The Boy Scouts at 100

I really enjoyed the scouts as a kid. However I can not support an organization that that discriminates against atheists and homosexuals. I’m really sick of this attitude that atheists are lesser Americans because we don’t worship a god.

I like where this is going…

I cant support an organization that pretends to idolize a culture only to denounce that cultures religion.

“The Boy SCouts have give far mor eto this earth than gays or athiests.”

I’ll make sure that next time I want to discriminate against someone, that I first donate a lot of money to a good charity.

“I don’t support any organization that gives up its beliefs and morals to bow to political correctness.”

But, would you support an organization that gives up its beliefs and morals at all? The Boyscouts didn’t disallow gay scouts or leaders until the 1990′s. Nor did they bar athiests.

The Boy Scouts have a lot to offer as an organization. They provide a service that is very much needed in our society and I can’t imagine what would lose if they were to go away. That’s why it saddens me even more that some people are not allowed to join and participate in, what could be, a very amazing group. I wish the Boy Scouts would look more to what the Girl Scouts have been doing.

Look I am OK with the Boy Scouts hanging onto the “reverence” and “morals” ideals, nothing wrong with that. But it has snowballed into a full blown Christian themed group at this point. I also am OK with Alcoholics Anoymous saying that there is a higher power, that fits as well. Can’t the kids just have a well rounded scouting experience instead having so much focus on Jesus at the expense of other religions? The Girl Scouts seem to balance that pretty well. BSA can keep a few snippets refering to God but don’t freaking overdo it OK. everything in moderation.

I quit the Scouts in Middle School. We had all worked hard on a variety of badges, and at some big meeting with all the parents and local celebrities, only the Scout Master’s son was called up to receive his badge.
Scout Master: “Sorry guys, your badges were outta stock.” Orly?

Every Eagle Scout I’ve ever encountered has been homosexual.

All the BSA does nowadays is teach heterosexual boys to hate gays and homosexual boys to hate themselves.

The Scout troops in my area are pretty popular, inclusive and there’s all kinds of kids. Friend’s kids are in Scouts and they are pretty open minded types.

Takes all kinds you know. There’s extremes everywhere.

Having just seen my son get his Eagle Scout award this saturday and having been involved in scouting for 12 years with him. I think that most of the scout bashing comes from people with little character who probably make sport out of any group that they don’t personally belong to or identify with. Soouting like any group with so many members cannot be clearly classified as “gay bashing” or fundamentally pure christian. Scouting is a very well rounded organization which has the primary purpose of turning young boys into honorable men. Like any organization there are some involved that take certain aspects of it to the extreme but those are the exception and not the rule. Believe me, I have seen my fair share of idiots in scouting but many, many more people were outstanding individuals.

Ooo, I forgot to add that my brother-in-law is also an Eagle, as are many of my husband’s and my friends. Most of my priest friends are Scouts as well.

And then there is this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/us/14explorers.html

CE: Congrats to your son! 14 is young to earn one’s Eagle, and requires hard work and a lot of dedication.

I have a lot of respect for the boy scouts. I was a boyscout and so was Hergé (the writer of Tintin)and he is one of my personal heroes. On the other hand, I can’t see why the boy scouts couldn’t leave out the Christian morality, in practice it’s always been more about instilling a community spirit, discipline and practical skills. Accepting Jesus into your life and barring homosexuals from joining doesn’t seem particularly community-spirit-like, unless you feel that homosexuals and non-Christians have less to learn from the boyscouts.

On the topic of morality and “clean-living”, it was at a boyscout camp that me, my friend and several other boys learned how to drink…and we’ve kept it up since

Wow, so we’re still calling gays (and atheists) immoral?

I hate to break it to all of you who are angry at Jesus and Boy Scouts but as A woman ScoutMaster and I accepted the position because my son’s Troop needed someone to step up to the plate (we didn’t have any men who were willing to do so). But yes most Scout Troops, dens whatever are affiliated with Churches. You need to get over that. Jesus loves you – all of you no matter who you are or what you’ve done or are doing. And if you don’t believe in Him. At least He believes in you. As far as Scouting – If you or your son doesn’t want to hear a message like that while out on a camping trip in the middle of no where for a few minutes while the rest are Thanking God for the morning meal or the lunch or the diner then let him hold hands over his ears for a minutes. It will not hurt him. As far as homosexuals – I’m not one – i don’t know what to tell you but honestly as a Christian all I can say is Jesus loves you and I’m sure your mother loves you but putting a homosexual male in with a bunch of boys is like putting a straight teenage boy in with a dorm room with a bunch or teenage girls. Don’t be dumb. There are reasons why they are kept out of Scouting. Get over it. better safe than sorry or better to stay away so you would never be accused of something you would never do.