Dr. Rooney's E-mails, continued

(I just decided to post them here b/c my mailbox is over quota)

November 15th, 2000

THE ATHENIAN OATH

Sometime in my past,  I found the Athenian Oath and thank goodness I
wrote it down.  It did not mean as much to me then as now for several
reasons.  The obvious is that we are going to Greece.  But more
importantly I have grown to appreciate the ancient Greeks and marvel at
their society.  Their form of city/states and their form of government
were very influential to our founding fathers.  Madison read a great
deal about their governments and much of our constitution had it's roots
with the Greeks.  They had a marvelous sense of understanding themselves
and their place in life.  Greek architecture, music, art, and education
was extremely sophisticated.  Their educational system was based on
training the entire person in body, mind, and spirit.  Their love of
their city and states was zealous.  The Athenian Oath was taken by the
young men of ancient Athens when they reached the age of seventeen:

"We will never bring disgrace on this our City by an act of dishonesty
of cowardice.

We will fight of the ideals and Sacred Things of the City both alone and
with many.

We will revere and obey the City's laws, and will do our best to incite
a like reverence and respect in those above us who are prone to annul
them or set them at naught.

We will strive increasingly to quicken the public's sense of civic duty.

Thus in all these ways we will transmit this City, not only not less,
but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us."

OK, what does that have to do with going to school?  Nothing, I was just
seeing if you read these emails!  Actually, I want to bring up the point
that in this very interesting time of political uncertainty, we see what
a great country we have.  Our forefathers were so wise in creating our
government that has lived now for 211 years.  Our goal in life is to
continue this legacy by helping to make our society a better place than
it was transmitted to us.  An educated population was the dream of
Madison and his colleagues.  We can do our part by working as hard as we
can to be that total person.  I know this was a little deep this
morning, but then I have to have fun also.  OK, MRD's, let's go our and
"transmit our city, not only not less, but greater and more beautiful
than it was transmitted to us."  Have a great day, good luck with your
studies and please read all the above information so we can end the year
with all our equipment and uniforms in great shape.  PR

November 16th, 2000

GREECE


       Read the International Sport web site.
       GET YOUR PASSPORT!
       Best idea for money is to 1. take traveler's checks, 2. credit
card i.e. Visa, 3. some
       one dollar bills and get a small amount of Greek Drachma before
you go through
       your bank.
       Read as much as you can about Greece.
       Today, the US Dollar = 396.610 Greek Drachma.
       A good idea is to get one of those small pocket calculators so
that you can easily
       figure the exchange.  For example, something that cost 5,200
Drachma is $13.11.
       Temperature yesterday is Athens was 76 high and 55 low.



One of my favorite lines is from the sit com, "Cheers."  The opening
song line says, "Where
Everybody Knows Your Name!"  That is something that you have had the
wonderful
experience with the Marching Royal Dukes.  When you came into the
program you were with
400+ friends who you shared a common goal.  You were also part of a
smaller group
(section, fraternity, sorority, friends) who you could share your joys
and sorrows with
everyday.  You could laugh, cry, make jokes, sing happy birthday, and
share your inner
feelings with dear friends. When you saw them walking across campus you
could share that
wink of something that only you knew was special.  That officially ended
Saturday until next
year and for the seniors that was the end of a special time.  However,
we can create our own
special group.  Build your own set of friends.  Have a sectional at 5:00
PM with all the
mellophones who are taking the same class and study together.  Have a
meeting with all the
MRD's who have the same major and work on projects together.  Find other
MRD's who are
taking the same class and have study sessions.  Find several buddies who
like to work out at
UREC in the morning or evening and meet them there everyday.  Email your
friends notes of
encouragement each morning.  Meet a group for lunch each day and share
your experiences.
Life is like the Marching Royal Dukes!  It is a group of people sharing
in a common bound or
goal and making each other better for the experience.  Relationships
with other people are so
special.  You all inspire me to do my best so that we all can be a part
of a great band.  I feel
obligated every morning to get up and work as hard as I can for all
those special people in our
band.  We all like to go "Where Everybody Knows Your Name."  This is a
special time of the
semester to help each other through these last few weeks.
Have a great day.  PR

I'll keep adding them as I get them!

GO MRD'S!!

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