Thanks, NSG.

ro: I know what you are probably going to respond with, so I will address it now. This discussion is not original and this one is following the same progression as the ones I have observed and participated in in the past.

The most common response is "you guys don't have yell leaders, the band, or football players there. That makes the whole Bonfire thing complete." That couldn't be farther from the truth. In the last two years, Student Bonfire has succeeded in having yell lead by former yell leaders ('04), FTA Band members work on Bonfire and there at Burn, and (according to many 1st hand accounts) football players at Bonfire '03.

After this, the normal "It's still not Bonfire" person says "Well, what about the coach's speech? You don't have a coach there."

My response is "I'll see you when it burns, and we'll see what happens THIS year..."

Bring the kids up from Brenham on November 19th, regardless of their age now. At o'dark thirty when the 'Pots light Bonfire '05 up, you can have the question "is this Bonfire?" answered. I have sat next to many Aggies who found their answers at cut, stack, and Burn. My father was one of them. I'll be proud to be there next to you.

[This message has been edited by opie03 (edited 6/15/2005 4:23p).]

TAMU administration is waiting for a whole generation of students to pass through who have never experienced an on-campus Bonfire.

Then when no current students can recall the glory of days past and only the horror of a single incident, the Prez will quietly slink in and put a stake theough Bonfire's heart before it can rise again some fine fall night.

OK, some of you people don't seem to get it.

PAY ATTENTION, FOLKS!!

Bonfire is still around and no one at the University can do ANYTHING about it. They've tried. They've failed.

Quit p!issing on the current students by discounting the Bonfire they are building and start supporting them (physically, monetarily or spiritually). The location of Bonfire doesn't matter. The spirit with which it is built does.

*angry rant over - off to get the first cup of coffee for the day*

Kip, Opie, and North, you've darned near made an old man cry. Your spirit is awesome. The internet is a wonderful thing, but I can't come over and shake your hands and that's what I'd like to do right now.

Mrs. Ro and I only attended A&M in fits and spurts doing graduate study, but it's the college we think of as "home" (well I hope I can speak for her). How long ago was it we attended? Well, I'll give you a few hints. We saw the x-rated BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS with the firemen at the Campus Theatre (it was before I got saved, so it doesn't count); we griped when we had the street dances in front of Sbisa because they always got this band called Z Z Top to play for them; and we'd walk from our apartment at Casa del Sol to Charlie's Grocery to buy food.

So we'd really like for A&M to stay just the way it was until our granddaughters (Classes of 2020 and 2023) graduate, on-campus Bonfire and all.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm," amd Ralph was right. Look at that word. Smack dab in the middle is the Greek word theos, as in theology, and theos means having God within. And that's what you have inside of you.

November 19th? About dark thirty? Hope to see you there.

great to hear!

dp.

[This message has been edited by opie03 (edited 6/16/2005 3:02p).]

Whoop.

ro: When you make it to burn, I'll be the guy in a yellow t-shirt and a black pot with "UP" in athletic tape on the front and "opie" written on the back. I'll be honored to shake YOUR hand.

The spirit that is evident in our posts comes from the impact that Bonfire has had on us. I'd love to share it by showing it to you.



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If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

I'll probably be beside opie or helping around the press... and I agree with everything he just said.

It would be an honor to meet you.