Roll Call-Aggies

[David Morris]

>From: Jill Adams

> > I think there is talk of ending this as a tradition.

Real traditions aren't so easily turned off.

> > 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.

Sounds like good pagan fun to me.

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.

Nothing exceeds like excess?

> > 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.

Militarism is at the heart of football, and maybe all sports.  Texas A&M has 
tapped into a big vein.  Almost all is fair in this realm.

Bonfires are so primal.  Heady display of heat and light combined with youth 
and alcohol!  Nudity must, MUST be included!  The pagans knew what they were 
doing.

David Morris

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