Tempest Smith Day is February 20th. Tempest Kayne Smith died on February 20, 2001. She was twelve years old. She was shy, she liked to wear black "Gothic" clothing and she was studying Wicca. Because of that, she was the subject of years of daily bullying in school until the time when she could not take any more. She died by her own hand. When her classmates realized what their bullying had resulted in doing, many of them expressed apologies. And, of course, the faculty and administration at her school "expressed regret" and "extended condolences."
Not only is bulling wrong, religious bullying is one of the most spiritually dangerous deeds a person might do! I would expect Christians to be especially wary, since their Bible gives so many reasons not to!
On Febraury 20th, I will be exercising what authority I have to try and make some sort of permanent honoring of Tempest Smith. To begin with, she will be officially declared a martyr and her day will be permanently a part of a calendar.
