Silenced on the Day of Silence

[NewGuy]

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38160

BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA – Mark Austin is a 17-year-old junior at Watauga High School, active in his community, and working to get his Eagle Scout award from a local Scout troop where he has served as troop chaplain and senior patrol leader. Now Mark is suspended for standing up for his Christian faith.

When Mark heard that the homosexual Day of Silence was coming to Watauga High School on Wednesday, April 21, he decided to counter the propaganda of the homosexual agenda with the truth of God's Word.

Mark designed a T-shirt with the words, "Homosexuality is sin (Leviticus 18:22)," "Hell is REAL (Revelation 21:8)," and "Jesus is the Answer! (Romans 10:9-10)" on the front. The back read, "Shout for Joy!" (Psalm 132:9). He wore the shirt to school Wednesday as a protest of the Homosexual Day of Silence in which homosexual and pro-homosexual students were allowed by the Watauga administration to take a vow of silence in recognition of the "silence" imposed on sexual minorities.

Mark estimates that about 30 Watauga students participated in the Day of Silence, and Watauga High School is listed on the Day of Silence website as an official participant. The Watauga High School administration allowed students to participate in the Day of Silence and to essentially interrupt the school day by their refusal to participate vocally or interact in class activities.

Unlike Day of Silence participants, Mark wore a T-shirt containing a simple visual message based on his beliefs. It was not an interruption of the school day like the Day of Silence was.

But upon spotting Mark's T-shirt while strolling through the hall between classes, Assistant Principal Rebecca Ireland flagged Mark and directed an administrator to escort Mark to the principal's office.

Watauga High School's clothing policy states that, "Clothing or emblems which are offensive to any race, gender or religion shall not be worn." Mark's T-shirt was not directed toward a race, a gender, or a religion. It was a response to the school's Day of Silence celebration that had to do with moral choices. Nevertheless, Principal Gary Childers told Mark that his T-shirt was offensive on the point of gender. Childers gave Mark the option of removing his shirt or facing suspension.

Needless to say, he was suspended. There is more, of course, but I like it when people say there is no agenda in schools.

It shows they have one of their own: discrimination.

 

[winston churchi]

Whats a homosexuality day of silence???


What doesn't make sense is that, if you are gay and you just want to live your life and do your thing than fine so why add such nonsense as days of silence? This makes no sense...live your life the way you wish but why should there be a day of silence for it? A day of silence for those who died in Iraq / Afganastan yes....A day of silence for our great military - yes.
A day of silence because someone is gay??????

Hallmark will have a field day with this....one more reason to make more cards...April 22nd, Homosexual day of silence day card.

 

[Avatar4321]

its an offense to gender how exactly?

 

[Moi]

More tax dollars down the drain on both counts. The stupidity of Day of Silence and the stupidity of suspending a child for wearing a shirt.

 

[Avatar4321]

Originally posted by Moi
More tax dollars down the drain on both counts. The stupidity of Day of Silence and the stupidity of suspending a child for wearing a shirt.

What i dont get it, why suspend him? If they think he is making a mistake and really care about the student, why not find a way to teach him whats wrong with it. Why deny him education for what he believes is right? What does that teach him?

 

[nycflasher]

Suspension is a punishment.
Like a detention.
Same thing would happen if a could wore a shirt to school that said "Hitler was right!"

Academia frowns upon this sort of sentiment in the academic setting.

But yeah, teaching him why it's wrong would make sense.

 

[insein]

Most kids dont like the process of getting up early and going to school. Ive said this forever. what is the deterrent other than to not be hassled by their parents to getting a suspension? Its a few days to sit at home, sleep in and just basically chill while their friends have to get up and goto school. They'll make up the work. ITs not that big a deal in HS. So basically they give the kid a reward.

 

[Reilly]

I don't think he should have been suspended because I don't think such a t-shirt is really likely to cause much of a disruption over the course of the school day.

But one question about the article...
"The Watauga High School administration allowed students to participate in the Day of Silence and to essentially interrupt the school day by their refusal to participate vocally or interact in class activities."

