[24331] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] Toast Song: Tradition versus the 21st Century
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Robert Dean)
Sat May 29 12:08:35 2004
Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 12:08:33 -0400
Reply-To: Robert Dean <rdean71@comcast.net>
From: Robert Dean <rdean71@comcast.net>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In-Reply-To: <127.421cbb2b.2de9add0@aol.com>
Irwin Chui wrote:
...
> So, in that case, if the U.S. were to follow "tradition", just like what
> the proponets of the Toast Song in keeping "men of", why shouldn't the
> U.S. just do the following below:
>
> 1. Repeal the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which allows
> women to vote.
>
> 2. Ban all homosexuals, lesbians, and transgenders, because religion
> explains traditionally it should be both a male and female.
>
> 3. Most importantly, abolish the 13th amenment of the U.S.
> Constitution, and impose slavery of people once again, because
> traditionally, the majority race should rule, just like motto of the
> Nazi German party.
>
> Yes, in all fairness and justice, are we really the number # 1 service
> fraternity in the world? or do we just say that, because we can't and
> won't admit that tradition is much better off than equality. What kind
> of positive example and interpretation are we setting and sending to the
> younger generations around the world?
It probably isn't the most constructive form of argument to compare
people who want to keep the Toast Song the way it is to Nazis, slavers,
and fascists. There is a big difference between singing a song and
depriving people of their civil liberties.
Regardless of whether or not the Toast Song needs to change, it would be
useful to keep things in perspective. The Toast Song is a song we sing
for 2 minutes at the end of most events. It is not the example we send
to the world -- our program of leadership, friendship, and service is.
-- Robert Dean
