Brothers One and All

Last Saturday, I got a chance to watch Brother Bear.

While it's a fact that the animated movie didn't really reek in the money, I like the lesson the story gave. For people who are not familiar with the movie. It's a story of a boy who turned into a bear. Befriending a bear cub while finding a way to turn back into a human, they travelled together. And from his bear eyes, he saw a different world.

It's really a touching story. One that we can all learn from.

Brotherhood. You really don't need to be blood related to become brothers. You don't even need to have similar interests, all you need to have is a mutual respect for each other. You don't need to really like them, you just need to understand them. After all, if you have a real brother (one that's blood related), you really don't have to like him...he's there for life, all you need to do is live in harmony with him...or at least you can stand staying in the same room with him. =)

That's what Fraternities should be doing really. Fraternities of the 50s-80s, have that kind of sense of brotherhood. There are times when you need to work with each other. Helping each other with a common goal. Taking care of each other like your lives depend on it. Giving without expecting to receive anything. Making life better for the other. Calling each other "Brod" or "Bro" isn't really enough. These Fraternities have members with different personalities and family background but they treat each other like real brothers. Most of these fraternities even extent after your college days. And so whenever you need help, they would be there for you...all because of brotherhood.

Nowadays, these Fraternities doesn't have that sense of brotherhood...or even if they do, it's a very twisted sense of brotherhood. That whenever there's a trouble, these Frats can bail them out. People get killed in these groups all because of their "sense of brotherhood". I do get the point that once you've become a member of a Fraternity, you can't leave...it's like a family...you really can't "leave" your family since you're a part of that eversince you were born. And even if you leave physically, you will always come back, because they are your family. But these days, it's really scary. You really have to think twice or even three times if you really want to be a part of it.

I am lucky to be graced with real brothers who I am really happy with. Of course there are times when we fight because of so many misunderstandings but, they're my brothers. In the end, we'll be back to our old selves again.

I'm also lucky to have friends who I can call my brothers. People I have great respect and I am willing to give my life to when the need arises. People who aren't really related by blood, but we already have a sense of being a family. And though we have different likes and dislikes, the mutual respect is there and we learn from each other all the time. Everyone is there to help each other out. And frankly speaking, that's what brotherhood is all about.

That's what the movie Brother Bear teaches us. That even if we're not blood related, we can still treat treat each other as brothers.