The Bitter Irony of the Day of Silence

What if I told you that pro-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) activists are working tirelessly to infiltrate schools and influence children across the country? What if I said activists were taunting and bullying kids in public school and shaming them regarding their religious beliefs that favor traditional marriage? Most parents do not want to hear this, but it is a reality they must face. Gay activist are going around you to get to your children, and schools are complicit.

The “Day of Silence,” to be held next Friday, April 17, is part of that effort. It is a project of the radical Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which is the leading pro-LGBT national education organization working inside schools in all 50 states.

On the Day of Silence, GLSEN encourages students to go to school and remain silent all day. Their website says the day seeks to “call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools.”  And therein lies the irony, doesn’t it?

In light of all we know today, how the pro-LGBT radicals are bullying Christians into silence, it is almost comical to hear this propaganda still being peddled to our children. If we want to talk about a silencing effect, we can talk about the recent Indiana brouhaha and the ensuing hysteria over Memories Pizza owner Crystal O’Connor telling a viciously deceptive reporter they could not cater a same-sex “wedding” because it would conflict with their religious beliefs. The event included the infamously tolerant tweet from a high school coach in Indiana who said, “Who’s going to Walkerton, IN to burn down #memoriespizza w me?” That’ll promote silence to be sure. The pizza shop had to close down for several days.

How about the silencing of Mozilla’s former CEO, Brendan Eich? Or the bullying of Barronelle Stutzman, the florist who is at risk of losing everything she has, including her home, her family business, and her life savings, because of her religious beliefs on marriage?

The blatant harassment of Christians has gotten so bad that many — including liberal, pro-gay marriage commentator Kirsten Powers — are starting to wonder, “Who needs the protection here?”

But that’s a rhetorical question. Powers and everyone else know the answer. We are at the point where they are ready to put Christians in jail if they don’t abide by the pro-LGBT mantra.

The intimidation in schools is not as militant, but it is just as subversive. One regularly hears stories from both high school and college kids. Concerned Women for America (CWA) has started Young Women for America (YWA) chapters in colleges around the country to help strengthen and equip young conservative leaders. One young lady joined her school’s YWA chapter after an incredibly intimidating experience in one of her freshmen classes.

On the first day of class, the history professor asked students to raise their hands if they supported “gay marriage.”  Most students raised their hands but many didn’t. Then he pressed on, “and who opposes gay marriage?” It took great courage from this young woman to raise her hand. The professor asked the class to have a look. The other students knew that the liberal professor held all the power and their grade. They were afraid. She was the only one to raise her hand.

Of course, this brave young lady heard later from other students in the class who believed like her, but who would never raise their hands.

High school students share similar stories. A young woman named Madeline tells of being shamed by teachers and peers for not wearing the pro-gay marriage lavender t-shirt. Others in her peer group wanted to opt out, but they knew they would catch heat from other students for not conforming. I have even heard stories of kids lying on surveys given in schools about the issue because they are afraid of repercussions from faculty and administrators.

These were all real “days of silence,” and viewpoint discrimination is the program.

Here’s an idea: how about GLSEN doing an effort against bullying, period? We could all get behind that. I despise children being bullied for being “gay” just as much as for being obese or for being from another country, or simply being different or for whatever reason. How about we teach our kids, “Be ye kind one to another.”

But these activists are not interested in stopping bullying — they actually want to bully anyone who dares oppose their opinion, as we have seen. The Day of Silence is an opportunity to make sure any other view is completely silenced.

They would use different language, to be sure. They would say they are combating “homophobia.” But they consider traditional Christian teaching to be homophobic, and, therefore, if your child is a Christian, they will be under enormous pressure to ignore their faith in this area or risk intense ridicule and contempt (or, dare we say, hatred).

The most dangerous thing about all this is that schools are complicit in disallowing debate. This is why no parent will be notified of this day or most other pro-LGBT activities in advance. The educational institutions are so politicized that they will and must abide by political correctness at all times.

That is one of the many reasons why parents must stay informed and involved in their children’s education. There is an effort to combat the Day of Silence called the “‘Day of Silence’ Walk Out” where parents are encouraged to keep their children home. Most parents don’t know about it, so we must spread the word. Only by staying involved will we be able to combat these efforts and train our kids to navigate the turbulent waters of today’s increasingly secularized, hostile culture.

I say we replace the “Day of Silence” with a day of kindness in which kids are taught unity and love regardless of viewpoint and not division and political correctness. No one should be silent about that!