[15316] in APO-L
Sliding down the slippery slope
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Michael Leahy)
Thu Nov 7 10:13:50 1996
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 10:11:22 -0500
Reply-To: Michael Leahy <Michael.Leahy@VT.EDU>
From: Michael Leahy <Michael.Leahy@VT.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
Brothers!
I have noticed over the last few days language and debating styles which
are not permitted in polite company.
The goal of debate is to air all pertinent facts, and to persuade the
audience to adopt your viewpoint. Since we can't see faces or hear vocal
inflections over email, we must be very conscious about how our written
words communicate with others and how others will perceive us. Few are
persuaded by open hostility.
We are currently discussing two issues which many brothers hold close to
their hearts:
1) the relationship between Alpha Phi Omega and the Boy Scouts of America,
and 2) the opportunity for the Convention to explicitly reaffirm or deny
the practice of all male chapters at coed institutions to use gender as a
method of determining membership in their chapters.
We are all Brothers of Alpha Phi Omega. We have all accepted FRIENDSHIP as
one of our cardinal principles. I ask that everyone work to keep our
debates and discussions on APO-L, the legislative floor, and everywhere in
between to a friendly and respectful tone. I look forward to continuing
vigorous debate of the issues and not inuendo.
In closing, I'd like to pass on a definition of a great
debater/orator/persuader (a goal that I can only aspire to!):
Tells you to go to hell, but makes you look forward to the journey AND
convinces you that it was your idea. [attribution unknown]
Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you in Phoenix!
--Michael
Michael Leahy michael.leahy@vt.edu
Zeta Beta Advisor home 540-951-4945
P. O. Box 11765 office 540-231-3272
Blacksburg, Virginia 24062-1765 fax 540-231-5922
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in
moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at
times of challenge and controversy. --Martin Luther King Jr.
