I must say that I have never seen the "pro-pledging" side of the debate articulated so succinctly as Doggystyle82. He hits at the very heart of the issue, pride and acceptance. He states:
"
As long as there are fraternity and sorority members like me, that aspirants want to emulate, they will always feel the pressure to earn their letters."
This is so true. And this, as he states is truly the problem. The issue of earning letters equates to many as earning an identity (and for men, manhood). I stated this before in another forum, but the search for identity and acceptance has haunted black folk for a very long time (double consciousness, "we wear the masks", etc.)
I want to explore another aspect of Doggeystyle's comments when he states that :
...
Same for me...writing a check, filling out some paperwork, coming to meetings, serving on committees, showing up at community service means you are doing the work (kudos for that) but it does not make you a Bruh, nor bond you to me. If doing community service was the barometer, why not just extend membership to every employee/volunteer at homeless/battered women shelters. No soror, a BOND is built on something quite different (at least for Omega). The first goal is Brotherhood. Delta is a "Service Sorority" so you have an entirely different mandate.
I do not know about Omega Psi Phi and how they understand "friendship is essential to the soul", but the founders of Alpha Phi Alpha would definately look down upon violence in the membership process. It is official record that the founders looked down on things like the "Tap Day" tradition and brutality in the membership process (Read
The History of Alpha Phi Alpha, A Development in College Life by Bro. Dr. Charles H. Wesley). Does this mean that Alpha is not a true brotherhood? I think not, it is just that the founders understood that the brotherhood bond wasn't and can't be created through some process or "blood sweat and tears" so to speak. Brotherhood, to the Founders of Alpha Phi Alpha, was predicated upon men of noble character, having like-mindedness and sober conduct
before they entered into consideration for membership. true, Doggystyle, brotherhood isn't predicated on community service, nor is it about a "process". To the Founders, the process was about educating the men about the aims of Alpha, not making them "Better Men" or "better brothers". You cannot obtain these bonds through a "process", and this doesn't make Alpha or any other org. less than a fraternity or sorority (as Doggystyle characterises Delta as a "service sorority."). Again, brotherly and sisterly love is predicated at its core on an essential selflessness in light of your brother/sister, not about a process. Doing the things that Doggeystyle states that you get "kudos" for in his opinion, are the very things that indicate your character, which, in Alpha, makes you worthy to wear the letters of A PHI A. It is a priviledge to wear the letters, only granted to those of noble character, not about how many push ups you have done, or how long you can hold your breath underwater, how much wood you can take, etc.
Should we remain exclusive, most definately, but discriminate based on character and whether a person lives up to the pledge that he or she makes to the org., not a "process". I truly cherish the traditions of Alpha Phi Alpha and I cherish the "process" that I went through as truly the best way to learn about the fraternity and its culture, but it was never a test of my manhood nor my love for Alpha, nor about teaching me how to be a better man. I was man enough before Alpha, and I will be man enough for the rest of my life. What bonds me to every brother of Alpha Phi Alpha on the face of the earth is not a "pledge process", but it is the fact that all men of Alpha are charged to live up to certain standards of character and conduct, and be committed to service and love for all mankind. So whether your are "paper" or "real" has no consequence on your character, which is the bond of every Alpha Man.
I AM ALPHA PHI ALPHA!
Blackwatch!!!!!! '0000000006!!!!!!!!!!
