Letters to the editor 3-26
March 24, 2009
By Administrator
Day of Silence protests are only disruptions
Great coverage (by the Star) of the issues surrounding the Mount Si High School Day of Silence! One word keeps cropping up, over and over – “DISRUPTION”. Historically, the Day of Silence does not seem to have been disruptive. In fact, it seems to have been a productive vehicle for students to raise issues surrounding tolerance and understanding of others.
On the other hand, Rev. Ken Hutcherson, who called out his “prayer warriors” to protest outside Mount Si High School during last year’s Day of Silence, seemed to be the disruptive influence. Although there was a high absentee rate (34 percent) last year when Rev. Hutcherson showed up, in prior years the rate was essentially the same as any given school day (9 percent in 2007). Hmmm…
Rev. Hutcherson “never said we did not want the Day of Silence. We said you can make it before school or after school, because the school day should be for learning.” It seems to me that the Day of Silence presents an additional (and important) learning opportunity, and furthermore, if it was held before or after school it would (logically speaking) not be a “Day”. In fact, this would minimize and marginalize it, which is just what has happened to GLBT people (and many others) historically speaking, and why we need at least a Day of Silence, not just an hour or two.
The only thing “disruptive” regarding the Day of Silence is an outside influence such as Rev. Hutcherson who, as quoted in the Star, seems prepared to be disruptive if Mount Si allows the Day of Silence this year. In response to a board member’s statement about “balancing the responsibility to teach students and their constitutional right to free speech”, Rev. Hutcherson said, “With that attitude, you’re going to see what it is to be disruptive.” Whoa! Here we go again.
Leonard Eiger,
North Bend
Day of Silence a day of learning and respect
Last year, over 8,000 schools throughout the country held events on the Day of Silence. At Mount Si High School, it was a great day for students in attendance. Due in part to the lower number of kids at school, and the absence of some who might have otherwise been disruptive, it was a day of learning and respect. While external forces of intolerance gathered outside in an effort to disrupt the school day, the atmosphere within the school was better than on most days.
For parents to threaten disrupting the school day, on the false belief that the Day of Silence is itself disruptive, is hypocritical at best. Threats of disruption implicitly encourage unacceptable behavior and empower students to disregard the authority of school and district staff. I encourage the school board to reject the bullying behavior and threats they have been subjected to. This is exactly the kind of behavior I hope our children do not emulate and it must not be encouraged. I also want to thank the administration at Mount Si High School for continuing to respect student groups in their efforts to engage and educate themselves and others within our high school and our community.
Mark Joselyn
North Bend, WA
GSA should not
compromise to anyone
Asking for the Day of Silence to be held before or after school is probably even more insulting than asking for it to be gone. Sounds similar to the whole “separate but equal” thing. They’re doing the exact same thing, but we don’t have to watch them do it, so it’s okay, right?
Of course, the problem with that whole separate but equal movement was that things weren’t actually equal. Like having the day in the morning or after school. They won’t have the chance to change anything. No one will see it, except for maybe the janitors or teachers.
Of course, Kenny (Hutcherson) isn’t the real culprit. He’s second in command, really, but the real bad guy is the GSA itself. The GSA’s goal should be to cause a disruption. The Day of Silence I participated in during 2007 was exactly the same as every single other day, except I had tried and failed to not talk. Looking back, it was probably less disruptive than a normal day at the school. The Day of Silence is the worst way to change these things. I should actually be thanking Ken Hutcherson. It’s thanks to him that people are actually beginning to sit up and notice us for the first time. We should be doing the same. Being loud, being angry. Actually standing up for what you believe, instead of pretending like you care, wearing little armbands and shutting up for a whole day.
Though any respect I might have had for Ken from bringing attention to us was lost at the end of the article in the Star with his not-at-all disguised threat against the schools. What are you, Ken? Five? And as a final, just as angry message, I urge the GSA to not compromise for anyone. If you’re actually going to go through with this thing, do not speak at all. Do not respond to the teacher if they ask you to speak. And while you do that, I’ll have fun talking to my friends.
Daniel Riggs,
North Bend
Encompass thankful for fundraising efforts
It is special when any first-time fundraising event gets off the ground in the Snoqualmie Valley, but it is truly phenomenal when the event is Sip of Snoqualmie, a wine-tasting on March 14 that drew 32 Northwest wineries and a sellout crowd of 500 from all over the Eastside.
We at Encompass have many individuals and organizations to thank for that success, including your newspaper as a whole and your prolific reporter, Laura Geggel. Key sponsors who played a big role include KWJZ 98.9, Nintendo and PC Bennett Consulting, and I would be remiss if I did not call your readership’s special attention to our venue, the new Snoqualmie Casino, which made priceless contributions to Sip of Snoqualmie and whose staff demonstrated expertise and grace that are beyond compare.
In this challenging economic climate, I cannot tell you how grateful we are that Sip of Snoqualmie was able to so effectively raise crucial funds and enhance awareness for Encompass and our mission to nurture children, enrich families and inspire community. As we know from the founding of Encompass 42 years ago, great things can happen with love, caring and compassion. With your help, we will continue to build the dream!
Gregory Malcolm,
Executive Director,
Encompass
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