Quote:
Originally posted by the411
I agree 1913% with my beloved Soror Founder Adams, and since the topic is open to discussion, I will share my most honest, sincere feelings. In a nutshell, we spend WAY TOO MUCH TIME arguing over petty, insignificant things like:
1. having "oo-oop" as a call
2. sorors acknowledging a bond with Omega Psi Phi
3. the definition of "active" (paying dues vs. doing work)
4. appropriate vs. inappropriate songs to step/stroll/strut to
5. alumnae vs. collegiates
(just to name a few)
We talk/brag about our loving SISTERHOOD, but some of us break our necks dissin' the Sorors and the Sorority in public forums like these-- using text from private e-mails to publically bash our own sisters and/or to gain support for our own "selfish motives" and party-platforms.
We say we treasure our Delta HISTORY, but we seem to have developed amnesia about the relationship between those phenomenal Howard collegiates of 1913 and the 3 Musketeers of Omega Psi Phi.
We claim to value the hands-on public service of our Sorors, but we treat dues-payers who DON'T do the work with more respect than non-financial sorors who really want to help. (Because, of course, it doesn't matter what circumstances prevent a soror from being financial--she's just a menace to Delta if she is).
We say we're an anti-hazing organization and we criticize those who participate in hazing activities, yet some of us never hesitate to tell the WHOLE WORLD details of our hazing pledgeship as a means of soliciting respect or validating our membership. For God's sake--If you're against hazing, then DON'T TALK ABOUT IT--especially not publically!!!
I really do love Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, with ALL MY HEART. And, saying these things now is hurting me to the point of tears as I type. But, I have to admit that I am discouraged by the lack of unity and absence of mutual respect among some members. I try to do everything I can to embody the ideals of the Sisterhood, but it makes my heart bleed when fellow Sorors fail to do the same. I have had my e-mails and forum posts spread across the 'Net as a means to make me appear unworthy of membership simply because I held fast and first to my opinions, and because those opinions conflicted with those of others. So... do we REALLY value a difference of opinion among our Sorors, or is that just talk? Is this a Sisterhood or a Fortune 500 company in which the voices of the peons ( i.e. collegiates and inactives) are muted so that the officers and exec board members can listen only to themselves?
They call me RENEGADE. I have been ostracized by sorors because I spoke my mind about how things should/shouldn't be done according to what I learned on my journey to Deltaland. I've been denied offices within the chapter because sorors feared that my leadership would mean "change." I've been scorned by sorors for not being financial, yet never offered a helping hand during my financial struggles (some of which involved me taking care of a chronically ill brother). Some sorors don't even speak to me and they ignore my "call" (leaving me to look/feel foolish in the face of passers-by), yet I am criticized for not attending alumnae chapter meetings. Am I less of a Delta because I'd rather not mingle with people who are mean and rude to me?
Just look at this forum, for instance? For those of you who posted 2 years ago when we were just getting the ball rolling, you'll recall how free and open we could be--without breaking codes of secrecy, of course. Now, it's a cheesy, playskool board on which we spend hours and hours talking about nothing-- listing favorite this' and thats; talking about TV/movies or celebrities who could really careless what we think; asking questions about our love lives; and really just taking up cyberspace. And WHY?!?!?!? Because a few bullies have frightened us into censorship 'cuz we aren't saying what THEY want us to say.
I have NEVER regretted my decision to pledge ALL MY LOVE to DST. And, to those of you who are considering membership, I still encourage you to keep your eyes on the prize, but ONLY IF YOU ARE TRULY ABOUT SISTERHOOD AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
--If you are just trying to hold a high office in the org-- we don't need ya! We already have our share of that.
--If you're insecure or have low self-esteem and are longing to be popular or the apple of the frat boys' eyes--we don't need ya! We already have our share of that.
--If you'd be easily swayed or intimidated by what older Deltas say/think and you don't value your OWN opinion enough to stand by it and express it-- we don't need ya! We already have our share of that.
--If you only feel better about yourself when you are able to put someone else down or make them look bad--we don't need ya! We already have our share of that.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated needs PROGRESSION not REGRESSION!
To answer your questions, Soror Founder:
" ...does it not follow that in all these years we would have learned the elemental lesson of cooperation?"
--You would think so. But, alas! 'Tis not the case when membership consists of I's and Me's instead of Us' and We's.
"Will we never grow up as an organization?"
--Not if we continue to create divides within the organization and not if we put SELF MOTIVES/INTERESTS/OPINIONS above the virtues, motto, and thrust of the Sorority.
"What have we as an organization to show for the years?"
--If things don't change for the better, we'll just have the following equation: Discension + Discouragement = Disbanding
Soror Founder Adams, I am sad to report that things have gotten worse, not better. I will continue to pray for the positive growth and success of my Sisterhood and for EACH and EVERY Soror therein--selfish & altrusitic; active & inactive; T-shirt wearer & service-oriented; collegiate & alumna; paper & real; old skool & new skool; black college & white college; single letter & new chapter; I LOVE ALL MY SORORS OF DST, even the ones who have hurt me and those who've lost sight of your mission. My sincere prayer is that we WILL discard these many divides, kill the petty differences, and embrace one another in the name of Jesus Christ (1st) and Sisterhood (2nd) so that we may come together as ONE BODY to do good for others. Isn't that what you and the other 21 wanted? A TRUE DELTA SOROR KNOWS THAT IT IS AND LIVES HER LIFE AS SUCH, BOTH IN AND OUT OF DELTA.
