National Day Of Silence
Today is the National Day of Silence. This day is designed to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Each year the event has grown, now with hundreds of thousands of students coming together to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior.
This topic is one some may feel does not directly affect the Down syndrome community, but bullying affects us all.
Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover was not gay, but he took his own life at eleven years old as a result of bullying.
How many of our children are going to face being bullied for being different? Does it really matter if the discrimination is based on a disability, religion, race, gender identity or sexual orientation?
What child deserves to be bullied? What child deserves to hear negative and offensive language directed at them for being different?
The National Day of Silence is our reminder, as people, to watch what we say and keep an open mind towards those with differences. It is a reminder that offensive jokes and slang words can hurt.
It is our reminder, as parents, to teach our children tolerance. It is our job to remind them that everyone struggles in one way, shape or form. It is our job to encourage our children to be the one that refrains from engaging in this type of behavior, or better yet, steps in and stands up for someone that may be getting harassed or picked on.
No one deserves to be harassed, much less to the point they feel the only option for ending their pain is to end their life.
Don't be a bully. Teach your child not to be a bully.
Don't let Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover be your child.
Don't let your child be one of the children that caused Carl so much pain.
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