I've had a bit of experience over the past few years arguing for the resumption of Bonfire. I have suggestions regarding arguments to avoid and points to understand.
1. Do not compare the risks associated with building Bonfire to driving cars, flying airplanes, or any other mundane and necessary but dangerous daily activity. Opponents will argue that certain risk is inherent with daily life, but that Bonfire is completely unnecessary.
If you must take this tack, compare Bonfire with optional but treasured human endeavors that are certainly risky but in no danger of being abolished. On another thread, I include high school football in this category.
We don't need prep football. There are safer sports that do not lose a player here, a player there, every single year due to serious injuries, heart failure, or heat stroke.
Yet, we realize that it's not going away and we proactively take all the measures necessary to amiliorate the risk.
2. Don't, under any circumstances, argue that a minimal number of deaths or injuries in the process is acceptable in exchange for the benefits Aggie Bonfire produces for the rest of us.
That should be obvious, but I've heard it.
3. Understand that certain opposition is not only rooted in memories of the 1999 tragedy, but also in deep-seeded opposition to certain aspects of the Bonfire culture that angered people prior to the accident.
Some don't like the classwork the students missed or slept through. Some remember with disdain the uninvitged 6 a.m. pounding on dormitory doors. Some don't like the Confederate flags on helmets, nor what they considered to be emotional reactions to criticism by pro-Bonfire folks. Some opposed Bonfire for ecological reasons.
But when they oppose Bonfire today, they play the 1999 trump card.
4. Realize that there are certain slogans and maxims that are fine for internal consumption, but which may lead to misunderstanding if said to the larger Aggie community or the general public.
One of those is: "We only burn it to get it out of the way for next year."
Okay, guys and gals, I understand. But there are thousands of us who can either no longer participate in cut and stack, or who never had that opportunity in the first place. Burn means a lot to us and to our kids who are future Aggies. You saw several thousand of us in the woods near Hearne last night.
We "burn only" Aggies make up an important part of your constituency and support group.
5. When you encounter criticism of Bonfire, it's more important to project a mature attitude than to win every point.
Many Aggies and community members suffer from residual guilt for inaction prior to the 1999 tragedy. In the years prior to the accident, they may have suspected something was wrong but didn't want to go against the grain. Now, they can't understand why you'd put yourself in such a dangerous situation. For them, refraining from Bonfire activities is more prudent than fixing what went wrong.
If you encounter such a critic, be a good listener. Show empathy: "Yes, I had a friend who was also deeply affected by the accident." Be ready to provide factual information, e.g., the professional engineering design, the no-alcohol policy, etc. But don't expect to change any minds. That will happen over time.
Be polite and considerate. You'll come across as mature and sympathetic, two traits your critic may not have expected of a Bonfire participant.
[This message has been edited by DualAG (edited 11/22/2006 8:47p).]
1. Do not compare the risks associated with building Bonfire to driving cars, flying airplanes, or any other mundane and necessary but dangerous daily activity. Opponents will argue that certain risk is inherent with daily life, but that Bonfire is completely unnecessary.
If you must take this tack, compare Bonfire with optional but treasured human endeavors that are certainly risky but in no danger of being abolished. On another thread, I include high school football in this category.
We don't need prep football. There are safer sports that do not lose a player here, a player there, every single year due to serious injuries, heart failure, or heat stroke.
Yet, we realize that it's not going away and we proactively take all the measures necessary to amiliorate the risk.
2. Don't, under any circumstances, argue that a minimal number of deaths or injuries in the process is acceptable in exchange for the benefits Aggie Bonfire produces for the rest of us.
That should be obvious, but I've heard it.
3. Understand that certain opposition is not only rooted in memories of the 1999 tragedy, but also in deep-seeded opposition to certain aspects of the Bonfire culture that angered people prior to the accident.
Some don't like the classwork the students missed or slept through. Some remember with disdain the uninvitged 6 a.m. pounding on dormitory doors. Some don't like the Confederate flags on helmets, nor what they considered to be emotional reactions to criticism by pro-Bonfire folks. Some opposed Bonfire for ecological reasons.
But when they oppose Bonfire today, they play the 1999 trump card.
4. Realize that there are certain slogans and maxims that are fine for internal consumption, but which may lead to misunderstanding if said to the larger Aggie community or the general public.
One of those is: "We only burn it to get it out of the way for next year."
Okay, guys and gals, I understand. But there are thousands of us who can either no longer participate in cut and stack, or who never had that opportunity in the first place. Burn means a lot to us and to our kids who are future Aggies. You saw several thousand of us in the woods near Hearne last night.
We "burn only" Aggies make up an important part of your constituency and support group.
5. When you encounter criticism of Bonfire, it's more important to project a mature attitude than to win every point.
Many Aggies and community members suffer from residual guilt for inaction prior to the 1999 tragedy. In the years prior to the accident, they may have suspected something was wrong but didn't want to go against the grain. Now, they can't understand why you'd put yourself in such a dangerous situation. For them, refraining from Bonfire activities is more prudent than fixing what went wrong.
If you encounter such a critic, be a good listener. Show empathy: "Yes, I had a friend who was also deeply affected by the accident." Be ready to provide factual information, e.g., the professional engineering design, the no-alcohol policy, etc. But don't expect to change any minds. That will happen over time.
Be polite and considerate. You'll come across as mature and sympathetic, two traits your critic may not have expected of a Bonfire participant.
[This message has been edited by DualAG (edited 11/22/2006 8:47p).]
