School Daze question.

[shinerbock]

True. However, the idea that "opportunity hoarding" is negative is a new one to me. I don't know what the alternative would be, perhaps opportunity redistribution, which I would clearly stand against.

[hmd1014]

shinerbock, why are you here if GC is so antithetical to your "fratty" worldview? It's rich, really, to hear you complaining about knee-jerk thinking and lack of tolerance for different opinions when, if a self-professed liberal decided to stir things up on "your turf," he or she would be met with invitations to drink bleach cocktails, among the milder epithets.

[shinerbock]

my knee jerk and intolerant reactions? Perhaps you should reread my posts, I'm generally quite civil. As for my "fratty" worldview, I'm not sure what you mean by that. My worldview is a conservative one, where people should create their own success, or inherit it without penalty if life grants them that benefit. I am proudly from the South, and think the stereotypical prejudices that exist here are in no greater amount than the ones that exist in other parts of the country, against the southern United States. I also believe our society should have more class, that we should not glorify rappers, athletes and actors who lack personal responsibility are set bad examples for our young people. I also believe society should encourage young people to dress/act in a way which will prepare them for the real world, and not just one at the factory or at McDonalds. Perhaps if we treat them as if they'll actually have a chance to work on Wall St., some of them might actually make it there. I believe society should not frown upon or shy away from its Christian heritage. We have had that heritage in place for quite some time, and now suddenly it deeply offends a small minority of people? Get over it. Some things are larger than yourself, and of those are the history and traditions of this country. I do not believe the government is our personal fallback, and that neither Bush nor Nagin nor Blanco caused the destruction in New Orleans, nor should we angrily demand they fix it. Likewise I think people should not depend on the government for their welfare, but rather that it is our responsibility as citizens to take care of our own, on our own terms. If that is a "fratty" worldview, so be it.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

my knee jerk and intolerant reactions? Perhaps you should reread my posts, I'm generally quite civil. As for my "fratty" worldview, I'm not sure what you mean by that. My worldview is a conservative one, where people should create their own success, or inherit it without penalty if life grants them that benefit. I am proudly from the South, and think the stereotypical prejudices that exist here are in no greater amount than the ones that exist in other parts of the country, against the southern United States. I also believe our society should have more class, that we should not glorify rappers, athletes and actors who lack personal responsibility are set bad examples for our young people. I also believe society should encourage young people to dress/act in a way which will prepare them for the real world, and not just one at the factory or at McDonalds. Perhaps if we treat them as if they'll actually have a chance to work on Wall St., some of them might actually make it there. I believe society should not frown upon or shy away from its Christian heritage. We have had that heritage in place for quite some time, and now suddenly it deeply offends a small minority of people? Get over it. Some things are larger than yourself, and of those are the history and traditions of this country. I do not believe the government is our personal fallback, and that neither Bush nor Nagin nor Blanco caused the destruction in New Orleans, nor should we angrily demand they fix it. Likewise I think people should not depend on the government for their welfare, but rather that it is our responsibility as citizens to take care of our own, on our own terms. If that is a "fratty" worldview, so be it.

Some of your Conservative viewpoints are on target but all things in moderation. Being too Liberal or too Conservative perpetuates inequality and can skew reality.

[shinerbock]

Well in our current social climate, being too conservative basically makes you "prejudiced" in many people's opinion. Far too often, being against things like welfare or affirmative action pegs you as automatically racist or prejudiced towards the poor.

[alchemistoxi]

I'm a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, I just crossed last April 16, 2006.

my fraternity is reaching is 100 year anniversary soon, and I notice, that yes there are other IFC members who reached that mark already (OMG, APA is part of the IFC!!!!)

