Without Mouths part II: 12 hours without communication

Today, for 12 hours, I did not speak or write or type anything to communicate a message.

This was by far the most difficult thing I have ever undertaken because it meant I was a jerk for a day. I guess one positive thing I got out of it was that I noticed how polite I am on normal days: I say "hi!" or "hey!" or "how are you?" and "thanks!" pretty often, because every time I didn't I felt weird. Every time someone sneezed I had to bite my tongue to keep me from blessing their soul. I don't think I enjoyed it.

Throughout the day some friends tried to force me into saying something, and others just acted plain awkward. Still, some reactions were priceless.

ALARM-- 7:45 a.m.

The scant six hours of sleep the night before (or morning. . .) kept my eyelids shut as I half climbed half fell from my top bunk and made my way across the room to where my phone was screeching bloody murder. These are precautions I have to take to make sure I don't plop down in bed for another hour. Usually, I sing/howl in the shower for about half an hour, but this morning my shower was silent, and it felt weird. I got dressed in silence, and opened the window to the morning sounds. Then, after a quick meditation, I knew it was time for me to face the social world.

BREAKFAST-- 8:25

In the couple of hours right after I wake up I don't talk too much, so I was able to blend in the horde of silent zombies getting their breakfast. When I finally sat with some friends, I spent the first ten minutes in silence. I felt completely out of place, but tried to act as normal as possible. Finally, I should have talked and didn't, so I took out the note I wrote the night before explaining why and how long I wasn't going to speak that day. "I could never do that," some of them exclaimed. I just nodded and gargled a stupid little giggle that I have no idea where it came from.

CONCEPTS OF WELLNESS-- 9:00

Class time. Nothing out of the ordinary, except when the teacher asked us to get into groups of two. I frowned and then courteously let the lady begin the conversation. When it was my turn to talk, I took out the note. "Wow!" she said. "That's crazy!"
And that was that.
A couple of people tried talking to me but I just grunted and made otherworldly noises.

CHAPEL-- 10:00

It was a spelling bee, and I felt an itch in my tongue. I knew some of the words, and when they started giving out gift cards for spelling a word right I almost broke the vow. However, I managed to stay silent.

After chapel I went to my room for a couple of hours and noticed my mouth felt weird. It felt like it was stuck and I decided I could open my mouth from time to time. So I grabbed a pack of gum and started chewing.

LUNCH-- 12:45 p.m.

In the elevator, the most important conversation I had all day happened--not for the content, but the implications. My good friend Chappy decided to take advantage of my silence and attacked my favorite tennis player knowing that I couldn't defend myself.

The whole day went on like that. At lunch, friends made fun of me, but understood. It felt weird not talking to the cashier, saying thanks, and greeting friends.

AFTERNOON CLASSES-- 2:00- 5:00

No talking at all meant I didn't participate. In Reporting class, the root of this experiment, Mr. Mennard tried to make me talk a couple of times. But that was it.

THE LAST THREE HOURS

Dinner went by as quiet as the rest of the day, and I decided to sit alone. This gave me time to ponder the day. I went up to my room and started playing my guitar, then I printed out a homework assignment, having to grunt and laugh and take out the note a couple more times. Then I could talk again. And I didn't want to.

WHY CHAPPY'S CONVERSATION WAS IMPORTANT

When a people are forced to be quiet, especially in totalitarian states, their mouths are basically shut. They cannot defend themselves. They are vulnerable to all attacks and with no upper cut to counter it. I read in a book that most limitations of freedom for people usually start with the press, what should be the channel for the truth. When Chappy attacked me, he was taking advantage of my silence. Had I been able to talk, I could have defended myself pretty well. It is vital that people know that they DO have a mouth, even when authorities say they don't. When people talk, there might be losses but an authority cannot hold on for long. Speech is the one thing that no one can take away, for it is our conscience.