Hazing.. good or bad? (comments are welcome and appreciated)
Written on September 5, 2007 – 12:43 am | by shenbrood
What’s on the news lately?
Another death had been witnessed during the past week from a hazing incident. A death from an initiation rights that is supposed to welcome a new member to an organization which he/she wishes to serve. But what if that initiation turned out to be your last day on this world as your so called brothers/sisters are the cause of your death?
During my high school days I was being recruited to two fraternities. Each day they would wait for me at the gate of the campus and entice me to join them so that as they say, "I can be protected". That time I ask myself, "Protected from what?" Maybe because of their constant elicitation of
membership I decided to join the first fraternity. But during the
initiation where I am spanked in the face I readily move out and did
not return. Why? For I believe that nobody can insult me physically just because I want to be one with them. Then because of this constant eliciting again I decided to join the other frat on the condition that my friend will get 75% of the paddle for me. Well he did but I still suffered major bruises on my butt. After that well I have new friends, new brothers and new barkada… and as they say I get the chance to do what have been done to me to neophytes. Isn’t that exciting?
Well that is the typical fraternity that is existing in area outside the universities and in high school in the country. Added to this is the presence of gangstas which is also a derivative of fraternities.
Reflecting on this, I wonder what’s the reason behind hazing someone and inflicting so much physical damage on your future brother in a fraternity? Why the pain and the suffering and why do these people allow it? Because of the name, the prestige of being one with them or the boastfulness in saying I am a member of this and that. For me those are puny and futile reasons to conduct hazing. if someone is really welcome to a group he/she should be treated with utmost care and diligence. He/she should feel that he/she is welcome in the group and that the members care for him.
I am not against initiation or acceptance rights for BROOD also has its own but inflicting damage like that in hazing is out of the question. The true value of a fraternal organization should rest in what it intends to do as an organization and what it intends to contribute to the life of its
members. Is it pain and suffering, death and rumble fights or it is a
greater life of meaning and service.
I am not for the abolition of fraternities and sororities but I am for the review of those frats and sororities who really adhere to hazing and perhaps make them realize that there are other and better forms of acceptance for
neophytes. I am for the strict implementation of the anti-hazing law
and for the punishment of those who will go against the law.
BROOD is strictly against hazing. We admit that we are in part a fraternal organization but we never ever want somebody wanting to be a member experience so much pain and suffering instead we want our members to realize his potential and get up close to himself and to know his
strengths and weaknesses… and this is the reason for our method of
acceptance.
Hazing is not an option… it does not help new members realize the importance and tenets of the organization they are joining.
Below are some links to information related to hazing and related news:
The Anti-Hazing Law (Republic Act 8049)
Police confirm UP student died from hazing
Senators want to probe UP hazing deaths
Probe hazing death, Miriam urges
Movie
Trailer of Frat Daze ( Frat Daze is the FEATURE-LENGTH MOVIE about
friends that possess a burning desire to pledge a glorified fraternity
- based on the legendary true story!)
