Ah I skimmed over the part about the President being there. IIRC he had to cancel in 2001 because of the weather. Severe thunderstorms and he couldn't copter in. But don't quote me, I may be making that up.
I'm not going to argue this with you, but you're simply wrong. From a pure PR aspect cancelling because of this would appear far more insensitive than going and acknowleding the loss.
There was a kid hit by lightning in 2001. He survived. In 1997 a kid died in a humvee accident (he was driving without a license).
This is tragic. But not new. This will overshadow the event. The scouts and leaders there will never forget what happened.
But quitting is the absolute wrong thing to do.
Yes, you are absolutely correct, the President regrettably did have to cancel in 2001 - in fact, the entire closing ceremony had to be postponed until the following day as a result of flooding from the severe storms. My son was a Scout at that Jamboree, and reported seeing the Arena stage, where the closing ceremony was to take place, sitting in the middle of a lake after the storms. He had also returned from Sunday morning church services to find a river running through his tent! So although these unanticipated circumstances prevented President Bush from being there in person, his speech to the Scouts was instead broadcast at the rescheduled closing ceremony the following evening.
There was a kid hit by lightning in 2001. He survived.
Yep, I also remember that a Scout survived being hit by lighting at the 2001 Jamboree. At the time, I was doing the website for our council's Jambo contingent and posting news from them each day. I recall getting a call from our council office to post the word and start a phone tree among the parents here at home that our boys were not involved in the incident.
I'm so sorry to learn of the tragic accident out at this year's Jamboree, and they will be in our prayers. But the Jamboree should go on. It is an experience of a lifetime for these Scouts.