Quote:
Originally Posted by SWTXBelle
quote - I am proud of AOII because our ritual was written solely by our founders with every symbol, color, letter etc having specific and special meaning elicited from our ritual. Also, it has not changed a single bit since it was written in 1897. Not many sororities can claim this having letters chosen randomly, having rituals written by outside sources and colors picked because they were someones favorites. Nothing wrong with that, but I'm proud of the job our founders did. - unquote
My letters were not chosen randomly, my ritual was not written by outside sources, and my colors were not picked because they were someone's favorite. But even if they were, that wouldn't change whether or not I should take pride in it. However it has evolved, I am sure every GLO's ritual, letters, colors, etc. now mean a great deal to the members. The how and why of a ritual is not nearly as important as the what.
You state that you are proud that nothing has changed, but I find it telling that don't take pride in the ritual itself - in the founder's beliefs or the meaning of the ritual. You state that you are proud that it hasn't changed. You mention nothing in your original posting about unchanging values, which have nothing to do with whether or not the ritual has changed. In fact, it may be that a ritual was changed to better reflect the values of the GLO.
Why should you be proud of your headquarters? How about because of the effort on the part of hundreds of women that it undoubtly took to build? I assure you, those who work there are very (and justly) proud of it.
No one has told you that you shouldn't take pride in whatever you wish. We just think it is not necessary to do so at the expense of any other GLO.
And pride is not related to superiority - from Webster's -" Pride - dignity and self-respect. satisfaction in something done or owned." That is what I meant when I said what are you proudest of - but I think you took it to mean the alternative meanings "an unduly high opinion of oneself" and "haughtiness. arrogance."
Please note - nothing about superiority! I love my sorority, but I also am proud to belong to the NPC. I started this thread to enable others to post what they took pride in, so that we could all learn and celebrate each other.
The LAST thing I wanted was petty one-upmanship. If that's what you need in order to feel good about your GLO, then okay. But don't get on your high horse when you are very politely told that you are coming across as snotty and self-satisfied. Instead of saying "Oh! That's not what I meant" you defend your original post. I can only assume that what we thought was an unintentional slighting of other GLOs was not a mistake.
Drolefille, I'm so impressed. Not only can you translate the incomprehensible, you can rewrite the snarky. Thanks!
I'm not interested in generating conflict, so I'd like this to drop so the thread can get back on track.
eta - AOII LB 93 - THAT is how it done. I think the fact that you take pride in living your ritual every day is great - something we should all emulate. And I wish Gamma Phi Beta would start a Life Loyal program.
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This is what I mean about defensive. My post stated that some organizations state in their histories that they may have picked letters that they thought looked good together, changed colors for any reason, changed their name from an original non-greek name, the list can go on and on. In no way did I rip on any other group. Does Phi Mu care that they used to be known as the Philomathean (sorry if I spelled this wrong) Society...no, they actually are quite proud of it. Does Gamma Phi Beta feel less "proud" because they had the help of Dr. Brown? I don't think so...in fact, y'all seem to honor him as he deserves. Did I say that other groups don't have a meaningful ritual? Did I say that every group picked letters, colors, names, flowers, etc for no reason other than their inherent loveliness? No, I most certainly did not. I said that from its inception, AOII picked symbols to represent the ideals or "values" of our sorority that have not changed over time. Did I say there was a problem with changing things that may have needed updating? No, I simply pointed out that it is very hard for a 100 year old organization to stay unchanged for 100 years, very hard for a group of very young women to plan ahead without any help. I was merely suggesting that our founders did a good job. If you want to take offense to that, then you're reading something into my statements that simply aren't there. If other groups are embarrassed about the way they chose their emblems and rituals, then why do they publicize them? I am surprised that anyone would be offended by mentioning a difference from what other organizations are proud of in their own histories. If you still find offense at may statements, then
! Lastly, I am a greek life scholar...I enjoy reading the histories of the organizations. I find it fascinating that these women were so creative and insightful. If you think I was insulting these groups that I highly respect, you are indeed wrong. I suggest you actually go back and read some of the organizations' history pages, which I periodically do on a regular basis. I'm not going to tell an organization that needed to change it's name because someone else was using the name first that they are less than AOII because we didn't have to. I'm just proud that the same things my founders first put on paper are the same things AOIIs are doing today. And in no way is that haughty or self-satisfied.