Posted on 03/20/2006 6:32:32 AM PST by Pondman88
Hi folks--I have an issue... My 7 year old son is in Cub Scouts. The den leader is my neighbor. Nice enough guy, but he is liberal. No big deal. Except yesterday I saw him at the gym and he tells me he is going to the anti war rally. This really bothers me. I really don't want my son being in this den with a leader who is (in my opinion) anti-American. Am I overreacting? Am I putting my opinions ahead of friendship and being a good neighbor? I like this guy, but I can't consider him my "friend" due to his political views....
It is rare to find liberal leaders in Scouting. I don't know much about Cub Scouting so I am pinging some others who may.
Is he a good Den leader? Does he push politics on the kids? If not, whats the big deal?
Seperate his politics from your relationship. When he has his "moments", just nod and vaguely stare at the sky. We've all lost friends to BDS [Bush Derangement Syndrome] and PEST [Post Election Stress Trauma]. Its not worth it.
If he's a good scout leader, and doesn't use his position to prosyltize your son, just let it be.
Yes.
Get a Bush-Cheney '04 bumper sticker on your car's back window, and see what happens. Make sure he sees it. That'll tell you what he's all about, if he goes off on you.
You might want to quietly bring it up with his superiors, if it seems to be a problem. Or make sure you (or someone else) can be there with the den so that he doesn't spout off in front of the kids.
If he's not bringing up politics with the Cub Scouts, then I wouldn't worry about it. They have a "Citizenship" or similar requirement for their advancement (if your son is a Wolf Cub); presumably the leader will do this requirement with the boys according to the handbook.
You can't lock your family in the house and hope they never get exposed to ideas you do not like.
Your best course is to have a strong enough relationship with them so they know they can come to you and talk about what they are hearing/seeing.
Good points--thanks for the replies!!
I just have this reaction to people I think are nuts....
He is a mediocre Den Leader, but he is taking the time to do it, so I give him credit for that.
His wife is a big lib as well, so she pushed him into the Den leader thing...they seem to want to overcompensate for their liberalism. I suspect he won't be doing it very long anyways.
No. Once this guy told you he was going to an anti-war rally he voluntarily entered the area of politics, and this would give anyone a "heads up" concerning his political and social views.
Apparently he expects you to agree with his views, since he is a liberal,or he wouldn't have mentioned the rally.
If you look at the pathology of liberals, and their thirst for ideology over substance, you have a right to be concerned about your son.
Put the best interests of your son first, and let your friendship with your liberal neighbor follow its own course.
Scouting ping
I am a wolf cub den leader (2nd graders, 7-8 year olds). There isn't much latitude to go off on political tangents, and, unfortunately, there isn't much latitude to go off on religious tangents either, so, unless the guy is deviating from the curriculum from the Boy Scouts, your son should be ok. Even liberals must address the basic requirements, such as citizenship, patriotism, personal responsibility, etc..
Keep this all in mind because if you like involvement well enough, you could end up being his kid's Webelos Leader and he would be saying to his wife, "Do you think Pondman is going to teach our kid automatic weapon's skills?"
Very funny!!!
Download and review Cub Scout Leader Fast Start
My oldest went on to very high responsibility within the District as a youth leader and was involved in making a National Scouting Video on leadership for Scouts and Scouters. Besides appearing in that video, he does a voice-over to one of the segments where he talks about my involvement extemporanously. When I first saw the video and heard his comments about "his dad", he was about twenty, I almost came to tears and I thanked God for the efforts I had been allowed to extend to he and his friends.
So I will tell you truely: Buy that shirt.
Talk to the Cubmaster of the Pack of your concerns and about moving your son to a different Den, Talk to the Unit Commissioner, and the Dictrict Commissioner, Find another Pack, --- all option in the order given.
Talk to the Cubmaster of the Pack of your concerns and about moving your son to a different Den, Talk to the Unit Commissioner, and the Dictrict Commissioner, Find another Pack, --- all option in the order given.
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