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When it comes to GLO issues and ritual issues in particular, I’m a purist. It seems quite clear to me what our founders intended: That by investing chosen candidates with the secret ideals of the organization (mottoes, letters, oath, badge, symbols), they would forge an unbreakable bond with those men or women. They realized that they would still have very close friends and associates in their lives, but that the people who shared their secrets would be something higher and more perfect – they would be a brother/sister.
Investiture is the very essence of what makes someone your fraternity brother or sorority sister. So from a purist standpoint, no a NM is absolutely NOT your brother/sister.
I don’t see how this fact is disrespectful to a NM. On the contrary, selecting someone to be a NM of our organization and giving them a pledge pin to wear is a sign of great respect and honor.
The ritualist in me also believes that any “partial investiture” like handing out letters or contriving “filler ceremonies” dilutes the impact of the actual moment of initiation. Pledging should be a crescendo.
And coming from a blue collar family, I also firmly agree with AXPGoBot that the value of something earned far exceeds the value of something given.
wptw
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