Quote:
Originally posted by freethinker
First, I've never been in politics, so I obviously can't say anything bad about the government. I've never been a chef, so I can't say food tastes bad. Hell, I've never directed a television program, so I'm not allowed to say that the latest seasons of "Friends" sucks, can I?
And, I've never been a Greek, so I obviously can't say anything bad about the terrible aspects of the system that I've seen first-hand at my alma mater.
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The U.S. government makes laws that affect you, plus you have a vote in who is elected to certain political offices. So, yes, you've got the right to have an opinion about our government. Why? Because it affects you.
You don't have to be a chef to determine what tastes good or bad. So, yes, you can criticize food. Why? Because you actually taste it -- you're in direct contact with it and it affects you.
You don't have to direct a TV show to voice an opinion about a TV show. So, yes, you can express your feelings about Friends -- IF you've been watching it.
However, it would be pretty stupid to blindly judge a show if you haven't watched it and experienced it firsthand. It would be ignorant to blindly judge a certain restaurant's food if you haven't ever visited the restaurant. And it would be dim-witted to blindly criticize the U.S. government if you don't live under its laws or experience its politics directly.
So, no, you don't have the right to criticize Greek life and spout negative stereotypes about fraternity and sorority members. Why? Because you have never experienced being Greek for yourself. You don't know the first thing about Greek brotherhood and sisterhood. You don't know the countless hours that are spent planning and participating in charity events on a regular basis - not just one or two times a year, by the way. You don't know how it feels to have a common bond with thousands of people all over the world. You just don't know. And pretending to know just makes you look foolish to the ones who do.
Until you're willing to jump in and work with Greek organizations, help them in their various causes and get to know the individuals who make up the groups, then you have no right to judge them. Why? Because you don't know them.
Don't run with one side of the story and base your entire view of Greek Life on the negative aspects that are constantly shoved down the public's throat by the media. Get involved and judge for yourself -- see both sides of the story and decide if the positives outweight the negatives. I'm here to tell you that they do. But don't take my word for it. See it for yourself.