Brother T. Varnado  COL (R)  Lambda Epsilon '66 MY THOUGHTS ON THE MEANING OF THE CARDINAL PRINCIPLES

(I think perhaps the thinking of the founders at the time of the formulation of the Cardinal Principles was a variation of my thoughts. Due to time difference, the metaphors may have been different ones.) Let us limit these principles in number to four. Let us intensify them in meaning, in order to maximize the essence of their acceptance. Then let us elevate them in significance and call them CARDINAL PRINCIPLES to distinguish them from principles of lesser significance. MANHOOD must be the first Cardinal Principle, the cornerstone on which the other Cardinal Principles must be built. Manhood is not governed by physical statute or chronological age. Manhood is a proactive mindset that fosters one's ability to seek and shoulder responsibility, whether it's a 9-5 job with Pfizer-Kaiser or being all you can be with Uncle Sam. Manhood is about making tough decisions and rearranging your psyche to best benefit your survival and the survival of everyone entrusted to your supervision. Manhood is having the intestinal fortitude to stand up and be counted and sometimes living up to the cold hard fact that right is colorless and not necessarily black, white or even purple and gold. Manhood is demonstrating a positive role model on a daily basis, it's about giving your word and not having that word waver or falter from the first whim of severe pressure. It's about walking a mile in our forefathers' shoes, with our weaker brothers on our backs, going thousands of miles farther than our forefathers--teaching, coaching, mentoring, and molding weaker brothers/sisters into proactive preachers of prosperity, so that they can take others on the journey. Manhood must be our driving force! SCHOLARSHIP is the second Cardinal Principle. Scholarship is the sweet nectar of all the cardinal principles. It soothes the self-confidence factor with sweetness, quenches the desire for knowledge with know-how. Scholarship is the vigorous pursuit of knowledge whether in or out of school. It's the best Specialist studying to become the best Sergeant (C student striving to become an A student). It's the best manager preparing himself to become the CEO of the firm. Scholarship is about being somebody! Scholarship is the trampoline, which allows us to spring to the heights of our aspiration. Scholarship allows us to visit the past and reach out and touch the likes of Langston Hughes. The hot pursuit of scholarship allows us to realize that the university is more than a "party place," and we are more than a "party race." Scholarship allows us to sniff the aroma of success. The third Cardinal Principle is PERSEVERANCE. Perseverance is the super glue that binds all the cardinal principles. Without Perseverance we accept the first indication that it cannot be done. We fail to question "no entry" signs. We settle for the "B" team rather than make the "A" team. We don't dare succeed others' expectations of our social, physical, mental, or spiritual abilities. By persevering, when the masses say Why?, we say why not? By persevering when a friend tells us we should be satisfied with the status we have achieved, we respond by saying, "my perseverance will not allow me to relegate my achievements to molehills when mountaintops are in sight." Perseverance allows us to be humble enough to uplift others. Perseverance will teach a mental midget how to slam dunk a complete understanding from a book as complicated as Tolstoy's War & Peace. Perseverance furnishes that mental and physical tenacity to "SEE IT THROUGH." UPLIFT is the fourth and final Cardinal Principle. Uplift is those inner feelings that signal us that a brother or sister is in need. It's the care factor that whispers encouragement and sustains and renews the assistance for our fellow man. Uplift nurtures our despair, dusts our egos, and embellishes our psyche. Uplift is the essence of Omega. Uplift allows us to measure success by how far we have bounced from the bottom. Uplift will not allow you to give up if you have adequately demonstrated Manhood, Scholarship and Perseverance. Uplift conquers apathy, turns a frown to a smile and accentuates the positive! Uplift makes you revisit those dark rooms where there ain't been no light. Uplift must continue to spread throughout our fraternity. Uplift accounts for our jovial attitude when we accomplish what others attempt! My brothers, hope is not a method, and failure is not an option. The Cardinal Principles are our yellow brick road to SUCCESS! Thanks to Brothers Just, Cooper, Love, and Coleman. They are the FOLKS!