Silence

During lunchtime Friday at Glendale High School, amid the usual hubbub of snacking and socializing, about 50 students and teachers sat in a circle in a silent protest of harassment and discrimination in any form. They were local participants in a national initiative known as the Day of Silence, a campaign in which students don’t speak for a day to call attention to how gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth are “silenced” because of harassment and bullying in schools.

GLENDALE — A group of more than 20 parents showed up Wednesday at the Glendale Unified School District board meeting to oppose the district permitting students to participate in any activities related to the Day of Silence, a national campaign designed to call attention to the harassment and bullying of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth in schools. During the Day of Silence, which will take place today across the country, students take a temporary vow of silence to raise awareness about the “silencing” of homosexual students and their friends through harassment.

Gary Moskowitz Although her life was devastated a week ago, Angelina Ayon is beginning to find the strength to laugh again. Angelina's husband, Marine Pfc. Eric Ayon, 26, died April 9 during a gun battle in the Al Anbar province in Iraq. Ayon left behind Angelina and their 7-year-old son, Joshua, two sisters, his parents, a grandfather, a niece and other extended family. Because Eric Ayon had attended Hoover High School for two years, Co-principal Kevin Welsh led a moment of silence at school Friday during morning announcements.

More than 450,000 students in over 4,000 schools were silent Wednesday, April 13 to bring attention to the mistreatment of and bias against gay and lesbian individuals all over the world. The Day of Silence, as it is called, was observed at Crescenta Valley High School as well. This is the third year CV students have participated in the nationwide activity. "It raises awareness about what we're doing," said Stephanie Brooks, president of the Gay/Straight Alliance Club at CV, which sponsors the Day of Silence.

Dan Kimber’s column on Friday about the controversy surrounding the Day of Silence this coming Friday is very troubling (“Day of Silence may prove resounding,” Education Matters). I am particularly concerned about a local Armenian TV program reporting inaccurate homophobic nonsense regarding the Day of Silence. I recently heard about a similar situation at Glendale High School from a student in the Gay Straight Alliance who’s organizing the event for her school.

April 25 has become a day of student-led action that now involves more than half a million students across our nation. These concerned and activated kids have taken a vow of silence for the day to bring attention to the name-calling, bullying, harassment and physical violence experienced by gay students on campuses across the country and at all levels of education. The goal of the Day of Silence has little to do with sexual orientation and everything to do with human tolerance.

Once again, like many Glendalians, I was startled out of my chair Thursday night by what sounded like gunfire. I finally decided it must have been fireworks at the Americana at Brand, although I couldn’t see anything (“Lighting up the night,” Nov. 20). Why does the city of Glendale allow this? Fireworks are for the Fourth of July and places like Dodger Stadium and the Hollywood Bowl in the summer. They aren’t appropriate for a shopping mall in November that is surrounded by residences.

Illinois state legislators reportedly reversed a law Tuesday that required students in Illinois schools to have a moment of silence to pray or reflect, after school administrators and teacher unions complained that the law was poorly thought out and could not be enforced. Proponents touted the fact that no one was forcing the students to pray ? that it was simply a moment to reflect. Others saw it as a referendum on religion. And still others just didn?t see it as a good use of classroom time.

Re. “ Sinanyan keeps seat for now ,” March 13. I watched City Council that night and was bothered beyond words at what I saw and heard. Councilwoman Laura Friedman was absolutely correct to bring this matter up before City Council. I was not only disgusted by the comments but also embarrassed that these comments were attributed to a Glendale city commissioner. When [City Council candidate Zareh] Sinanyan and his supporters tried to turn the comment section that night into an attack on Friedman, I really became disgusted.

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE - After giving up a lead-off single in the first inning and seeing the runner thrown out trying to stretch it into a double, Cole Currie became rejuvenated. The Crescenta Valley High pitcher felt like he needed to return the favor by picking his team up. By mixing up his pitches, Currie accomplished that goal. Currie struck out 10 and received plenty of offensive support Tuesday afternoon in Crescenta Valley's 16-0 Pacific League road victory. The game was called after six innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

The women and children of this state are facing a crisis of major proportions. When California faces tough times, those times are even tougher for women and the families in their care. For the past several years, the state has consistently balanced its budget by cutting services to women and children. The California Commission on the Status of Women is needed now, more than ever, to ensure women are not unfairly burdened in this dire economy. It is the official voice of women in this state and advises the administration on gender equity issues.

“Curious Silence” at the Brand Library Art Gallery is an exploration of types and causes of silence. The premise of the exhibition is an essay, printed in the exhibition brochure, written by A.S. Hamrah, a contributing artist who delineates feminist author Susan Sontag’s thoughts in her essay titled “The Aesthetics of Silence (1967).” Sontag’s essays, novels and screenplays about world politics and popular culture had a great impact on experimental art in the 1960s and ’70s.

CENTRAL GLENDALE — A solemn message in honor of victims who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks was read over emergency radio airwaves early Saturday as Fire Station 21 firefighters observed a moment of silence for fallen servicemen. Nine years after two airplanes struck the World Trade Center's twin towers, Glendale firefighters continued their tradition in honoring the attacks' victims, including 343 New York firefighters, with the moment of silence, flag salute and prayer.

About two dozen Glendale High School students and teachers were taking their seats Friday to protest prejudice and harassment of all types, when a student a few yards away repeatedly yelled a derogatory term for homosexuals. The incident occurred as students handed out small notices that said they muted themselves to represent the unheard victims of discrimination and name-calling as part of the national Day of Silence. Participating students kept silent all day and wrote their responses to questions.

Mailbag: All I want from the Americana is silence Published Nov. 20 Once again, like many Glendalians, I was startled out of my chair Thursday night by what sounded like gunfire. I finally decided it must have been fireworks at the Americana at Brand, although I couldn?t see anything (?Lighting up the night,? Nov. 20). Why does the city of Glendale allow this? Fireworks are for the Fourth of July and places like Dodger Stadium and the Hollywood Bowl in the summer.

Once again, like many Glendalians, I was startled out of my chair Thursday night by what sounded like gunfire. I finally decided it must have been fireworks at the Americana at Brand, although I couldn’t see anything (“Lighting up the night,” Nov. 20). Why does the city of Glendale allow this? Fireworks are for the Fourth of July and places like Dodger Stadium and the Hollywood Bowl in the summer. They aren’t appropriate for a shopping mall in November that is surrounded by residences.

Local residents were out at Glenoaks and Central, in front of the Armenian Consulate doing a hunger strike against the Protocols. The reporter said that they were chained together in solidarity and that would probably make a nice photo. I headed out there one day after they started their hunger strike, but they were not chained to one another. I was informed that they chain themselves about every two hours, so I decided to return when the dramatic chaining would be going on. Waiting this time paid off with this dramatic photo of about 30 people sitting on the sidewalk, with red tape over their mouths and chained together.

Michael Mortilla keeps a lot of silent film lore tucked up his sleeve. It comes in handy when he’s accompanying the silent flicks on the keyboard for special screenings. In the early 1920s, film audiences watched the action on screen without dialogue or sound effects. A pianist played music to match the emotions the actors were feeling, Mortilla said. The practice continued until the first talkie — “The Jazz Singer” — was released in 1927. “In small cities, the piano accompanists were women because men were working,” the Burbank resident said.