Ahem.
I’m real sorry for being an asshole yesterday. You didn’t deserve it and the memories of your friends didn’t deserve it.
This is still getting hits so I’m going to bump it.
Thank you. I accept your apology, as I think most Aggies will. I think that recent events have made us all realize that fighting amongst ourselves is ridiculous. It’s definitely time for us to stand together, comforting eachother in the aftermath of a horrible tragedy. School rivalries and football games do seem more than a little trivial at this point.
The traditions of Texas A&M started many years ago to bring a solidarity and sense of belonging to a small, rural agricultural and engineering college. The university has grown over the years, but many of those old traditions remain. When I was there in the late '70s, we didn’t have frats or sororities. We were simply Aggies.
Many students, but certainly not all, are of a conservative persuasion. I certainly wasn’t when I was there.
However, I met many life-long friends, and my wife of 20 years (and I hope many more) there. I can identify fellow Aggies simply by looking for their college ring and I appreciate the bond and friendship that comes from this.
My experience was wonderful, but I can understand how others may disagree. I don’t hold it against them.
After the bonfire tragedy, t-sips (University of Texas folk) came to our aid and support. I enjoy our rivalry, but I will never forget that. After all, it’s just a school rivalry.
Sometimes, I go to a museum and look at the purty pictures. They’re real purty. Sometimes I read a book where you don’t have to color the pages. And, for the record, I have never been intimate with relatives or farm animals.
So, dropzone, there’s really no reason to apologize. If others don’t like A&M, that’s fine. We have other, much more important, issues to address now.
Yes, there is. I wronged you people.
Hey, seriously, it’s OK. Everyone says things that they regret later. We frogive you. And oliversarmy, that was truly beautiful. You expressed what I’ve been searching for words to say for quite some time. What class were you? My dad is '77 and my uncles are '78, '80, & '82.
I love you guys! After all, we are all Texans and Americans.
Except during football season, then ya’ll can go to hell. 
This apology from you is classy dropzone, I applaud it.
Thanks, folks. I was going to respond privately to oliversarmy (I assume you’re Keith?) but perhaps it’s best that I say it to all of you.
You know what the really bad thing is? I know nothing about Texas A&M. I was in heavy daddy mode, lashing out at what I saw was a senseless, but preventable, tragedy that took the lives of children not much older than my own. Unfortunately, I chose a “take no prisoners” way of doing it, from blaming the victims to blaming the entire state of Texas and traditions I don’t share.
I am a cynical, too cool, person who admits to occasional pangs of jealousy of people who are not. Please, continue to have some part of your life that is not ruined by people like me. And please feel welcome to stay here at the SDMB. Daily contact with the people here has done me a world of good.
drop/mike
A&M’s a fine school and the folks that come from there, many of them my friends and co-workers, are fine people. I hope all the activites every class enjoys ensure the safety and add to the character of every single individual.