For the second time in a week I’ve used a song title as my blog title. I find it fitting. It is National Poetry Month, and lyrics are poetry. Enjoy the Silence is a song by Depeche Mode. Listen to it when you have time.
Silence is important today because it’s the Day of Silence. DOS is a student-led event that raises awareness about anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Students take some type of vow of silence to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior. It’s sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Students across the country are participating as way to “speak out” against harassment in schools and communities and show the silencing effect of harassment.
I learned about the event through a colleague, whose son created two great videos about what his school, Interlake High School in Seattle, is doing to draw attention to DOS.
You can see the first video here and the second one here.
Raising awareness about bullying isn’t trivial. The suicide rates for bullied kids is high. LGBT kids are even more at risk—their suicide rates are four times higher than that of straight kids, according to the video.
Are you a student or educator participating in DOS? If not, consider organizing an event for next year.
If you see or hear hatred in any form, speak up. Or, just for today, be silent for a portion of your day to let others know about the DOS. What will you do today?
Enjoy the Silence
by Depeche Mode
Words like violence break the silence
Come crashing in into my little world
Painful to me, pierce right through me
Can’t you understand, oh my little girl?
All I ever wanted, all I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Words are spoken to be broken
Feelings are intense, words are trivial
Pleasures remain, so does their pain
Words are meaningless and forgettable
All I ever wanted, all I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
All I ever wanted, all I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
All I ever wanted, all I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Enjoy the silence, enjoy the silence
Enjoy the silence
jeanofalltrades 