Interrupt the school day by not participating? That isn't all that much of an interruption.

 

[nycflasher]

Originally posted by insein
Most kids dont like the process of getting up early and going to school. Ive said this forever. what is the deterrent other than to not be hassled by their parents to getting a suspension? Its a few days to sit at home, sleep in and just basically chill while their friends have to get up and goto school. They'll make up the work. ITs not that big a deal in HS. So basically they give the kid a reward.

Couldn't agree more. With the exception of how pissed your parents might be, a suspension when the weather ias as nice out as it was here today is sweet! Way to send the wrong message!

Except in the case of violence at school, then the school would be sending a message that you can't be around other students.

And actually, suspension is usually the last step before expulsion, so it's basicly like: "Have a day off. Fuck up again, have the rest of the year off."

 

[nycflasher]

Originally posted by Reilly


Interrupt the school day by not participating? That isn't all that much of an interruption.

Right you are

 

[NewGuy]

I think what is being missed here is the fact that homosexual rights and the NEA are both on the same side of the political spectrum. Who do you think makes the cirriculum and rules? -It isn't the conservatives.

This is your public school system ousting the opposing viewpoint. -Pure and simple.

 

[acludem]

I just visited http://www.dayofsilence.org which explains what this day is about. I don't believe this kid should've been suspended over this shirt. It is sad that he's been raised to be an anti-gay bigot, but he has the right to express his view. However, I do think he probably could've chosen better words to express this view than essentially saying that gay people are going to hell which is what the shirt said.

If only 30 students participated in the Day of Silence at this school evidently students were not being forced to participate. I think the Day of Silence is an excellent idea and had I known about it, I would've participated myself.

acludem

 

[NewGuy]

Originally posted by acludem
It is sad that he's been raised to be an anti-gay bigot, but he has the right to express his view. However, I do think he probably could've chosen better words to express this view than essentially saying that gay people are going to hell which is what the shirt said.
acludem

Since you just insulted my faith and tried to discredit the article with falsehoods, it deserves a reply.

1. Anti-gay biggot?

First, anti-gay is like anti-chocolate ice cream. It is a choice. You just slandered him. I think it is clear who is the biggot.

2. He essentially said that gay people are going to hell?

NO. He quoted BIBLE VERSES.

Since you have no understanding of them, it figures you would mess this up.
Also, it is his SHIRT that made the point. Which point? -Pointing out his FAITH which disagreed with the Ice cream flavor. Not only that, it said those who eat that flavor will die in the end because they are eating poison. They are told they can heal themselves by rejecting the ice cream and going to the doctor.

So what you ought to do is quit distorting truth and slandering my faith, Christians, and the kid and learn something other than the homosexual SIN agenda you promote.

 

[acludem]

I didn't slander your faith. I know many Christians who are not anti-gay, and don't tell me being supportive of gay rights means they are not real Christians. Some of my gay friends are deeply religious Christians themselves. Clearly this kid was raised to be homophobic and that is sad. Of course he's in the Boy Scouts which is a virulently homophobic organization, so I don't know why I'm surprised this kid would believe this. Slander would imply that I said something that wasn't true. What I said, based on what is presented in this article, is true.

Regardless of whether you or he believe gay people are going to hell, it was not appropriate for him to wear a shirt to school saying this. He couldn't have quoted some other Bible passage? I do not believe he should've been suspended. As I said before, I simply think he could've made better choices as to what passages to use to express his opinion. What is the great harm in that?

acludem

 

[NewGuy]

Originally posted by acludem
I didn't slander your faith. I know many Christians who are not anti-gay, and don't tell me being supportive of gay rights means they are not real Christians.

Leviticus 18:22, 20:33
Deuteronomy 20:17
Romans 1:26-32
1Timothy 1:9-10
Jude 7

You just slandered my faith, myself and Christ once again. These verses are completely indisputable and say very clearly that homosexuality is wrong. There is no other way to interpret their meaning in context OR OUT.

