From: jbaron@dirac.ssc.gov (Jeff Baron)
Subject: Re: The Star of Indiana
Followup-To: alt.drumcorps
Keywords: The Star of Indiana, why do they hate them?
Reply-To: jbaron@dirac.ssc.gov (Jeff Baron)
Organization: Superconducting Super Collider Lab
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 20:33:34 GMT

[Let me make clear before I start that I have no affiliation 
with any corps, much less Star.  I was in high school band
for three years about ten years ago, and I have seen two,
yes *two* shows in my life, so I guess that does make me
somewhat of an expert, but I am not, repeat, not biased!]

[Oh yes, I also had to change the Followup-To: line in
Krista's article, as I guess she really did not want to 
read anything bad or nasty about her or her philosophy,
if we may call it that, so this is my *second* try at
a response... Hopefully, it's more fun for all.]

Krista Lyn Haggert writes:

- I really didn't want to get into this subject but since
- you asked.

[Oh yes.  Don't twist my arm.  I don't want to say nasty
things, unless you *make* me do it.]

- Most corps, big and small, had (have) to work
- to get started and to get new members and good instructors.
- Star *stole* the best instructors all around the country
- by flashing money.  And yes, Star is talented, but they
- have the best instructors for the wrong reason.

Who are you to decide what the right or wrong reason for
anything is?  Some things just are, and the fact that Star
has someone willing to relieve them from the moneyraising
burden means that they just might be able to spend that
time goofing off and partying all night during the school
year.  Hey.  It's their right.

- Star does not let all people of all shapes and sizes into
- their corps.  You have to be a certain weight and height.
- And your ever so precious wonderful staff told me that!!

[Once again, let me emphasize that I have never even *seen* Star.]

All I can say in response to this is that there are
two, not one, but two, drumcorps that allow men only. No one
seems to care about this- or is this okay, the same way
that men only clubs are okay?  "It's just not the same
with any of those women in here.  We couldn't talk about 'em
if they were here.  We couldn't be buddies."

And we know where those corps finished, especially one of them.

- Also, how much to Star members pay a year in dues?  Could
- it be only $200?  YES!  You don't work for the money
- you get.  Mr. Cook just hands it over.  That is not
- drumcorps.

[It's not?  Partying, which is undoubtedly what they do with
all of the free time that they now have, is not drumcorps?]

Do we criticize some colleges because they give out more
financial aid and can therefore attract better, and perhaps
*less* *able* students?  Do people at state colleges spend
all of their time in wistful poses pondering the fates of
those who had money, or could get money, and attended elite
private schools?  It may be cliche, but life *is* unfair, 
some people *were* born into families with money, some
people *do* win the lottery.  So?  If you'd stop and consider
your own choices, as opposed to worrying about what the
other guy has or how lucky he's been, or how fortunate he
was, you'd be a lot better off.

- Yeah, yeah.  I know that you Star people think that everybody
- else is jealous.  Well, that is not it.  I wouldn't march
- in Star if they paid me, which I understand is not all
- that uncommon.  Every single person that I ever tried to
- speak to from Star was rude and walked around with this,
- "I am better than you" attitude.  Which is really a shame
- because it would be nice if DCI could be one big happy
- family.

Jealousy?  They have the best for the wrong reasons.  They
stole the best instructors.  *WAH WAH*.  They only pay $200
a year, while we pay *THOUSANDS*.  They don't work for their
money while we *TOIL TILL OUR HANDS ARE RED*.  I wouldn't
march with them *IF YOU PAID ME HOW MUCH*?  They are all
rude, ESPECIALLY WHEN I THROW THINGS AT THEM.  THE GALL.

It would be nice if DCI was one big happy family, but it is
this attitude, this "I hate them" attitude, that prevents 
it from happening.

- >Because there are people involved with drumcorps, like any
- >other competitive activity, who *need* something to hate, 
- >and in the current DCI world, they've "latched" onto Star.
- >
- >I wouldn't take it too personally, as they are pretty 
- >unimportant in the larger scheme of things, however much they 
- >try to convice you (and the rest of the world) otherwise.
- >
- >Jeff
- >
- >
- BULLSHIT!!!
- 
- Krista

Your own post demonstrated your ability to hate.

I really believe that drumpcorps can be a good thing for kids
and young adults.  Stories about experiences from past years
has beared that out.  Spending a summer, or two, or more, with
other kids and doing something meaningful as a group, that's
got to be good.

But this hatred is bad for all.  Where do these kids 
get this from- from other kids?  The adults associated with 
the (undoubtedly) few corps that *hate* other corps, 
are they powerless to stop this?  Or do they encourage
it.  Are the kids outlets for their own aggressive natures?

I can only speculate as to the answers to these, and many other,
interesting questions.  Especially the one about why there 
still exist all-male drumcorps.

Jeff