Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Chris Honoré: Reality television and the GOP primaries ... Mural of rescued horses to be unveiled in Talent ... Designer creates spaces for people to have experiences ... Chris Honoré: Reality television and the GOP primaries ... Mural of rescued horses to be unveiled in Talent ... Designer creates spaces for people to have experiences ... John Floyd: Fraternities' actions toward veterans abhorrent Comment By John Floyd More Content Now DailyTidings.com By John Floyd More Content Now Posted May. 4, 2015 at 2:46 PM By John Floyd More Content Now Posted May. 4, 2015 at 2:46 PM » Social News Does it surprise anyone that a university fraternity organization desecrated the United States flag by urination, spat on wounded war veterans and generally acted like wild animals? The University of Florida and Emory University in Georgia should be ashamed of common association with students exhibiting such low moral character. Every American should condemn the fraternity members’ abhorrent and defaming actions toward our wounded veterans. And don’t tell me they were exercising free speech, an excuse used so sanctimoniously to justify their actions. I never was a fraternity member simply because I could not afford to belong. It was something I would have liked, but it wasn’t possible. The distractions of fraternity life probably would have prevented me from graduating since I struggled without the fraternal distractions. As a matter of fact, one quarter when I was playing too much tennis with my buddies and my grades were suffering, Connie pulled me aside and informed me we were not there for fun and games. She got my undivided attention and put the fear of God in me. My grades got better. But I still would have liked the experience of belonging to a fraternity. Too much booze Even in the mid ’60s, alcohol seemed to play a major role in fraternity life. Beer was always available and in seemingly limitless quantities. I am sure, as reality set in, and the Emory and Florida fraternity brothers sobered up, they realized the horror of what they had done but it was too late. Alcohol had been the dominant initiator of their actions to the extent of no control. Here again it probably took only one goat for the other sheep to follow and especially when plied with alcohol. Alcohol gives false courage, or in this case, stupidity. The Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, “Young people have exalted notions because they have not yet been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations. They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones. Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning. All their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently. They overdo everything.” During the young life of my son, I referred to Aristotle’s words quite frequently and carried a copy in my wallet. Aristotle seemed to understand the convoluted thought process of young people, even in ancient Greece. His words had a profound effect on me as I was presented difficult situations by my son John. Appropriate Aristotle’s words — “All their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently” — seem appropriate for this particular situation. The fraternity brothers excessively and vehemently acted like animals and should be treated as such. I am not defending their actions by any stretch of the imagination, but colleges and universities share some of the blame for allowing an ever-increasing dependency on alcohol at campus fraternities. The University of Florida has acted with dispatch in holding the students accountable for their actions. Emory is a more liberal institution of higher learning and may just wish the disrespect shown by their students would simply go away. Members of fraternities were usually men of some wealth and were looked up to. But the actions of a few are indicative of corruption and depravity existing at fraternities on college campuses. Fraternities should not worship at the feet of alcohol or any drug for that matter. Fraternities and their special standing on a college campus provide members with a feeling of special class and superiority, and in many instances this designation is true. But the latest actions of fraternity idiots toward our wounded military veterans suggest otherwise. Some, but not all, fraternities have joined the ranks of “Animal House.” John Floyd is a correspondent for The Gadsden (Ala.) Times. By John Floyd More Content Now DailyTidings.com By John Floyd More Content Now Posted May. 4, 2015 at 2:46 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501