ANY "Christian" promoting this behavior simply is not following a relationship with Christ. -Simple as that. If they live in defiance as this shows, then they do not follow the will of God and actually promote the opposite of His word.

Some of my gay friends are deeply religious Christians themselves.

Going to a job every day makes you religious with your job, it doesn't make you a business owner. A relationship with Christ and following Him is what makes a Christian.

Clearly this kid was raised to be homophobic and that is sad. Of course he's in the Boy Scouts which is a virulently homophobic organization, so I don't know why I'm surprised this kid would believe this.

1. He is not homophobic. School SHOULD have taught you that means "fear of homosexuals". He is following his faith and defying the practice or the promotion of it.

2. The Boy Scouts are a CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. -But you don't know anything about THEM either. You really ought to learn something before you accuse people of falsehoods.

Slander would imply that I said something that wasn't true. What I said, based on what is presented in this article, is true.

-And another slandering remark.

Regardless of whether you or he believe gay people are going to hell, it was not appropriate for him to wear a shirt to school saying this. He couldn't have quoted some other Bible passage?

Could the homosexual community NOT promote their agenda AGIANST his faith in a PUBLIC school? This is also a freedom of speech issue. He simply held an opposing view which you don't want to allow, much less submit to moral standards.

I do not believe he should've been suspended. As I said before, I simply think he could've made better choices as to what passages to use to express his opinion. What is the great harm in that?

I think it is rather clear. You are opposing his perspective, therefore promoting the opposing, and have slandered HIM, the Scouts, My faith, and myself all in 2 posts.

 

[nycflasher]

New Guy, you are way too defensive. Especially towards acludems' very reasonable, eloquent posts.

I think you need to look up the word bigot.

 

[Moi]

Originally posted by acludem
Clearly this kid was raised to be homophobic and that is sad. Of course he's in the Boy Scouts which is a virulently homophobic organization, so I don't know why I'm surprised this kid would believe this.

You have absolutely no proof that this child is homophobic. Get over the fact that everyone doesn't have to accept homosexuality nor should they be labeled a bigot or homophobic. It seems to me your are americanrightsphobic. How idiotic that sounds.

He was punished for exercising his right to free speech.

There is no exception to that rule even for children when you let one group express their opposing views on it. The school is wrong, constitutionally and morally.

 

[Moi]

Originally posted by nycflasher
New Guy, you are way too defensive. Especially towards acludems' very reasonable, eloquent posts.

I think you need to look up the word bigot.

Me thinks so do you. The boy is not a bigot because he believes in the moral imperitives of his religion. Did he in any way show intolerance for the opposing view point by trying to silence them? NO.

He merely wore a shirt espousing his views. In case you don't remember, that's his right. See my post above...the school let one group of children express their views on a subject and then punished another child for expressing his own. It sounds like the administrators are bigots for they are the only ones showing intolerance of other's viewpoints.

Regardless of which side of the coin you are on, that's just not fair.

 

[nycflasher]

bigot-One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

homophobe-
1. Fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men.
2. Behavior based on such a feeling.


You don't think his behavior falls within any of these definitions?

 

[Moi]

Originally posted by nycflasher
bigot-One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

homophobe-
1. Fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men.
2. Behavior based on such a feeling.


You don't think his behavior falls within any of these definitions?

What rights did the boy take away? Whose freedom of expression did he curtail? At what point did he not share the platform?

No, I don't think he's intolerant. He expressed an opinion. The only intolerance I see is that of the school...for an opposing viewpoint.

I also do not believe he is a homophobic which describes an IRRATIONAL FEAR OR DISCRIMINATION of homosexuals. At what point did the boy engage in irrational fear- because he expressed an OPINION? What actions of his are discriminatory? It's ludicrous to say that just because he believes in his religion and wears a shirt stating the tenets of that religion that he in any way discriminated...he has no power over these children. He can't cause them to pass or fail. He didn't drive the school bus and fail to let them board. He didn't even try to get them to not participate in the silence.

People need to stop labeling everyone homophobic just because they don't believe in homosexuality.