Roll Call-Aggies

Jill Adams grladams at teleport.com
Sun Nov 21 13:40:43 CST 1999


Any other Aggies reading the list now?
I wrote something, about the bonfire.



> 
> Okay I just watched three networks in succession, each playing the story in
> a sequence that I could watch all of them. Now there are 11 dead and 3
> still unaccounted for. What a terrible way to die. As if there is any good
> way. But there is not. All of the kids dead were students of science,
> engineering, and soforth. How sad. Sad.
> 
> I read the web pages of CNN, ABC msNBC, and Yahoo for hours at the
> reference desk today. I think there is talk of ending this as a tradition.
> I always thought it was too surreal, but just accepted it along with a long
> list of eccentricities that are TXA&M. The parties around bonfire were
> heady and exciting. Bonfire was utterly the maddest, most wild and
> out-of-hand party you could imagine. I had the bonus of being friends with
> a wide range of people, and could usually meet up with several clusters of
> tailgate pickup parties. One year, the last year I was at A&M, Jeffrey was
> in a protest rally against the bonfire. There were always a vocal
> anti-bonfire contingent there that night too. Everyone could be someone at
> bonfire, because you were an Aggie, and only an Aggie would get a kick out
> of burning small wooden skyscraper with jet fuel. Almost everyone I knew
> either sustained a bump or bruise somewhere that week, stumbling around at
> bonfire in mud, or hoisting a log or whatever. Bonfire season is this time
> that means so much more.. about the smell of the air cooling down, football
> that lasts one complete weekend, national recognition, friends coming back
> in town who had moved. Arrangements for alumni couch surfing and getting
> together. I think I am glad I was around "when there was still bonfire" But
> inside, I was always a little grossed out by the waste of the bonfire.
> There will probably always be bonfire. And, there will never be bonfire
> again.
> 
> I will point out right now the high level of participation and perhaps in a
> way, good feelings that Aggies get out of all things somber and memorial,
> of ceremonies, flags, marching, wearing ribbons... And as I watched the
> crowds in Reed hall and saw again that sea of people doing a memorial on
> campus, I had to think, okay, they are all dressed up, they put on their
> finery, they are in there with George Bush, and quietly they are trying to
> feel like this is one more source of school unity, but on the other hand,
> there may be a few who are saying, "what good our mass school unity
> movements, to what end?" The mass movements, especially bonfire create a
> market there that extends into social events, parties, products, the list
> is endless. And most of the movements are powerfully extraneous. These
> movements do little in the way of raising greater social causes or anything
> outside of a tiny insular world. I suppose it is disrespectful to elevate
> the absurd right now and to doubt the sincerity of the students involved
> with the memorial. I know this is a terrible time of inward lookingness and
> grief, and will probably be a huge embarrassment for the University
> forever. 



Dave Meury wrote:
> 
> Roll call ---
> 
> been busy
> got behind
> catching up
> 
> Present but of no account.
> 
> Following through on military theme...
> 
> Mon, 15 Nov 1999 19:46:17 +0000
> JL <mgsadd at cableinet.co.uk>
> GRGR(14) 'notes' & queries #2
> 
> >304.5 : ' route-step '
> >??
> 
> Route step is "marching" while at ease,
> that is, in formation but not in step.
> 
> Legend has it that while crossing
> small bridges, troops march at route
> step to avoid structural damage due to
> the vibrations of sychronized foot impacts.
> 
> A Chinese friend of mine tells me that this
> is the principle behind China's secret
> weapon. Tidal waves.
> One, two, three..JUMP!



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