To my fellow sorors and moderators, I apologize if you feel this is too much, but I had to say it in hopes that the ones who need to read it do and are touched positively by what I've shared. We'll never get where we want to be if we keep our mouths shut for fear of what others may think.
And I'm Out!
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I felt compelled to respond to some of this post. I would agree with Soror the 411, we DO tend to focus on the trivial, but I beg to differ with some points.
Delta does not suffer from AMNESIA when it comes to a ANY bond with Omega. For the record, I do not embrace the "Coleman Love" concept for three specific reasons. First is is not part of our official history, and as such I would challenge any soror to point out any bond with the "3 Muskateers" of Omega. (There were actually 4 Founders of the fraternity.) outside of the marriage (likely based on a loving and PERSONAL relationship between two people who HAPPENED to be Founders of their respective organizations). And moreover, any of the information in ISOS regarding this topic states what "might" or "probably" happened, and does not override what is in our official history, which is the foundation of Delta.
Second, I have heard alot of scuttlebut from some sorors and some Omegas that the Omegas "helped" our Founders' establish our organization. We all know our Founders' were dynamic women who were ahead of their time, and ahead of the learning curve with respect to their capability to establish Delta ON THEIR OWN. To me, to embrace "Coleman Love" as some of us believe is to embrace the fact our Founder's were "helped" to form our organization, which is something we KNOW they did for themselves. Basically, I feel this UNOFFICIAL and TRIVIAL tradition tends to get blown way out of proportion and bastardizes our precious (and official) history.
Thirdly, I disagree with the perception by SOME Omegas and SOME Sorors that they should be afforded "special" treatment because of this "bond", and will actually get upset if they don't get their due from members of the other organization. Personally, I don't believe members of Delta or Omega, should expect any extra "respect" over and above what I would give any fellow greek, and I DEFINITELY don't understand people who get upset if the "bruhs" or "sorors" don't "greet" them with a hug before acknowledging any other greek; expect a neophyte to "kick" them some history before they are embraced; or feel they have the right to question my Soror's membership on GC simply because she doesn't know the latest in Omega lingo. I'm a soror ONLY to my fellow Delta sisters, and not anyone else.
As for feeling ostracized for being unfinancial, I can't comment on your financial hardships. (We all have had those from time to time). The issue becomes being committed FINANCIALLY and ACTIVELY to Delta. What I mean by this is notwithstanding your personal hardships financially, if there is a COMMITMENT to Delta and an OPPORTUNITY to budget for a particular soror, then I do not understand why some sorors can't remain FINANCIAL and ACTIVE after their first year in the sorority.
And it rings very hollow to hear SOME sorors whine about how expensive Delta is when they are fresh from spending $1-2K to join, and then can't come up with yearly dues, visit convention or conferences or support chapter fundraisers. Oftentimes these are the SAME sorors who are COVERED in paraphenalia, hair and nails done weekly, and up to their eyes in PRADA, GUCCI, KATE SPADE, TIFFANY'S, MAC AND VICTORIA SECRET, etc. and just can't seem to make a single committee meeting.
Now I don't have much beef with a non-financial soror who is ACTIVELY INVOLVED, while she is trying to get on her feet financially. I can only hope her intention is to become FINANCIAL, hopefully within the next fiscal year, but in the same vein I don't want to hear from sorors who feel "put upon" because they didn't get their respect, when they didn't earn it by making the effort to remain FINANCIAL and ACTIVE after their first year in the sorority. Delta needs BOTH FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND THE ACTIVITY OF ITS SORORS TO SURVIVE AND SERVE THE PUBLIC....PERIOD.
As for sorors who seem to crave "respect" and "attention" for how hard they pledged, I say this....show me the date, time, and place that a soror asks you how hard you pledged once you get to chapter meeting, perform public service, or attend conferences or conventions? The point is this....the last time I checked ALL OF OUR PINS WERE THE SAME SIZE!!! All of my sorors have the same RIGHTS in AND RESPONSIBILITIES to Delta. So it DOESN'T MATTER HOW "HARD" YOU PLEDGED! For the record, I wasn't chosen for DST in undergrad, and I did pledge alumnae straight out of college, but the Sorors who brought me into the orgnanization endured some major hardships (60's, 70's, 80's) and they brought me to Delta with LOVE AND RESPECT, WITHOUT HAZING. The way you were "made" has NO BEARING ON HOW DEDICATED YOU WILL BE TO THE ORGANIZATION. We have all seen that demonstrated by the number of "T-shirt wearers" (including those who are "real" and those who are "paper) I sit side by side in my chapter with Sorors who were hazed (by today's standards) and those who weren't and we all WORK TOGETHER and RESPECT EACH OTHER.
I am also sorry my post is so long, and I am also here to say I love ALL OF MY SORORS, even when I disagree with their opinions, I RESPECT their right to express it.