BUT, you cannot knock the fact that there are distenguished members of not only Alpha's century of leadership, but other NPHC orgs as well. For example, Dr. Martin Luther King was frat. Thurgood Marshall, Current mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick.
There are members that let the letters take over thier being, and it because there is a long road to anything involving BGLOs. And yes, we are bragging about 1900 founding dates, because at a time when african americans didn't think they had the foundation to begin a black organization, 7 men stepped up to the plate and showed women and men alike, that we can come together and make moves for the better. Name me some IFC groups that have active GRADUATE CHAPTERS, that have GRADUATE MEMBERS still doing work for the good of the brotherhood or sisterhood. We took something that was in front of us and put a few good tweaks. I knw alot of people who are part of TKE, and ZBT and the like, and when I mention "My graduate chapter was helping us, they give me a funny look. Like we don't have graduate chapters. Name me another sorority that is a NGO like DST. A sorority with rank in the united nations like them. If there was one thing they taught me while I was on line, was greek love. Regardless of letters, or colors, we may be playing for different teams, but we're in the same league, and whether you like it or not, people have perceptions of frats/sororities period. That we're stupid, and we only like to party

And I agree with alot of people in this thread, you should have done some research before coming online and spouting that non IFC members aren't real greeks, because the oldest and the coldest black greek organization is now a part of the IFC.

[shinerbock]

Its good to hear you're proud of your group's accomplishments, and they seem to be numerous. That aside, I don't understand why black orgs somehow think that having graduate and alumni chapters in some way makes them superior. I'm glad it works for those groups, but it surely doesn't hinder traditional IFC members from being successful. If you need examples, consider the U.S. House of Representatives, The U.S. Senate, and the President of the United States.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Well in our current social climate, being too conservative basically makes you "prejudiced" in many people's opinion. Far too often, being against things like welfare or affirmative action pegs you as automatically racist or prejudiced towards the poor.

True and a lot of that has to do with the common Conservative ideology.

A review of historical and contemporary America doesn't preclude subscribing to a Conservative ideology. However, it precludes buying into ALL of the commonly spewed Conservative ideology. Be weary of political bipartisanism and the strict categorization of Conservative and Liberal ideologies. Life is never so "black and white." There's too much gray for people to see things with such linear logic.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

my knee jerk and intolerant reactions? Perhaps you should reread my posts, I'm generally quite civil. As for my "fratty" worldview, I'm not sure what you mean by that. My worldview is a conservative one, where people should create their own success, or inherit it without penalty if life grants them that benefit. I am proudly from the South, and think the stereotypical prejudices that exist here are in no greater amount than the ones that exist in other parts of the country, against the southern United States. I also believe our society should have more class, that we should not glorify rappers, athletes and actors who lack personal responsibility are set bad examples for our young people. I also believe society should encourage young people to dress/act in a way which will prepare them for the real world, and not just one at the factory or at McDonalds. Perhaps if we treat them as if they'll actually have a chance to work on Wall St., some of them might actually make it there. I believe society should not frown upon or shy away from its Christian heritage. We have had that heritage in place for quite some time, and now suddenly it deeply offends a small minority of people? Get over it. Some things are larger than yourself, and of those are the history and traditions of this country. I do not believe the government is our personal fallback, and that neither Bush nor Nagin nor Blanco caused the destruction in New Orleans, nor should we angrily demand they fix it. Likewise I think people should not depend on the government for their welfare, but rather that it is our responsibility as citizens to take care of our own, on our own terms. If that is a "fratty" worldview, so be it.

Shinerbock, I wholeheartedly agree with you 100%.

Great points.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Shinerbock, I wholeheartedly agree with you 100%.

Great points.

He makes some good points here and there.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

True. However, the idea that "opportunity hoarding" is negative is a new one to me. I don't know what the alternative would be, perhaps opportunity redistribution, which I would clearly stand against.

It is new to you because you haven't read the abundance of literature on class, gender, and racial inequality.

You stand against opportunity redistribution because you fall under the Functionalist paradigm of inequality (the status quo exists simply because it creates balance--similar to the biological/inherent inferiority models posited by Herrnstein and Murray's The Bell Curve and human capital arguments that argue that inequality exists simply because some people have better skills and try harder than others) and you don't understand that discrimination is based on outcome regardless of intent.