Honorable ladies, noble gentlemen of the UM community,
At the risk of being presumptuous, and being fully advised that I am not the most accepted, credible, or palatable ambassador, but fearful that no one else will do so, I offer the following proposal for today:
Let's have fun today watching the next chapter in this in-state rivalry;
Let's be civil to one another, enjoy each other's company, and embrace the positive aspects of the relationship;
Let's make fun of each other, celebrate the highs at the expense of the other and suffer the lows to the delight of the other - but with temperance and good cheer;
Let's reject the bullshit that all too often consumes the dialogue between our respective institutions/communities;
If verbally or otherwise attacked/abused by a lesser member or group of members from the opposing community, let's consider the source, resist generalizations, and have measure in our reactions accordingly;
At the end of the day/game, let's come together, break bread (drink heavily), and celebrate our adult-like relationships, as well as this mutually engrossing game we can look forward to each fall.
To those who cannot accept this proposal, it is my lamentation that your approach to the rivalry has been warped, whether by some ill-meaning and unrepresentative subsection of the other's community or otherwise;
Go Green, Go Blue, Go Tigers.
Humbly submitted,
WD (MSU, 2002)
