Change comes hard. Silence = Death.
Apr. 9th, 2009 11:51 amSometimes I don't know what to say, these times when I'm astounded and incoherent with rage. So I would rather direct you at this moment to the words of friends, who express the important things.
We are not amused.
Speak. Speak. Speak.
The slogan "Silence Equals Death" is most memorably associated with the AIDS crisis. But I think it is something we need to remember here and now. Silence is a death, whether it is not speaking up about the need for health care, the need for equal rights or the need to live without constant fear. Every time we are silent, we die a little and let others die a little as well.
As a person with a complicated sexuality, it feels strange at times to know I "pass for normal" and have the right to marry my partner based on our biology. I look at my suburban neighbors and the people in the grocery store and I want to shout "I am not what you think!" It is time we stopped letting things slide to be polite at dinner, to avoid confrontation. We're well past the time to speak up now. There is a storm coming but it isn't what they think.
We are not amused.
Speak. Speak. Speak.
The slogan "Silence Equals Death" is most memorably associated with the AIDS crisis. But I think it is something we need to remember here and now. Silence is a death, whether it is not speaking up about the need for health care, the need for equal rights or the need to live without constant fear. Every time we are silent, we die a little and let others die a little as well.
As a person with a complicated sexuality, it feels strange at times to know I "pass for normal" and have the right to marry my partner based on our biology. I look at my suburban neighbors and the people in the grocery store and I want to shout "I am not what you think!" It is time we stopped letting things slide to be polite at dinner, to avoid confrontation. We're well past the time to speak up now. There is a storm coming but it isn't what they think.