At this point, I've grown accustomed to biting my lip and grimacing at certain times when Notre Dame students, faculty and alumni try to instill their opinions, viewpoints and beliefs into others. This has held true until I recently read Caity and Erin Schneeman's letter to the editor, "Reconsidering the Victory March" (Oct. 30).
While few people would refer to me as "old fashioned," I am still a firm believer that certain traditions should remain unscathed - above all, the "Notre Dame Victory March." I'm a proponent for equal rights, yet I can't help but ask myself the question: Can anything be left sacred anymore? The reason that most Notre Dame fans are fans is because of the traditions and pedigree associated with the University.
While people are on such a kick to appease the minority by making every tradition as politically correct as possible, they isolate the majority and forget about what most people care about. I've witnessed many great Notre Dame traditions die since I started as a student and the very mention of changing the lyrics to the "Victory March" fills me with the same sadness and rage I usually associate with watching Tyrone Willingham coach a football game.
What's next? Should we start redrafting the Declaration of Independence because it doesn't state that "all men and women are created equal"? Words might just be words but like the Declaration of Independence, the "Victory March" has meant a great deal to a number of people and to change it now would be an injustice to every person who has walked the steps beneath the Golden Dome.
The thing that you must remember, Caity and Erin, is that this University was founded in 1842, not 1972. So, while I find Caity and Erin's family traditions to be "interesting" and "cute," I, along with the rest of the Notre Dame family, will continue to sing the original and real version of the fight song written by the O' Shea Brothers in the early 1900s.
Honestly, if Caity and Erin feel oppressed or shorted in any way by reading my opinion, then I would like to remind them that the beautiful gates of Saint Mary's College are always open. Last time I checked, there was no discussion of incorporating a male presence into its fight song.
Matthew Wrablik
Class of 2006
Los Angeles, Calif.
Oct. 30
