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AD Pi Conniebama-
As I stated in my post, these national stereotypes of NPHC organization are real and somewhat ubiquitous for those familiar with our organizations. And, as I stated, every member of these groups don't conform to these stereotypes but they are powerful labels which delimit how many outsiders identify members of these groups. It's really a double-edged sword. You have to take the positive aspects of the stereotypes with the bad ones too. I've talked with young men desiring membership within my Fraternity and those who aren't legacies or aren't familiar with Omega, tend to identify more with aspects of the "Omega mystique." But the most important thing I wanted to get across is that, to a certain extent, even though those who perpetuate these stereotypes don't have much of a historical reference point, in a germinal sense they are rooted in history, as I stated in my post. And these ideological differences (in the midst of the overwhelming similarities!) really get to the core of the visions of the founders of these organizations. In this sense, there is a serious and important side to these superficial,juvenile stereotypes, and it shows that diversity is important and inevitable. FYI: I don't fit the stereotype of my Fraternity,but as I learned about the history and principles embodied in our Ritual I found that those are the things I really do believe in and seek to live by.
(I once had a Korean husband and wife in my NT Greek class( I used to teach it in seminary). When the wife found out I was an Omega (a "bulldog" as she referred to Omegas) she was very surprised. Later her husband jokingly told me that she said to him that I acted like an "Alpha." I thought this was funny but what she expressed was what a lot of people think, even though it may sound trite and silly.)
I've surfed the web and viewed the websites of various NIC and NPC groups. The content and rhetoric contained therein seems to "flat" and very similar. Maybe my opinion is just one from an outsider. A somewhat positive note to all this is that there is a friendly rivalry which is generated by these stereotypes and it adds to the sense of interest,fun and belonging in the NPHC groups, I think. This is just one person's opinion.
-Wolfman
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