One of the most popular images for Greek live to shove down young mens' throats is that of the "southern gentleman." We idolize the concept of the "Old South," when life was supposedly much more simple, and men lived by a chivalrous, unwritten code of conduct. We unabashedly gobble it up, thinking that we too can be bourbon and bow tie gentlemen. Towards that endeavor, I feel that we have become overly zealous.
Yes, there is a time to be a gentleman. Yes, there is a time for bowties and etiquette and proper behavior. In a civilized world where our school system has taught us to sit down and shut up, being a gentleman should become second nature. The danger lies in letting that gentleman dominate your life. There is a difference in knowing when to be gentle and letting that gentleness get in the way of our inherent nature.
As a member of a Greek-letter organization, I'm going to take things even further back in history, way beyond the founding of our organizations, and look at the people who created our letters. The ancient Greeks came up with the concept of Thumos, which they considered to be one of the most important parts of a man's identity. It's described as "a fire in the belly," and "the seat of life." It's passion. While it can be categorized and divvied up into different aspects of our life, like love and war, in its most basic form, it's the idea that living, not just surviving, excites us. It's madness, and it's brilliant.
This madness isn't found at the bottom of a handle, and it's no secret ingredient in Monster or Red Bull. Some of us have more of it than others. Some of us have never tapped into it. Yet it is there. I'm not saying that every man gets the same kick out of skydiving or hunting, but we all have passion.
One of the most easily accessible ways to tap into this madness is the way we speak. The trend of speaking in questions and inserting parenthetical "you know?'s" into our conversations has compromised the conviction with which a man talks. So the first thing I challenge you to do is learn to speak with authority. You are a man. You have ideas. Find one that you believe, and understand that while an open mind is a necessary asset, a convinced mind — a convicted mind — is the weapon with which you can make the most impact. It is not enough to simply question authority; you must speak with it too. I dare you to use your passions to positively influence the lives of others, and to do so unabashedly. It will spill over into other aspects of your life.
I'll leave you with a quote that is attributed to Jack London, author of The Call of the Wild:
"I would rather be ashes than dust!
I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time."
Get wild, men.
