I guess this hits at an essential question that I offered in another thread (which no one responded to
), Is the MAIN focus of our orgs. community service or fraternal/sororital? If it is merely community service, then it seems obsurd to think that we would object to whites and gays within the ranks, for they can offer just as much service to our communities as any other person. But if we delve deeper into the fraternal ideal, we'll see that manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind our the "aims" of the fraternity, but what is the "True Spirit" of fraternity? If this were strickly a community service organization, then why have "secrets" (such as hailing signals, passwords, grips, etc.). These things are not neecssary for community service. But we have these things because we want to have at some level, a sense of commonality and mutual agreement that we will not have with anyone else besides another brother. To have this commonality, there must be agreement on some level about certain values and ethics. Earlier in this thread, someone astutely noted that only 5% of black men are in a BGLO, this means selectivity, not everyone fits the criteria that was agreed upon in part by founders and now by brothers who are active as to who is worthy of the priviledge (not a right, but a PRIVILEDGE)to wear the letters A Phi A. So when a brother voices concerns about certain character traits that he deems unacceptable (whether it be homosexuality, white supremacy, or promiscuity or thievery,) his primary concern should be whether this man will be able to wear the letters and represent them to the fullest intent laid forth by the founders and the active brotherhood. It is not only about community service, it is about the "True Spirit of Fraternity" as well, this sets us apart from Big Brothers/Big Sisters or the Urban League.
Professor brings up a great point about the general organization's no discrimination policy. I accept it, but I feel this means that any man has the opportunity and can be considered for brotherhood, but does not guarentee every man will be a brother. Being a Brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and from attending conventions and talking with officials within the fraternity, neither do I feel that the general organization feels that every man that wants to will be a brother, Black , White, Sraight,Gay, honest, Liar, or whatever. That's why membership, as they say, has it's priviledges.