were the kids encouraged to participate by the school staff even though the teachers are opposed to the time change. As a added note, the students who participated in this protest were disciplined for it.
Please enlighten me as to how the gay community is discriminated against .
The purpose of the protest of stated by the Gay, l*****n and Straight Education Network is to “brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. This year’s event was held in memory of Lawrence King, a California 8th-grader who was shot and killed Feb. 12 by a classmate because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. Hundreds of thousands of students came together on April 25 to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior.” The truth of the matter is there are bullies and kids harass each other. I feel that if you have gay tendency’s that it might be a good idea not to run around and tell the world that “ I am gay” as if it is a badge of honor as one of my daughters friend tends to do. Here’s a news flash Some people find this type action offensive. By the way. I don’t see straight folk running around announcing “I’m Straight” And anther point my wife has had to work some gay functions. Why does the gay community feel that that they have to be sucking face and groping each other in public. I personally find this offensive.
As for the “separation of church and state” in the “little document called the Constitution” IT AIN”T THERE. Let me educate you for a moment as to where that statement came from. Separation of church and state in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The separation of church and state is a legal and political principle derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ." The phrase "separation of church and state", which does not appear in the Constitution itself, is generally traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists, where Jefferson spoke of the combined effect of the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. It has since been quoted in several opinions handed down by the United States Supreme Court

Again my beef is, I feel the “Day of Silence” Should note be a school encouraged event and has no place in math or history classes. Thanks again for your input.

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Response to Ricky
written by henry, June 22, 2008

Reply to Ricky Moore,
Thank so much for your response
As to “point one.” If you were a teacher would you not find it a disruption if you had planned for an oral report or quiz on the Day of Silence? Do you change your lesson plan for the day or do you give the students who refuse to speak a 0 for the day? I see this as a disruption from the class plan for the day. I do like your point “If they don”t talk they would have to listen.” very good.

As to your third point.
If you are referring to Matthew 25

The Sheep and the Goats
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Leviticus 20:13
13 " 'If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

I will let the Bible speak for itself.

I never said there is anything wrong with being silent. My point is there is a place and time. During a class is a good place to practice this, unless you a asked a question and are expected to participate in class as an oral report or quiz or if the teacher is asking a question directed to you.

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