13th
On A National Day of Silence.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve repeated myself to someone who has askedme a question and who, had they been looking at me, would have understood everything I attempted to say and so much more. Every time this happens I think:Somebody never watched their silent films…
I’m beginning my campaign for a National Day of Silence. Say like a Thursday in November where no one is allowed to speak. I can see how this would be very popular on the Appalachian Trail, but to rely on body language for an entire day in New York, with no cell-phone calls, interviews, presentations, etc, would be intensely refreshing. Lip-reading ok. Sign language of course.
Email and text messages would be permissible as well. These would function much the same way as the text that appears in silent films. We could all watch Buster Keaton films in preparation. He could teach us all to communicate a wealth of insight with the supposed poverty of silence. Let me elucidate with clear evidence, from his classic film Steamboat Bill Jr:
Exhibit A: Steamboat Bill Jr. learns that Steamboat Bill Sr. is in prison. Bill Jr.drives a house into the prison and dislodges the prison from its foundation, causing it to fall into a river. He then sails the prison into the boat of Bill Sr.’s rival, which causes the prison to break apart and float Bill Sr. to safety, while the rival’s boat is left in ruins. This impresses the rival’s daughter, who accepts a marriage proposal from Bill Jr. Buster Keaton accomplishes all of this without uttering a single word.
Speech. Highly overrated. RIP, Mr. Keaton.