Kappa Alpha Order

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by Tom Earp (in part)
The Stars and Bars was the Battle Flag of the Confederacy . . . .

Actually,no Tom, although a common mistake. The Stars and Bars was the first national flag of the Confederacy, but as noted was hard to distinguish from the US flag on the battlefield. The so-called Battle Flag was the flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. Its design was incorporated into the second national flag (the "Stainless Banner, which looked too much like a flag of surrender when there was no wind), and the third national flag.

The commonly-seen Confederate flag that was (and is) used by the KKK, and is sometimes called the "battle flag," is actually the second naval jack of the Confederate navy.

Just trying to keep things historically accurate.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by dzrose93 (in part)
The fact that Lee is an historic figure associated with the South during the Civil War has given a lot of people reason to believe that the men of Kappa Alpha would like to go back to the days of slavery.

My favorite story about Robert E. Lee: Some years after the Civil War, he was attending church (St. Paul's Episcopal) in Richmond, across the street from the Capitol. At Communion a black man came foward to the altar rail. The others there -- all white -- got up and left. No one else approached the altar rail, leaving the black man there by himself, until one man got up from his seat, walked up the aisle, and knelt next to him. And yes, as I'm sure you can guess, that man was Robert E. Lee.

If we judge by the standards of our own time, then I am sure we would consider Lee a racist (as we would Washington, Jefferson, and many, many others). But by the standards of Lee's time, that silent act was a powerful challenge to prevailing, deeply-entrenched prejudices.

For what it's worth.

[Optimist Prime]

Lee was not racist. In those days states were considered like countries. Like if the UN broke up now and went to war, if Lee were alive he would fight for America, because that is his country, not the UN. It was like that back then. He felt that even though he wanted the US to stay together, Virginia was his country, and he could not fight against his country because that would treason. Lee was Lincolns first choice.

[justhey76]

Kinda sorta back on topic. My sister's ex boyfriend is a KA in oklahoma, and he is one of the nicest, most respectful, and least racist guys I know. And so are his brothers that I hang out with.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by superchick
I thought if you wear the confederate uniform to important events and wave the confederate flag around all the time that you would be racist. They are at my campus, they get in fights with the BGLO's all the time.

OK - I only read the last three pages of this thread, but I'd like to point out that so far we've seen a huge amount of fallacious logic (false dilemmas, appeal to anonymous authority, small sample size, etc etc).

If you're going to post stuff like the above, maybe take a minute to think it through - there are, in fact, Kappa Alphas on this board, and they are NOT racist men.

KABillyMac, one of the most universally liked men on this board, might be a bit shocked to see that he's a closet racist.

In short - shut the hell up kid, unless you're joking (and then I don't get it).

[SigK_Bama]

My husband is a Kappa Alpha, and that was one of the main reasons that I was attracted to him: his kindness, generosity, and the fact that he nearly breaks his arm trying to open the door for me wherever we're going! Like someone else said, whenever I went over to the house when we were in school, and even now, I know that I am around a great group of guys who would do anything for me. And not just because I married one of the brothers, but because I'm a lady and they treat me with respect.

No matter what the national organization was founded on, there are always going to be some idiots that get in who do not in any way represent the ideals that KA was founded on. That goes without saying for every single fraternity and sorority ever founded. But the KAs that I have met are great guys, always welcoming, raise tons of money for MDA, and are well liked by the majority of people.

My $0.02.


Bama

[CarolinaDG]

I dated a KA my freshman year while he was pledging, so in my true style, I researched the fraternity. They are southern in every aspect of the term. Does this mean they're racist? Well, I'm sure they have a couple of brothers who are, but I'm also pretty sure (not knowing myself, of course) that part of their initiation does NOT involve swearing on a bible that they will hate black people for the rest of their life. Now, I loved my boyfriend very much, and a lot of the reasons that I did were the same reasons that made him such a great KA. He opened doors for me, had true southern values, and centered his life around hunting (ok, so maybe the hunting thing wasn't my favorite part). I still tease him from time to time about being a rich, racist, "Khaki A-hole" but in the end he's truly a wonderful guy.

[DZHBrown]

Originally posted by Jae
They're great guys if you like the southern, racist, good old boy type. You wanted to know the truth, there it is.

That's pretty stereotypical. Not every Kappa Alpha and not every chapter is like this. Do they exist? Sure. Are there other men that belong to other organizations who are southern, racist good old boys? You bet.

[meridionaleDG]

Originally posted by Jae
They're great guys if you like the southern, racist, good old boy type. You wanted to know the truth, there it is.

Are you greek? Because honestly, unless you are an ignorant greak you would know that chapters very all over the place. One of my sisters boyfriend is a KA at Mississippi State University. You would expect them to be really racist - but he is absolutly the sweetest guy you will meet.

It is very ignorant for you to say something like that. What I find funny is they have to have female dates for Old South - so I guess the girls that go to that are racist too? If so, then that is an attack on my sister - and well, we won't go there.

[OverAndUnder]

Hey Folks - I'm a KA and I just signed up on Greek Chat and read through the past 6 or so pages concerning KA, the South, the Battle Flag etc. I just wanted to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for standing up and defending the Order. I appreciate it greatly and I'm sure the same goes for all my Kappa Alpha brothers.

[hottytoddy]

I know at Ole miss KA's aren't the southern redneck boys with cotton license plates on the front of their cars...that's another frat. I don't know what KA was founded on, but saying that KA's are racist because their founder was is insane- that was like 125+ years ago.

[baby_KA83]

Hello I'm a KA at Oklahoma City University. I am black so I can safely say that KA represents being southern gentlemen and not RACISM! My chapter is one of the most diverse in the country (black, white, hispanic, middle eastern decent, etc.) and the people on our campus know that we are gentlemen.

[Aprylel21]

Originally posted by baby_KA83
Hello I'm a KA at Oklahoma City University. I am black so I can safely say that KA represents being southern gentlemen and not RACISM! My chapter is one of the most diverse in the country (black, white, hispanic, middle eastern decent, etc.) and the people on our campus know that we are gentlemen.

It feels really good to see this on the board. There is a KA chapter on my campus and I absolutely think that those guys are really nice and I have noticed the Southern Gentlemen in them. My freshman year of college was sterotyped with the KA's on campus being rasicts due to a situation that happened on their bid day, which KA had nothing to do with, but because of their "rasict" connotation. But I allowed myself to be open with them because a lot of my friends hang out there all the time. I really got a chance to know them and I hate that I labeled them before and I am quick to correct someone if they say that KA is racist. The KA's at my school are some truly quality guys and I think what they stand for is awesome. I think all guys need to be taught how to be a gentleman.

[WHClark]

KA as a fraternity is about brotherhood, community service, academic excellence, and whole lot of social fun!

KA as an Order is about Duty, Honor, Country, Chivalry and Spirituality. Its no coincidence many prominent Military and Religious leaders are KA's. The privledge of becoming a truly initiated member of the Kappa Alpha Order is not easy but definitly well worth it!

[RedFox]

The chapter here at Tennessee was pulled...not really sure when, last year? the year before? I know there was some pretty bad stuff going on :-\ It's a shame that messups cost a university's chapter everything