Snippet #6 - "Principles of Democracy",
taken from the May 1941 issue of The Baton.
Steve Nelson: "Try to imagine when reading
this what the world was like in May, 1941. The USA was not yet engaged
in WWII, but most of the rest of the world was. Most of Europe had
fallen to the Nazis and Great Britain was mostly alone. If I remember
my history correctly, there were a lot of opposing forces at work in the
USA. There were groups supporting most of the various "isms" throughout
the country; pro-democracy, pro-communism, pro-fascism, pro-German,
pro-isolationism, pro-pacifism, etc.
I'm guessing
on this one, but I get the feeling that this statement that was printed
in The Baton seeks to ensure whoever may read it that a "secret"
organization like a Greek-letter organization is not automatically a
disloyal group. Its statements seem to want to make clear that
fraternities are based on the same principles that make democracy
worthwhile. What do you think?"
National Interfraternity Conference
Principles of Democracy
(BATON May 1941)
The College
Fraternity of the United State and Canada which was conceived in the
atmosphere of a struggle for political independence, and came into being
as an expression of self-government:
Adheres
steadfastly to social, religious, political, and economic democracy as
the only sound basis for a satisfying personal and national life;
Defends the
individual's right to liberty and equality of opportunity;
Inculcates a
sense of responsibility to self, to college, to country, and to society;
Stresses the
spiritual values of life as the foundation of the truly democratic way
of living;
Supports our
countries' championship of the cause of democracy;
Condemns all
activities tending to subvert the principles and processes of democratic
government;
Pledges
unqualified loyalty and devotion to country.