[17802] in APO-L
The continuing debate...
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (TANSTAAFL)
Fri Nov 28 00:16:32 1997
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 1997 00:16:32 -0500
Reply-To: TANSTAAFL <BRO6754@CUP.EDU>
From: TANSTAAFL <BRO6754@CUP.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
Again I find myself drawn to the controversy at hand. On one side are those who
feel all-male chapters discriminate against females at large. On the other side
are those brothers who wish to continue excluding females from their ranks for
whatever reason. I've heard sexual tension as one possible reason why it is
good to keep the genders seperate. Most of us deal with sexual tension every
day of our lives, we have to learn how to deal with it in healthy ways and still
get the job done. Frank Reed Horton spoke of watching Boy Scouts of all
different backrounds and beliefs learning how to work together to accomplish
a given task, and I believe the female issue is just the next pillar of the
"old school" to come toppling down. Like I said, sooner or later those chapters
who have held on to the old ways will have to face the changing times and learn
to adapt, like we all do. Those who want to force the change aren't helping
create a cohesive organization, nor are those who wish to withold money doing
us any good. What is going to make the difference is those chapters who have
made a difference in this country and this world with men and women working
together to serve, lead, and be friends with each other. We need a nation of
partners, not a nation of Babylonians who all speak their own language and
create their own creeds to follow. We cannot exclude certain members of the
human race because its "the way it was always done before." We must get beyond
the petty differences and join hands willingly, not because anyone forced us
or threatened to take away money, but because together we can do more than any
one of us can do alone. That is the strength of brotherhood, it is the kinship
that binds all of us who call ourselves brothers of Alpha Phi Omega. We are
a family my brothers regardless of race, creed, nationality, beliefs, sexual
preference, and yes even gender. We have to be willing to accept all or accept
none. A house divided is not a home. Come together and make a difference,
Active brothers, Alum, Chapters, every one of us. It is especially important
now when the world needs us more than ever, and we need each other more than
ever. Yesterday was Thanksgiving, I gave thanks for my family, and one of the
greatest organizations I have ever had the privledge to serve in, I will
continue to serve as a leader, a server, a friend, and a brother. I ask all of
you on both sides of this issue to drop your battle flags and cross the lines
of controversy. Find what it is about each that separates you and repair them.
We have more important things to do that fight amongst ourselves.
With Love and
in Leadership, Friendship, and Service,
Jeffrey
__________________________________________________________________
* Jeffrey S. Brown *
* California University of Pennsylvania *
* Grad Student: Math & Computer Science *
* Brother of the Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega *
* bro6754@duncan.cup.edu *
* http://duncan.cup.edu/~bro6754 *
* "Love is that condition in which the happiness of another is *
* more important than your own." -Robert A. Heinlein *
------------------------------------------------------------------
