Quote:
Originally posted by PHAtraveller
doggystyle82,
but truthfully, are you telling me that "making someone dress alike and shave their heads" lead to the lasuits that presently threaten BGLOs? No, its the numerous hazing activities that have lead to them.
1% is a very large number. If 1% of individuals were hurt during the pledge process in a class of say 1000, thats 10 people. Isn't that too many?
Were some Masons hazed?, yes. Was I hazed?, you could put it that way. That doesn't mean it was right nor that I was "made" correctly. One thing that I never heard of, or will, is a "paper" mason or OES. Why is that? Because it not what you do to get in the org but what you do after that. BGLO are spending too much time about how you get in rather than "What have you done for me lately"
I was wondering where all the brothers that pledged hard are? Are all financial? I want to know where I can find a chapter, in the 99%, that are legit! I have yet to find one.
|
But that's just the point I'm making. I have HEARD of some pretty intense, physical hazing incidents taking place in Prince Hall. Just because they didn't make the news doesn't mean they DIDN'T happen. And, more importantly, just because I've HEARD about them, doesn't mean they DID happen. How can you argue that 1% is very large number when MOST of that 1% is based on hearsay and fabrications that don't even hold up in court. You're absolutely right about there being some uncalled-for incidents that reflect negatively on the system. But, isn't that the case in virtually EVERY SITUATION/AREA of life?
There is always a tiny percent! Two years ago, I took a medication that caused me severe itching (with no rash, bumps, redness or anything). I researched and net-surfed this condition for WEEKS before I was able to pinpoint it to the medication. In the very fine print (had to a be in 2-pt font), on the bottle, I read that 3% of the MILLIONS of people who've taken this medication "have experienced this severe itching." Who knew I'd be one of that 3%?!?!?! I've been allergic to anything other than strawberries!!! But, I'm not on a national campaign to ban this medication; instead, I've realized that sometimes things go wrong. Look at plane crashes and how many lives have been lost as a result of engine failure or something else going wrong that could/should have been avoided. Yet, we still get on planes BY CHOICE every day because we trust that the mechanics and pilots will follow the right procedures and that nothing will go wrong. Look at the number of athletes who've died during training/practice; it's never until someone dies that anyone ever questions whether the athletes are being pushed too hard. But, even in the face of such incidents, we still support our favorite teams/players in their pursuit of victory. We think it's necessary/justified for the team to train hard and practice hard so that they can get the win. When we hear of a player dying, we simply shake our heads, utter a non-heart-felt "That's sad," and soon forget about the whole thing! We don't start a campaign to ban the rigorous training activities (sometimes in 100+ degree weather) of the sports leagues! We might temporarily turn our noses up at the coach, but as soon as a report comes out proving that a particular athlete died because of an unknown/undetected heart condition, we breathe a sigh of relief and are "all good" with the coach again! So why is it that the world holds the entire NPHC accountible for those few, sad incidents that have taken place?
Doggy is right about the law issue. Do you really think anti-hazing policies are in place to protect prospective members!?!?!? NO! If we are to have active chapters that bring in new members, we have to adhere to STATE LAW--we just have to! And, like Doggy also said, these anti-hazing laws are ALL--I repeat, ALL the direct result of alcohol-realted hazing incidents occuring within traditionally white fraternities and sororities, stemming way back to the late 1800s when a pledge died after being forced to swallow an oil-soaked fish whole... and in the early 1900s when a young man stepped forward to testify that his "big brothers" gave him some kind of shock-treatment when he failed to answer certain questions to their satisfaction. All this was back when the black greek family was comprised of only A Phi A, AKA, Nupe and Omega. Our pledge processes were ceremonial/ritualistic parts of our black collegiate history, but as white fraternities got more and more negative attention, we (by default) were put in the spotlight. And that's mostly because some bystander said, "Well look at what those greeks over there are doing!" (It's that "If I go down, I'm taking you with me" syndrome) Also, if you'll notice, the really ridiculous, deadly incidents that have occured within the NPHC orgs didn't really happen until after these laws were in place and the public pagentry of pledging was forced to trickle underground. If we were back above ground, I doubt you'd ever hear of another horrible hazing incident in our orgs.
Also, if you'll notice, many of the people who take a firm stand against pledging are people who succumb to the rumors, fear the unknown, or tried and didn't make it. Now, before you attack me, let me say this: I'm not justifying life-threatening hazing by NO MEANS! But, I always wonder why people pursue membership yet scream hazing when something isn't easy or desirable for them. I know some girls who dropped line because they had to sleep on the floor during a retreat. Mind you-- there were 8 sorors and 5 of them, but only 3 full-size beds. Two sorors had to sleep on the sofas. But, even though sleeping bags were provided, they didn't understand why sorors got the beds and they didn't. Are you kidding me? I mean, these were girls who didn't have a clue what humility means and they assumed that it was hazing! Hell, it wasn't even pledging, if you ask me--there simply weren't enough beds for everyone! Would you call it HAZING/PLEDGING that they had to sleep on the floor?!?!? Well, I can assure you that THEY concluded that they were being hazed
and made a point to drop line and start speading that crap (minus the true, specific detail, of course) all over campus. By both law and tradition, they weren't hazed at all and no policies were violated. However, because of their rumors, a cloud hung over the chapter and the big shots were watching the chapter under a microscope from then on. The sad reality is that, these days, people are expecting cake walks into greekdom, expecting the process to be as easy as "joining the Boys and Girls Club of America" (as Doggy would say)! From what I've HEARD. SEEN, and EXPERIECNED, the Prince Hall process doesn't all differ that much, and is oftentimes much more difficult. However, because of the privacy that we get in the Prince Hall family (i.e. not being in the spotlight on college campuses), you just don't hear about hazing incidents in these orgs--but they do happen! It's not about the level of respect Masosn/Stars get or have--we just aren't being watched under a microscope like collegiate greeks are! It's like that racial profiling salesmen who's so busy watching the black folks in department stores, that they miss the middle-aged white women stealing a pair of earrings! of course it's gonna look like black folks steal if that who you're always watching. The greek system is no different--folks are so busy in our grills, watching our every moves that other groups are getting by with the same or worse actions. I sincerely wish the black greek system could overcome all this "social profiling!"
And, in response to your question/statement:
I was wondering where all the brothers that pledged hard are? Are all financial? I want to know where I can find a chapter, in the 99%, that are legit! I have yet to find one.[/QUOTE]
Didn't you know? A "very large number" of 'em are Masons!
And I'm Out!
1%???
Linear Mode
