[23448] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] Toast Song Issues
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Buddha Buck)
Fri Jan 17 16:20:20 2003
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 16:24:50 -0500
Reply-To: Buddha Buck <bmbuck@14850.com>
From: Buddha Buck <bmbuck@14850.com>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In-Reply-To: <3E286C49.1000001@glue.umd.edu>
Kevin Yue wrote:
> Well...I read those few emails coming through about the Toast Song...I
> agree with NOT changing the song at all, for all the reasons that my
> fellow Brothers have presented. However, I know that Epsilon Mu Chapter
> felt that we needed to celebrate the diversity among the Chapter, so an
> EM Brother wrote, back in 1996 (and Henry Marx, correct me if I'm
> wrong...), Brother Brian Weissman wrote a third verse which sings as
> follows:
>
> Sing we now both men and women
> Brothers all are we
> Hearts as one we praise together
> Our diversity
> Ever growing, ever learning
> So that we may be
> Joined in Alpha Phi Omega
> For eternity
I think, overall, I'd prefer to add a new verse rather than to change
the existing verses. I'm not sure I'd support this verse, but that's
more a matter of aesthetics than a disagreement with the sentiment.
First, we've added verses before -- the current 2nd verse was an
addition -- but I don't think we've changed verses. So there is
precedent for this sort of change.
Second, adding a new verse will allow old alumni to sing along with the
existing verses without feeling out of place. It will be familiar, even
though it will no longer stop where they expect it. I have sung the
Toast Song with alumni from my chapter who predated the existing second
verse, and while there was a minor amount of confusion on their part
when the song continued, it wasn't a problem. I think a much larger
amount of confusion would result if they had to question whether or not
they even knew the song anymore.
In a way, adding more verses without changing the existing verses is
useful because it reflects the growing history of our Fraternity.
