I Choose to Speak
People around the many blogging communities are buzzing (and often arguing) about the April 30th day of silence. OneDayBlogSilence.com hopes this to be a day of remembrance for not only those to died in the Virginia Tech tragedy but for those all over the world who are dying needlessly.
However, as you can see from some of the comments here, not everyone feels silence is the best way to go. I agree with them. On April 30th, Fiction Scribe will not be observing the day of silence. Not out of disrespect, by any means, but for what I feel is a necessity.
I’m not protesting the day of silence. I think it’s a wonderful so many people are gathering together to send warm thoughts to those in pain. However, this is a “last straw” situation for me, and I don’t think silence is the answer. I think we’ve been silent too long.
Communicate. What happened is terrifying. It’s a horrible tragedy that never should have happened. Speak! Word of mouth is one of the most powerful forces out there. Advertisers would sell their souls to get the key to word of mouth advertising.
No disrespect meant to the people in mourning right now. I feel for you, and my heart is mourning with you, but I will not observe the day of silence. Too often in too many horrible situations, staying quiet is considered the best option. This is not the time to stay silent even for a day. This is the time to help those in mourning and speak up so these horrible things will stop happening.
As one who stayed silent in the past when something needed to be said, yelled, shouted at anyone who would listen, I won’t do it again. Take a moment of silence, but only a moment. The longer your mouth stays shut in these situations, the longer your words remain trapped, the easier it is to stay silent.
In the words of Ghandi, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Speak up. Be the change.
April 26th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Thank you. I’m right there with you — and trying to be the change, too. (what? You think my fiction is all fluff? You’re not reading enough into it!)
April 26th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Thanks for the thought provoking post. I don’t know what I’m going to do yet.
April 26th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
I’m fine with a day of silence, but why blogs? What does that have to do with the tragedy? I can’t see how it relates. The whole idea seems disingenuous to me. Checked out their website, and they didn’t give me a strong reason to not blog for a day.
April 27th, 2007 at 3:18 am
I have nothing against those taking up the silence, but I just don’t see how that would work for benefit. Shut the largest collective mouth out there - perhaps the one thing that could get some change done in the world? I think not.
April 27th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
A great post Jaime, and one that I agree with wholeheartedly. Like you, I have nothing but sympathy for the victims and their families, but I choose not to be silent.
This tragedy was in no way related to blogging so it makes no sense for us to be silent. Debate gun culture, healthcare, lobby your senator, but don’t remain quiet on an event as important as this.
April 28th, 2007 at 4:54 am
Exactly, Dave. Debate things, talk about it, spread the word, and change the way things are.
April 28th, 2007 at 10:06 am
[...] Fiction Scrible says, “I’m not protesting the day of silence. I think it’s a wonderful so many people are gathering together to send warm thoughts to those in pain. However, this is a “last straw? situation for me, and I don’t think silence is the answer. I think we’ve been silent too long.” [...]