Time for the Un-Silent Majority?

A recent Time Magazine cover heralded the 'Return of the Silent Majority'.

My question: how do you tell when something that is 'silent' has returned? How do you know it left? Or that it ever existed?

If this majority returns, but is silent, what's the difference between that and staying gone?

It seems we identify such a group by adding up the un-silent factions and subtracting those numbers from the presumed general population. What remains is the majority, presumed to be silent.

But if they are silent, then why?

Maybe they have no opinion to voice.

Perhaps they feel that speaking out would not help. (Perhaps it might hurt?)

It could be they have outlets for their anger or frustration - like watching the Daily Show or torturing squirrels.

Maybe they agree with the extreme positions and aren't a majority of difference, just impassivity or placid acceptance.

In the end, why the majority is silent doesn't matter. It's the silence that is important. Or contra-important, because it minimizes an entire segment of the population, presuming that silent segment exists.

So Speak Up, Silent Majority! Time to groan, moan, whimper, or rage. Make any sound you want, but let us know you are out there.