The Day of Silence

"The National Day of Silence is a day of action in which students across the country vow to take a form of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools."
- dayofsilence.org/resources/

The actual Day of Silence is normally held in April; it has been this way since its founding in 1996. However, I only found out about it on the actual day, April 11; my mother brought me the pin I have attached to my jacket from school.
Since the first event at the University of Virginia in 1996, 8,000 schools- ranging from middle school to university -have held the Day of Silence. In the GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network), it's the largest student-led action toward creating safer schools for LGBT students. According to the website [see link], the purpose of the day is to bring attention to LGBT harassment and bullying, thus helping to make schools safer for students of all gender expressions and sexual orientations. You don't really have to be one of the community to participate; 'straight allies', i.e., heterosexuals who support LGBT rights, are an actual thing. And your support is welcome.
Students are advised to inform their teachers before doing this; thank you, Ms. Warren, for green-lighting my participation and suggesting that I write about it.
[Also, Laurel and I (we're doing this together) are creating index cards with information.]
There is symbolism behind the Day of Silence; the individuals who take the 24-hour vow of silence represent the thousands of LGBT people who are forced to remain silent about their sexuality because of overwhelming negativity. Fear, both due to the fact that 'oh no, they're different' and because they don't want to find out the reactions of friends and family, is the major suppressor. What if the people whom you love and trust reject you because you're not a heterosexual? Worrying about what the outcome of coming out would be doesn't help either.
Trust me. I've been there.
Luckily, there are people who support all of this, and that is why the Day of Silence came about. My mother, who gave me the idea in the first place, is OK with me doing this- just as long as my teachers know. The thousands of LGBT rights activists? Well, who else helps organize the event? They know what it's like to have to be silent because of an unsafe environment. The students? They wouldn't be doing this if they didn't support it. [Well, unless they're attempting to make a mockery of it, and that just makes them an incredibly rude word that I can't put on my blog.]
The symbolism behind the Day of Silence is a beautiful thing, and a lovely gesture of support to all of those who are silent.
So when I walk in communicating with a notepad? Now you know why.

"Sick Lit Books Aimed at Children"- summary

The Daily Mail article "Sick Lit Books Aimed at Children", by Tanith Carey, presents the idea that YA books about darker issues are not good for teenagers. Ms. Carey presents her idea by paraphrasing the plots of several books that deal with "the harsh realities of terminal illness, depression, and death"- namely, The Fault In Our Stars, Never Eighteen, and Before I Die. She continues by talking about books that deal with suicide; specifically how there are entire books on the subject when other forms of media will gloss over it "for fear of encouraging copycat behavior".  She calls such books "morbid" and "mawkish", saying that using teenagers with severe situations to build dramatic tension is "distasteful". She concludes with a quote from a child psychologist: "Let's hope publishers do have young people's interests at heart- and they are not selling books by sensationalizing children's suffering."
Ms. Carey uses many craft moves to convey her ideas. Her tone is disdainful towards these books and their publishers- she uses loaded words such as "disdainful", "morbid", "exploitative", and "questionable". She quotes psychologists who agree with her opinion, while also addressing the counterclaim with quotes from others who have opposing views on the subject. She urges parents to check up on their children's reading habits; her tone is sympathetic towards them.
While her article is well-written, I disagree with her. I think it's important for young adults to read books addressing darker themes. Things such as death and illness are part of life, and it's easier to connect with a protagonist who is going through the same troubles. Reading about subjects such as suicidal depression and self-harm doesn't encourage the reader to start cutting...which is why the term 'sick-lit' stood out to me. Is everything not about vampires and supernatural stuff unhealthy for teens?