Boy Scouts face setback in Supreme Court

Associated Press ^ | 10/17/06

[cvq3842]

Disgusting, how people hate the Boy Scouts so.

Maybe they should turn their energies against the terrorists, rather than this fine group which chooses to preserve American values.

Oops, I guess that's the problem . . .

[DollyCali]

you might find this thread interesting

[Luis Gonzalez]

"I don't see why the court would stop at scouting- many churches do not allow perform or sanction gay marriage."

That's a different story. Churches don't do that because it's against their own teachings, and the government can't pass laws that force Churches to violate their beliefs.

"I guess they lose their tax exempt status next."

That may come to pass. But in a battle between retaining tax exempt status, and standing by their beliefs, Churches should be happy to pay taxes.

[kidd]

Interesting.

So I (male) cannot be a girl scout leader?
Not that I want to, but it makes an excellent counterpoint. Do the girl scouts "discriminate"?

Would my 17 year old son be allowed to play on the High School girls volleyball team, since there isn't a boys volleyball team? Or does the school "discriminate"?

Would I be allowed to participate in a pro-choice rally with my strict (and vocal) pro-life opinions, or would I be arrested as a disruptor? Or do the infantciders "discriminate"?

Can I go to a mosque and praise Jesus? Or do the Muslims "discriminate"?

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Any person or group who relies on The State for their well-being and solvency has no reason to complain when The State starts making outrageous demands of them."

[TheCornerOffice]

That the Democrats led the assault on Scouting will be forever to their shame.

Does anyone remember which Democract national convention featured a flag presentation by Boy Scouts -- with some in the audience booing them? I'd love to see that used in campaign ads.

[Tallguy]

Why can't a responsible adult within the Sea Scouts 'make a donation' buy taking on the slip lease himself -- ie. keep the Sea Scouts name off the paperwork. Could the marina then keep the Scouts off the property? I doubt it.

[TBP]

Nothing like those great conservative Supreme Court justices.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Maybe they should turn their energies against the terrorists, rather than this fine group which chooses to preserve American values."

As a private, member-only organization, you can demand to run your organization according to your own values, which is completely within their right, but you can't then turn around and demand the right to free use of publicly-funded facilities.

[polymuser]

A few links of possible interest:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1020917/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1663939/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/854123/posts
http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=136820

[Tallguy]

Would my 17 year old son be allowed to play on the High School girls volleyball team, since there isn't a boys volleyball team? Or does the school "discriminate"?

Legally 'Yes'. I think that the Intramural Sports programs at certain universities are required to allow male students in sports that have no male counterpart. The point is that most males do not seek to compete with women when it comes to athletic endeavors.

[Old_Mil]

let them get a wealthy private donor to buy them their own marina.

There aren't all that many wealthy private donors running around who believe in family values. Soros and his ilk are typically democrats, because they don't like society to place restrictions on what they can do with their money.

[presidio9]

I work with a woman who's daughter is on her HS wrestling team. She's actually proud of the fact that her little emancipated princess is "undefeated" because no coach with any sense of decency will let a teenaged boy get in the ring with her. One kid even forfeited a 56-match win streak because of her.

[Old_Mil]

How ironic is it that people like that bunch of Muslim cab drivers who refuse to pick up passengers with alcohol and passengers with dogs may end up being this country's best line of defense against this radical homosexual agenda?

It may come to that. I fear that the battle has been lost by the churches.

[TheCornerOffice]

Every Bible-based, true-teaching church could charter a Pack (Cub Scouts) and a Troop (Boy Scouts), actively recruit in their local neighborhoods, and include Scouting as part of their Youth Ministry.

An excellent suggestion. Many long-established troops are sponsored by churches, but sometimes when the key leaders move away or get burned out the troop just dwindles. There is always a need for "fresh troops" to continue expanding and extending Scouting's influence.

If you know of a troop near you, why not ask around and offer your help? Or if you are in a church that does not host a troop, talk to the people at the area Boy Scout council about how to get organized. The Council will provide all the training and support you need to get a group of adults organized as a committee that will oversee the new troop.

And, by the way, while Boy Scouts have a high percentage of male leaders, female leaders are also welcomed -- both for Cubs and Scouts.

I have tears in my eyes just thinking about some of the opportunities for encouraging young teens and building their confidence and leadership skills that I have experienced over the past few years as an Assistant Scoutmaster. (Last night I helped two 16-year-olds look at the requirements for their next rank advancement and plot out a plan for accomplishing them -- and I often think how I longed for that kind of personal "I know you can do it" encouragement when I was that age).

[Buck W.]

"...I didn't have a ready reply..."

How about, "Well, that just means there's plenty for everyone else! Sign up for our mailing list and we'll keep you informed about our KY sales events."

[polymuser]

Summary Breakdown of the 109th Congress Scouting Survey

Senators/Representatives/Total
Scout 37/151/188
Scout and leader 15/42/57
Leader 0/16/16
Grand total 52/209/261

Eagle Scouts and Special Recognitions

Senators/Representatives/Total
Eagle Scout 8/17/25
Distinguished Eagle Scout 7/4/11
Silver Beaver Award recipient 3/7/10
Silver Buffalo Award recipient 0/1/1
Grand total 18/29/47

(from scouting.org)

[Old_Mil]

And what makes you think the America-haters in Berkeley would have the slightest problem with a radical Islamic group?

Chewbacca: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrgh
C-3PO: He made a fair move. Screaming about it can't help you.
Han Solo: Let him have it. It's not wise to upset a Wookiee.
C-3PO: But sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid.
Han Solo: That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that.
Chewbacca: Grrf.
C-3PO: I see your point, sir. I suggest a new strategy, R2...let the Wookiee win.

[Sioux-san]

Isn't the current policy of the Boy Scouts the results of them being sued way back when for not "discriminating" and allowing pedophiles to be leaders of Boy Scout troops? Note, I don't make a distinction between Homos and Heteros - there are far more Hetero pedophiles than Homos. When it comes to trying to protect children and promote Christian values: Damned if you do and Damned if you don't....

[redangus]

The Girl Scouts also have no problem with Lesbians being Scout leaders. Go figure.