rhe News Argus October 1990 Page 2
-OPINION
Patriotism Bacl By
Popular Demand
By JOANIE TUTTLE
News Argue Editor
As Americans face their first risk
of war since the invasion of Panama,
we have become very supportive of our
troops in the Persian Gulf.
I think it's somewhat sad to think
that some Americans need the threat of
war before they become vocal in their
support of our great country. I
emphasize the word “some”, due to the
fact that not all Americans abandon the
country during times of peace. A lot of
people support our country like they
choose to be a fan of the winning sports
team, while others remain loyal
throughout the good and the bad times.
One major difference facing
Americans during the Persian Gulf crisis
is the deployment of female soldiers to
that region. Many families are feeling
the results of this historical move by
the United States mihtary service,
through the hopefully temporary loss of
their loved ones. Many news shows
have shown the heart wrenching scenes
of soldiers saying their good-byes to
their loved ones. The scenes that I felt
were particularly touching were the ones
with the “Moms” dressed in their
fatl^Ts*", hugging and kissing their kids
and husbands, as they boarded
transportation to the Persian Gulf. 1
guess these scenes were especially
touching because it’s just not something
I’m use to seeing. During one particular
program on the TODAY SHOW, Faith
Daniels, the news anchor was brought
to tears while she was interviewing a
Mom that was stationed in Saudi
Arabia, and her husband and young son
who remained in Fayetteville, N.C. I
too was overcome with emotion as I
saw the soldier's husband and young son
recognize her on the air hve via satelUte
in Saudi Arabia.
I think we the Americans that
remain at home, realize that Saddam
Hussein, is not a man to be taken Ughtly.
Therefore we worry about the danger
our troops are in due to their close
proximity to Hussein. After all, a man
that would be so callous to experiment
with chemical warfare on his own
people, would surely not hesitate doing
the same to U.S. troops.
9\(ezus !Axgus Staff
Editor;
Joanie OTuttle
Sports Editor:
Stephen Smith
Greek Editor:
Michael! Parker
Photographers:
Charles Hanes
John Little
Lori McEIrath
JoanieTuttle
Faculty Advisor:
Craig ^ Greenlee
Staff Writers:
Wendy Bridges
Duane Hackney
Charles Hanes
Lene Hunter
John Little
Candace Marshall
Lori McEIrath
The News Argus
reserves the right to
refuse publication of any
arti cl e, photog raph or
illustration that is deemed
inappropriate for its
readership. All
submissions must be
turned in for consideration
in a timely manner The
News Argus staff
reserves the right to edit
all editorial submissions.
For . advertising
information, please call
(919) 750-2327. The
News Argus assumes no
responsibilities for
unsolicited materials.
N
0
n
0
P
X
T
0
ft
O
n
0
P
X
T
0
a
6
n
©
p
X
T
0
a
6
X
0
p
X
T
0
a
6
X
Y
p
X
T
0
ft
6
X
Y
Z
X
T
0
n
6
X
Y
Z
A
T
0
a
6
X
Y
z
A
B
0
a
6
X
Y
Z
A
B
a
6
X
Y
Z
A
B
A
6
X
Y
Z
A
B
A
E
X
Y
Z
A
B
A
E
O
An Alpha's
Point of View
As a member of Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity Inc. I am very
upset about the decision to end
pledging as we know it. The
“membership intake process” is
a travesty.
The new so-called no
pledge process will allow
individuals to join Greek letter
organizations and become full
fledged brothers and sisters
without even knowing the
history of their respective
organization. Being a
“Neophyte”, or one just going
over during the last semester
(Spring ’90), there is a certain
amount of prestige of being the
last line to actually pledge
instead of just signing your
name to a piece of paper, but I
would rather sacrifice that
personal satisfaction of being
on the last line for the sake of
the fraternity.
One of the main reasons for
pledging is to develop unity or
oneness with your line
brothers/sisters. That will be
lost along with the universal
respect each Greek letter
organization receives. Let me
put it this way, who will you
respect more, a person who is
given riches or one that works
and toils to earn their reward?
In my discussions with
members of other Greek letter
organizations, their concerns
are the same as mine — that
the future members of these
organizations will, in college
terms “get no dap” or no
respect.
In addition, the collective
feeling is that conditions for
the people interested in joining
these organizations will
worsen, not specifically on this
campus, but in general.
Certain animosities may arise
between ‘“old school”
members and their non
pledging counterparts which
may lead to confrontations.
We all hope that this does not
occur, but what will happen is
yet to be seen.
The no pledge process will
undoubtedly be an interesting
thing to see. How well it
works out is still in question.
In the words of one of my
brothers at North Carolina
A&T, “the end of pledging is
the end of the fraternity.”
-John A. Little