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Esse Quam Videri
If one is familiar with our history, it would seem that "To be, rather than to seem to be" was selected as out motto in reaction to the discrimination faced by some of our founders, not necessarily an ode to being free to do whatever you want. Our founders were five young Jewish women, and, in 1917, many of the established sororities had membership policies or philosophies that used religion or creed as a criteria for membership. Our motto challenges those ideals--if we are committed to true sisterhood and support for women, then why limit ourselves based on religion or creed? This is also why we were founded as one of the first non-sectarian organizations.
It is my opinion that Esse Quam Videri is about "walking the walk, and talking the talk," not about a right to be an individual who freely does what she wants regardless of how it may affect others. It is a challenge to each of us to live by our membership oath and, in respect to our history, be committed to a sisterhood that is educated about and tolerant of other religions and cultures. The beauty of DPhiE is that we are in Florida, South Texas, New York and Wisconsin--and we're all sisters because we took an aoth to the same basic values and understandings. That is, in my opinion, is what Esse Quam Videri celebrates.
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