The Astounding Silence

There was an interesting story on the CBS Sunday Morning about John Francis, an environmentalist with a fascinating fact in his life story...so much so that they ought to bring back that "I've Got A Secret" show.

But if you didn't see the show Sunday, I'll tell you the secret.  This man Francis went 17 years without speaking to anyone, from his birthday in 1973 to Earth Day, 1990.

It all started when he was thunderstruck by the damage in San Francisco Bay in January of 1971 when two tankers collided in the San Francisco Bay, spilling 840,000 gallons of oil. Francis thought then that it would be a good idea never to ride in a motor vehicle anymore, and then, when a neighbor died suddenly in 1972, he thought that was his signal, and for the next 22 years (1972- 1994) he walked everywhere he wanted to go.

As we have all learned while trying to get somewhere on foot, you can't go ten feet without someone stopping you to demand why you are walking. "Whaddya, got no car?" (or friends, or cab money), they ask.

Francis's completely rational response (slight sarcasm alert) to all this hectoring was to stop speaking to anyone anywhere about anything. He communicated with others by the use of gestures (hoo man!) and written notes exclusively for 17 years.

Now here is the part that tends to strain credulity (and if you've ever had your credulity strained, you know how bad it feels.) Somehow, without saying a word out loud, Francis was able to earn three college degrees, topping off his academic achievement with a a Ph.D. in Land Management from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

I guess he had to write to his professors back in those pre-email days to tell them he would be in the class, but would not be engaging in the normal discourse that passes among students and professors, because of his pledge of silence.

The article I read said that he learned to communicate through the banjo that he taught himself to play. Surely, his stirring renditions of "Dueling Banjos," "I'll Have a Ham Sandwich and a Coffee," and "Do You Know A Good Shoe Repair Place Within Walking Distance" helped him say a lot with zero words.

It all seems true, although I'm not sure about the benefits of being silent for 17 years. And get this - the day after he broke his vow of silence, he was struck by a car in D.C, and was able to talk the medic crew into letting him walk to the hospital.

Just in time!


Assignment for tonight: list the ten people you wish would take up the 17-Year-Silence Challenge.  Give reasons.

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