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Originally posted by dzrose93
Okay, Chaos, I understand what you're trying to say now.  To answer your first question, nobody HAS to join a Greek org. It's all a matter of individual preference. However, for those people who DO choose Greek Life, let me ask you this, just as a point to consider: Should I have gone back and studied my Irish and Dutch roots -- my Western European "culture" -- before I joined Delta Zeta? Would my taking European history classes and hanging out with Irish and Dutch Americans before I went through Rush have made me a more "complete" individual (i.e. more "aware" of myself) and put me in a position to offer more to my Delta Zeta sisters?
In regard to the last point you made about the belief that people should know themselves before they join a Greek organization... The way that I look at things, I think that most college kids who join Greek orgs (no matter what type of GLO they choose) do not completely know themselves when they first join. Why? Because they're still, in fact, kids. They may have valid opinions and staunch beliefs in certain things, but they are still, for the most part, innocent to the ways of the world and have quite a way to go before they mature enough to be a true benefit to society. College is all about gaining experience through both book learning and outside experimentation. It's the first time that many kids are on their own and able to make decisions about their lives.
I feel that it's DURING college, not BEFORE, that college students get to know themselves better and have the opportunity to decide what direction they want to take in their lives. (Notice that I didn't say "know themselves COMPLETELY" in that last sentence. I firmly believe that we never know ourselves completely because we are constantly changing with every new life experience.)
As to where GLO's enter this college picture: Greek organization can help a kid to grow, not as a black person or a white person, but simply as a person. Greek members learn leadership skills; they learn how to work with their brothers/sisters to accomplish goals; they learn social skills by interacting with other groups. That's why I don't think that it matters what type of GLO a person joins, as long as the chapter that he/she belongs to is strong and dedicated to helping its members to prepare for the "real world". That's what being in a GLO -- any GLO -- is all about.
Chaos, do you see the points I'm trying to make? We're having a great discussion, and I'd like to hear your take on this.
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Yes, I see your points. However, the women that are initiated into my organization must be women FIRST. We don't allow kids to enter. A kid is under the age of 18...we tend to only initiate women over the age of 18--typically 19 and over--because they usually have to be atleast sophomores in college (I was a junior and I was getting ready to turn 21 the summer after I was initiated). So, I would hope that these people would not be a kid, mentally or physically.
With that said, learning is a continual process...however, we don't want people who are going to let their letters completely MAKE them the person that they are. They need to be a complete person...our organizations are meant to compliment, not compensate.
Your researching up on your European roots is up to you...if that helps you understand yourself and your culture. But, we can't compare the cultural awareness of a Black person to that of a white person...two different fruits. And, that's a new topic.