Thanks Newbie for informing all of us GreekChatters
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At my school, we actually have that, too. It was today also! We each (who participated) held a paper (which we showed to our professors, students, or anyone else who tried to talk to us) which said something about "Please respect our decisions to stay silent today...b/c we support the L,G,and T community...and we're tired of the wrongful oppression that they receive...you hear the silence...what can YOU do about the SILENCE?"
I don't know if those slips were the same nationwide or not, but I'm glad that I participated--b/c the L,G, and T community on our campus was so grateful! It was so WORTH it to see a lot of ppl irritated at me b/c I wouldn't speak! But I mean, gosh, really...it wasn't a sacrifice at all..b/c if we non-L, G, and T's don't start doing something to show a big round of support to them...when will things in America finally change? I know that many ppl think that America is a great country, maybe even the greatest country in the whole world...but if we cannot even respect our own people, how great are we really?
WHEN will L's, G's, and T's FINALLY get equal chance and respect? When will their fellow Americans finally remember the Declaration of Independence, which stated that "all men shall be created equal...that they have certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..."? Or do we sometimes just "forget" the Declaration of Independence? I don't think that day of equality is going to come until non-L's, G's, and T's stand up for that community...so please I urge y'all--do something positive for the L,G, and T Community--b/c each person deserves a fulfilling life--free from oppression of what s/he feels, thinks, says...
We are all people, and we only have one life to live. Why torture somebody when he only has one life to live? We already have our own problems...
so anti-gays, anti-lesbians, anti-trangenders...why don't you focus on YOUR OWN problems instead of oppressing the L, G, and T community, who deserves to have a happy life??!! Please think about that. And to all who have participated in the Day of Silence, or those who have taken the moment to THINK at least, about those that have been hurt by homophobics...
I THANK YOU. You are making the world a better place by doing so.
I'm sorry if I sound a bit emotional; I have friends that are gay, and they have suffered a great deal of hatred...anything from poking fun to death threats. I hate to see them live in fear every day. I urge you all to take action or at least think about how Gays, Transgenders, and Lesbians ought to have equal rights. So start by letting G,L, and T's know that you respect and support them by smiling if you normally do not, by making conversation if you normally just say hi, by acknowledging them if you normally avoid them. If you are brave, maybe you can stand up for them if they are being taunted. It is not hard, and will only take a few minutes each day. But it makes an enormous difference to them--maybe even more than we'll ever know.
[This message has been edited by sammie17 (edited April 05, 2001).]