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Originally posted by ladygreek
ps: I am not going to even comment anymore on the "Coleman Love" issue. It will be addressed by the appropriate people.
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Not to inject myself into Delta business, but the tone of the conversation epitomizs the essence of your Founders quote. When people have an agenda, they will frequently miss the point of a well-intentioned statement for the sake of their own agenda. That is what makes "petty differences" the stumbling block that they are.
Omega has struggled with the same nonsense and fortunately, our leadership has come to its senses and realized that Omega is its Members and not the plaything of a chosen few's political ambition. Much unneccessary discord was sown by the executive directors' choice to make the "DOG" symbol a pariah in the Frat 10 years ago. 99% of the body was appalled, yet unheard. The political members wanted to make a statement rather than being fraternal. No one really could estimate the irrepairable damage intake would do to Greekdom, but it has had its most deleterious effects on Omega. It was adopted over cries of bloody murder by good brothers. Fortunately, Omega has seen the wisdom in reversing both of these divisive actions as they have seen how these policies have weakened the bond by creating "petty differences" where once, these differences did not exist.
I have been to Delta weddings where the bride was afraid to sing the "non-protocol" version of the "Sweetheart Song" or "oo-oop" at its conclusion for fear of a dirty look or tongue lashing from the "protocol police". Petty?
Why all the wailing and gnashing of teeth about the term "Coleman Love"? Because it derived from a book (ISOS) that a chosen few find offensive because it tells a story that does not coincide with their own idealized beginnings of their choice ? A relationship, real or imagined, unofficial or incorrectly perceived, has always existed between Delta and Omega long before the publication of ISOS and the coining of the phrase "Coleman Love". Why is this even an issue? It is the height of pettiness. When a Delta calls me at 2 AM and says "Bruh, I have a flat, can you come get me/fix it?" or "Bruh, one of my chapter sisters is in town, can you look out for her?", should I not extend that little extra because some people do not care for what did or did not happen in the Fall of 1912?
What your founder so eloquently stated and relates to every org, is that blind ambition and inability to compromise are hinderences to progress. Can we really see past our rigid dogma, intolerance, and refusal to understand a dissenting opinion? Arguments about terminology, "Coleman Love", real or paper, financial vs t-shirt wearer, are really about who gets to exert power over who. Do you really listen and hear how superior "financial members" sound when speaking of unfinancial ones? Sounds eerily similar to those who "pledged" speak of paper memebers. Its the same air of haughty disdain which creates a dialog that goes nowhere because "petty differences" leads to people talking past one another. As Greeks, we all need to wake up and be aware of this phenomenon. Instead of censoring conversation, can we elevate it?
Forgive my intrusion and if I overstepped my bounds in any way, please delete this post.