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I don't mean to sound critical, but if in fact the actions termed as pledging in NPHC groups are illegal, how did they get that way in the first place, I mean so much so that the original meaning of the word is completely different inside NPHC than outside the greek world. What I mean is, if you never had exposure to the greek world in your life and you heard the word pledge, I would think its connotation would be "promise" "oath" "agreement" etc. Examples where pledge is used commonly are the pledge of allegiance (to the flag of the U.S.), the girl scout pledge (on my honor I will try to serve God, my country and mankind and to live by the Girl Scout law), I would assume the boy scouts have something similar. How many other organizations and institutions are there where a new member makes a statement of loyalty to a group or ideal?
I know the NPC and NIC groups started taking the whole idea a little too far by calling new members "pledges" and treating them in a humiliating and demeaning manner, against their national organization's creeds, missions and purposes. Almost all, if not all, have turned this around and use the term pledge for its intended purpose, an oath taken. And the new member is called just that, a new member.
I guess I just don't understand how the word "pledge" got so turned around in the NPHC groups that it would be considered "illegal" to even refer to that term. Do NPHC groups not ask new members to take a solemn oath upon accepting a bid? What do you call that action, an oath, agreement, but not a pledge?
Like I said I don't mean to sound critical. I just think a lot of others, myself included are curious about how it works in other organizations since we seem to so clearly react differently to the word pledge.
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