For those who are unaware, this magazine is sent to all registered leaders while the boys continue to receive Boys Life.
BTW, I fully endorse and fit the author's second/disclosures paragraph.
It would be so much more fun if Scouts lived in their own privileged world and never learned a thing about helping other humans, as well as learning how to tie knots.
My son is a Scout. It has done him worlds of good. When I see what it's done for him--the wonderful experiences he's had, the confidence he's acquired, the leadership skills he's developing, the friends he's made--I'm sad that there are poor or homeless boys who can't take part because of the expense and the lack of opportunity. I also regret that there are local boys who do have enough money in their families but don't get involved in Scouting because it's not part of their cultural tradition. An effort to reach out to groups like these is not a bad thing at all. Being a part of Scouting can only make these children better Americans and better men. If that's a liberal philosophy, too bad. Scouting shouldn't just be for rich or middle-class white kids.
I haven't read my copy yet. Let's hope it's an abberation.
Sounds like you got a special one of a kind issue. What do you have against the scouts promoting to its scout leaders some of the outreach that the organization is doing to help the scouting movement and society. Do you really think the scout leaders need to be reminded about the fun of scouting?
Sounds like someone didnt learn from their parents about taking care of the disadvantaged, appreciating other religions and cultural differences. And since when is first aid and livesaving a fun activity.
There are two types of Scouting. Urban scouting is more service-oriented. Suburban and rural scouting is more skills and outdoor oriented.
The defunding of urban scouting has started to decimate its ranks. It could end up being a moot point. Scouting is HEAVILY dependent on funding these days. We have to pay the people who ask for funding and it isn't cheap.
There are two types of Scouting. Urban scouting is more service-oriented. Suburban and rural scouting is more skills and outdoor oriented.
The defunding of urban scouting has started to decimate its ranks. It could end up being a moot point. Scouting is HEAVILY dependent on funding these days. We have to pay the people who ask for funding and it isn't cheap.
The theme is found throughout the publication. A news brief chronicles one Boy Scout council’s efforts to highlight “the issues of hunger, health, and shelter.” Another tells of a Cub Scout pack that was started for homeless boys. There are stories of Scout troops created for “sons of incarcerated mothers” and “disadvantaged youth.” Another story tells of a North Carolina man winning an award “for exceptional service and leadership to Scouts with disabilities.”
The ride to different religious houses sounds a little fruity, but I'm having a hard time figuring out why the rest of this is so bad. And are disabled kids somehow inherently inconsistent with "fun"?
Don't count on it. It's tragic, the way PC has infected Scouting in the West. A hideous cancer, that there's no longer something to be robustly proud of and instead, we should ingratiate ourselves in submissive apologetic displays, towards every minority group that comes down the pipe. At exactly the time when we should be proclaiming the message that the Scouting experience provides answers to problems ranging from childhood obesity to lack of respect for seniors. Old-time leaders like myself give the mag a quick scan to see if there's anything in there about someone we know and if not, it goes straight into the bin.
Once again, it seems that a lot of people, even those IN Scouting, miss the actual point of Scouting--to develop the leaders of tomorrow. Scout skills are still very much a part of the overall program, but, thank goodness, BSA has evolved to recognize that the leaders of tomorrow must have a broader training. I read the latest Scouting magazine yesterday, and, as a compassionate conservative (yes, we really do exist and pray for George Bush's success every day), I think it's great. Scouting has not abandoned its core beliefs, but it's broadening them. And exposing more people to this great value system!! I took a group of Scouts to a local mosque after 9-11...maybe we should all start infiltrating them since they've been doing the same to us all this time?!
Maybe we should have the scouts set up camps just across the border from Mexico-- to help welcome the undocumented workers streaming across the borders by the thousands every day. They could "do a good turn daily" by handing out free water and food, while getting a dose of multiculturalism along the way. Two birds with one stone!
And what about practicing first aid on those poor, downtrodden undocumented masses? First Aid merit badge in no time!
The Boy Scouts are their to make men of boys. I see these stories as documenting that progress and encouraging others.
I never had much of an opinion on Jon Ham, the John Locke Foundation, or the Carolina Journal before today. I do feel that before forming an opinion on someone or something it (or they) deserve at least a standard level of respect to begin with. However, after reading this article, I have lost whatever amount of respect that was for this man, this organization, and their publication.
If someone can do a better job than Mr. Ham and explain to me what the Scouts are doing wrong, then go ahead. Because I don't see anything bad going on here. Clearly, this author has missed the point of what the Scouting movement is all about.
Does anyone rememember why Baden-Powell founded the Boy scouts?
It was so that the children of urbanized England could get exposure to life in the rough as teenagers, and learn the survival skills that would stand them in good stead with the British army. It has evolved into a service organization, to help kids. As someone who's grandfather, father, myself, and sons' participated in Scout's, and worked as a volunteer leader myself, it's the challenge to the Scouts to learn and master skills that they would otherwise never be exposed to that makes Scouting interesting and rewarding. Exposure to multiculturalism is standard school fare. Building a rope bridge across a river is not. Be prepared isn't taught in schools, neither is do a good deed daily.And our education system forgot the whole trustworthy,loyal, helpful,.... Well you get the idea.
My article....."Lets Talk it Out: A Snake's Side of the Story"
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with maintaining cultural traditions, so long as they are within the bounds of U.S. culture. The problem is that so many new arrivals, legal or not, have no intention of assimilating.
What interesting timing. I was just chatting with a colleague who has a son with PDD. She was just telling me what a blessing Scouting has been. Her son is a Webelos and loves the activities, loves the out-of-doors, loves being allowed to be a *boy* - none of which he's getting from his public school. I'd much rather young men learn good citizenship skills from an organization with a moral framework and tradition like the BSA than from an organization that is slave to a PC-driven agenda like the public schools. God Bless the BSA.
From the sounds of this short article it does not sound as bad as what I was prepared to read. I think that the point that were made could be true with some kids and actually should be a positive look at it. A toubled kid joining scouts turns out to be a CEO of some big company. What is wrong with this type of story. I don't see anything PC about it. The bike ride to various churches was a little much but that was one troop that did that not the entire scouting program. I am not having heartburn over this story at this time unless I am not seeing something and an pointed out by a FREEPER.
ping
Ask your Dist Commissioner, Council Commissioner or your DE about the 5 Unacceptables.