Making your Dash Count

National Day of Silence April 7, 2008

How tremendous that Westerville City Schools, along with thousands of schools across this country, are empowering teens to act against intolerance and hate through the annual Day of Silence on April 25th. In 1849, Henry David Thoreau introduced the world to the concept of civil disobedience; since then we have learned the power of civil disobedience through leaders like Martin Luther King and Ghandi.

Through their act of silence on the 25th, teens across the country are standing up to discrimination and hate directed toward people who are gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual in the best Thoreau tradition. They are reaching beyond themselves.

The children of baby boomers, our current teens, generation Y, are described by pundits as materialistic, self-centered and in need of immediate gratification.

How refreshing it is that they are willing to take on causes such as discrimination against marginal communities, whether or not they are part of that community.

Teaching our students that standing up for the rights of people who are different from the majority is an unequivocally American value.

The day of silence will raise awareness for the just cause of tolerance and the recognition that each of us is an individual. It is ok to be different.

Again, I am proud to live in Westerville, Ohio.