At what point intervention?

By Christine Anne Piesyk | April 18, 2007 |

As officials dissect the events leading up to the massacre at Virginia Tech that claimed 32 lives this week, an alarming number of prior warning signs are emerging: prior incidents of stalking, fire setting, hospitalization for mental health issues, a pattern of bizarre and violent writing severe enough to concern professors and counselors … any one of these should have been a wake-up call. But was anybody listening hard enough to take action? Was the fear of civil repercussion (lawsuits) floating under the surface. Who was connecting the dots? Anybody?

I have questions dancing in my head about the rising tide of shape-shifting information that is emerging. As a liberal, I grapple with issues of gun control (right to bear arms vs do we really need automatic weapons in every home?), rights to privacy (medical records, mental health records), and even the freedom of speech to write bizarre and violent scenarios (look at the crazy and horrific tales spun by best-selling authors Stephen King, John Saul, Dean Koontz and such, who seem a long way from killing anybody in real life) . «Read the rest of this article»

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David Shelton is Passion Without Compromise

By Terry McMoore | April 18, 2007 |

I will never see the story of Sodom and Gomorrah the same again and I will question any passage or written work on the subject of Gay, Lesbian or Homosexuals be it negative or positive. I came to this conclusion after hearing David Shelton speak at Austin Peay State University (APSU) about his book The Rainbow Kingdom and his lecture on clearing up a few myths about the Gay and Lesbian Community and cultural.

My whole life I was led to believe that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah was cursed and destroyed because of the homosexual acts. I was also taught that were committed and that God just got feed up with their acts and destroyed the two cities with fire and brimstone. «Read the rest of this article»

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The Silent Treatment: Day of Silence Comes to Austin Peay

By James Butler | April 17, 2007 |

This Wednesday, April 18 2007 the Austin Peay Gay Straight Alliance will bring GLSEN’s Day of Silence to the campus followed by a Breaking the Silence Rally that evening at 6:00PM in the Morgan University Center Ball Room. The day’s main events revolve around participants in the even being completely silent for the day handing out speaking cards when questioned about their silence.  Afterwards, participants and the community are invited to “break the silence” with the GSA and guest speakers David Shelton and Dr. Marisa Richmond as well as a screening of the movie The Average American provided by Mr. Bill Larson.

A video dedicated to the Day of Silence. A day dedicated to those who have been silenced over the years. Not the Average American

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The Silent Treatment: Day of Silence enters its eleventh year

By David W. Shelton | April 17, 2007 |

Hopefully, you’ll notice that schools across America are a little more quiet than usual this Wednesday. There’s good reason for that. As I write this, it’s Tuesday evening, just hours before the beginning of the 11th annual Day of Silence.

All across America, in middle and high schools as well as colleges, students have pledged to remain silent for the entire school day. The event was spearheaded by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) in order to promote a better understanding and tolerance for GLBT students. The day was organized first in 1996 at the University of Virginia and grew exponentially every following year. «Read the rest of this article»

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Book Signing at University an Unqualified Success

By James Butler | April 17, 2007 |

David Shelton’s presentation of his book The Rainbow Kingdom: Christianity and the Homosexual Reconciled was a major success for the Austin Peay Gay-Straight Alliance. According to the official count some 43 people attended the event making it the largest event the GSA has hosted on its own this semester and competing well with its partnered venture with Clarksville Pride, Inc.

Shelton’s performance began with an introductory speech by Miss Amber Gaulden, vice-president of the GSA which started off the night’s pattern of somewhat offbeat humor with Miss Gaulden making slight jabs at the potential controversial nature. That was followed by Shelton doing a brief presentation on the upcoming Day of Silence to warm up the audience before beginning his presentation with an analysis of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, before then proceeding to read from his book.

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Prayers for Virginia Tech students and their families

By David W. Shelton | April 17, 2007 |

In a what is violent reminder of the high school shootings of the 1990s, a single “Asian male” student locked himself into a room in Norris Hall along with about 30 or so others and began to open fire. Like the massacre at Columbine High School, where Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold opened fire on their classmates and teachers, students at Virginia Tech “played dead” in order to survive.

He was described as dressed “almost like a Boy Scout,” and was very “methodical” and “thorough” in his shootings. In the end, more than 30 people were killed, including the gunman. Sources say he killed himself. Surviving students then tried to get into another room and barricade the door, but he started shooting through the door. “Blood was everywhere,” one person said. «Read the rest of this article»

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The Peacemaker Society

By Tom Paine | April 16, 2007 |

The shootings on this 16th of April, 2007, should give pause to us all. Yet another in a long line of senseless violence. But today was notable in a number of ways. First, there is the sheer number of victims — 33 dead, over 30 wounded. Then there is the fact that this was probably perpetrated by one disturbed individual. Finally, there is the types of weapons involved, two pistols; a twenty-two caliber and a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol.

I am not unfamiliar with guns. I lived for 5 years on a farm and owned several guns, a 22 semiautomatic rifle, a Ruger Mini14 semiautomatic rifle, and two pistols, a Ruger 357 magnum and a Colt 45 semiautomatic that I used for target practice. None of my weapons were ever fired in anger, but I had an intimate knowledge of firearms. So I was surprised when I learned that 33 lives were claimed by a single individual with two pistols. When I first learned about the shootings, I envisioned at least a couple of people roaming the campus with military style high powered rifles. Not so, just a single nut with two pistols.

We can expect to shortly hear from the gun nuts that we shouldn’t make it about guns and that guns don’t kill people; people kill people. «Read the rest of this article»

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Dunbar Cave Spring Fling 2007

By Bill Larson | April 16, 2007 |

The Dunbar Cave Spring Fling will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2007 at the Dunbar Cave State Natural Area in Clarksville, Tennessee. Bring your family and come attend a day of exciting and informative activities. All of the activities are free of charge and will begin at the Visitors center. Some programs may have start times which will overlap others. These events will be held rain or shine. All children must be supervised by a responsible adult.

This event is sponsored by the Friends of Dunbar Cave, the Warioto Chapter of the National Audubon Society, the Tennessee Trails Association, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

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