First and foremostCouncil stands for the Constitution (Boy Scouts and Norwalk, CT)

The Hour (Fairfield County, CT) ^ | 9/28/2004 | Editorial

[RonF]

The Norwalk Common Council will have to deal tonight with an issue, we are sure, it would much rather not have on its agenda. The Connecticut Yankee Council of Boy Scouts has requested a permit to hold a recruiting event Oct. 24 at Calf Pasture Beach. The event has become a cause celebre for some, bringing a clash of views over constitutional rights and discriminatory polices of the scouting organization. Now the council will be asked to approve or reject the scouts' application.

We can understand the passion of those who argue that the Scout Council should be barred from using the beach because of its practices that discriminate over religious beliefs (or lack of them) and sexual preferences. But if you look at the many organizations that use city facilities for rallies or outings, they run the gamut of our society. Should a church, for example, be banned from using Shady Beach or Cranbury Park because of its particular tenets? We think not. You do not have to agree with the Boy Scouts' position in these two areas of controversy, but you have to agree that their right to use this facility is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances." That spells it out clearly, in our mind. You may abhor discrimination by the Boy Scouts and protest against it (your right to free speech) but you cannot legally bar the scouts or any other group from holding a public, peaceful event on public land. The Supreme Court has supported the right of groups -- some of which are deserving of our wrath -- to discriminate as long as they are a private organization, such as the Boy Scouts.

We are surprised that the council committee did not act on its own to approve the permit, the usual course of events in such matters. It has thrown it back into the council's collective laps. As Councilman Matt Miklave pointed out in an op-ed piece in The Hour, we cannot be afraid of an idea. We will be interested in seeing how individual members handle this issue.

The Common Council, the General Assembly or any other legislative body cannot to choose to ignore the Constitution, now matter how repugnant it may seem at the time. Whenever an elected official is sworn into office, whether it be at the local level or as president of the United States, he or she swears to uphold the Constitution of the United States -- all of it. They cannot pick and choose which parts of the document they may or not obey. The council should put this in perspective and quickly approve the permit.

[RonF]

The local paper in the Norwalk area seems to be able to read the Constitution. And while I suspect that they sympathize with the opposition to the BSA, I laud them for pointing out that the politicians here tried to pass the buck instead of doing their jobs.

[Old Sarge]

All I see is a Leftist paper trying to talk to both sides - uphold the Constitution and the law (to the Right), and "cannot to choose to ignore the Constitution, now matter how repugnant it may seem at the time" winkwink to The Left.

All through the text I see asides and under-the-gaydar comments designed to let their true constituents know: "Look, we're as progressive as you are, we're the media remember, but we've got investors to please, okay?"

[cyclotic]

I became involved with Scouting a few years ago. It is only the elitists that are against us. This past weekend, we were having our annual popcorn fundraiser with sales tables at local stores. I only heard of one report of negative comments. Actually, sales were phenominal and support was great. A couple who were both wearing Kerry Edwards shirts dropped $20.00 and said "How can we not support Scouting." I was gritting my teeth while helping them :) My son and I went through our neighborhood (in heavily democratic Macomb County, MI) Every single house we went to purchased some popcorn and supported Scouting.

America supports Scouting.

[NetValue]

If they can prohibit the use of the public beach because of the Boy Scout Troop's beleif, they can prohibit the individual Boy Scout's use of the public beach because of his belief too. Such discriminatory prohibitions cannot be allowed.

[RonF]

I was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout from ages 8 to 20 (back in the day there was a "College Reserve"). I've been a Scouter since September, 1992. I've never seen anyone with a kid who did not support Scouting, even if their own kid wasn't in it.