To Traumatize Men

All of us suffer a form of problem, calamity or misfortune in our lives, and in such moments, our
friends and comrades are always there to help us. The difference in hazing is that, you suffer a
problem, calamity or misfortune caused by your so-called friends and comrades.
Note the case of Guillo Servando, an 18-year-old La Salle Benilde sophomore who was stroke
and hit by a paddle by his brothers from the Tau Gamma Phi frat 100 times in 2014. The
members of the fraternity also helped him to become a member of the organization by hitting
him with a belt for 30 seconds, gave ammonia to inhale, and eat chili to recover. Guillo shortly
died after thanks to the grateful action of the Tau Gamma Phi members. Note another sad case
from John Mark Dugan, a 19-year-old sophomore marine cadet from Maritime Academy of Asia
and the Pacific whose life was taken as a result of hazing. His dreams and ambitions were
abruptly ended and taken from him, and his mother and father shall go home knowing they no
longer have a son to call and talk to. Another case of equal significance is the death of San
Beda law student Marc Andre Marcos in 2012, who was killed by 10 frat members as part of
their hazing initiation rites. These are actions that are not done by friends, brothers and
comrades.
The practice of hazing is prevalent today in several aspects of society. Contrary to what most
people believe, it is not merely limited to Greek-letter fraternities like Tau Gamma Phi, or Kappa
Rho Alpha in universities and colleges, but can also be found in sports, military and law
enforcement. A stupid argument for hazing is that it tests the character of a person of his or her
ability to join the organization.
The Greek-letter fraternities believe that their brutal, cruel and barbaric initiation testing rites are
merely tests of ability and capability to join the organization, despite the fact that no sane person
in right mental condition will call death, murder, sexual harassment and torture to be forms of
physical training and exercise. It is analogous to calling burning a house a renovation. Tests of
physical strength, vigour and endurance are meant to actually strengthen, prepare and
physically enhance a person, rather than permanently weaken, destroy and traumatize him or
her. A good example is in Russia, where soldiers that had experienced the most dedovschina
or Russian Soviet hazing traditions are the first to cowardly retreat when faced with enemy fire.
Hazing does not imbue such superficial ideas of masculinity or strength, or tests a person of his
or her ability to survive, but rather weaken, destroy and kill the victims intellectuality involved.