[19499] in APO-L
Thouhgts on Legislation
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Richard Quodomine, Thomas Register)
Mon Oct 26 10:58:21 1998
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 10:57:05 -0500
Reply-To: "Richard Quodomine, Thomas Register Rep. on Long Island" <trrdq@SPRINTMAIL.COM>
From: "Richard Quodomine, Thomas Register Rep. on Long Island" <trrdq@SPRINTMAIL.COM>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
I have the following thoughts on National Legislation:
1. Alumni/Advisors tend to have a long-term persepctive on legislation,
having seen first-hand the lessons of history. Thus, they tend to submit
legislation, out of either love for a past they believe is threatened,
or a future they conceive of as necessary. Often, many undergrads do not
have this view. Thus it is valuable when those with a long view of the
Fraternity submit legilsation. This is not to knock undergraduate
legislation, but to state the value and perhaps strength of elder
brother legislation.
2. Legislation once every two years is NEVER overkill. It means alot to
discuss, to learn, to see new viewpoints. Even the all-male debate,
raging since I was on APO-L in 1993 or so, still occassionally produces
new points from further abstractions such as academic sociology,
interactions, and looking for patterns through history. Don't believe
me? Join John Hall and I's debate (which has added 3 people since I put
out the post) on the matter. The point is that we have 4 days or so to
create the future of the fraternity, and therefore no amount of
legislation (read idea/viewpoint) is ever too many.
Democracy doesn't know too much debate, that's the whole point. Yes,
sometimes it is overwhelming. However, that is part of the price of
freedom and choice that we pay. Imagine if we followed the sentiments of
some and cut the idea pool to a "sensible" number. What gets thrown out?
Who decides what is sensible? Does anyone want to travel down that
slippery slope?
Care about your fraternity and its issues. Its the only chance you'll
get to make a difference in one of the few organizations in the world
whose entire dedication IS to make a difference. Care. Think. Vote.
Opinions are my own. Debate Welcome. Flames Not.
Rich Quodomine
