Boy Scouts-Weathering the storm

[Redwolf]

The boy scouts have alweays been a very 'American' thing. Like hot dogs or baseball.

But they are in danger.

There have been issues of homosexual scout leaders and atheist Scouts recently. And I don't think the scouts have handled it properly. On top of that, you have scandals that are overshadowed only by the Catholic Preist crisis.

The issue of Atheism in the scouts would come up, but I think that it surfaced much to early, when the scouts expelled an atheist Eagle Scout (forget his name). What damage could he have caused? After all, the kid was supposedly a great scout (good enough to make it to eagle). They should have let him continue.

One of my friend is Atheist. He's a good guy and a friend though. And he's very smart.

I'm not atheist, I'm Lutheran. I belive in a god. I also accept that there are those who don't.

The scouts should stay, as they are a great organization. I admire what they do. But they should start making smarter decisions IMO.

Bah, some 'protective' parent would have sued the scouts over all these issues anyway. And CNN would be all over it like Rivera to Afganistan.

NOTE: This is all my opinion. There is no reason to start a flame war. The scout leaders and directors won't see this anyway, unless they all subscribe to TechIMO.

[NeoStarO1]

Hi RedWolf

I read teh article too. I belive that if a person is a godo person and they do all the merit works and stuff and earn their way to be an eagle that they should be able to remain in the scouts regardless if they are athiest or gay or whatever. Its a earned right and should not be disqualifed because of an belief or sexual preference.

[korgul]

From what I gathered earlier on this story. He was told to believe in a higher being. His reply was that he would then be lieing. The scouts came back with it did not have to be a god it could be anything just so long as it helps you. Sorta like AA and their 12 steps have you believe in a higher being helping you. This higher being could be any person, place, thing.

True the scouts are a private organization with rules and regs that you have to follow. But to kick someone out because he is gay or atheist it totaly wrong IMHO.

[RADAR1797]

Scouts teach good values. Your reasoning is the Scouts should change their good values to allow people in who have values they do not support. If the atheist wanted to go camping and learn leadership, there are other organizations he could join that do not conflict with his beliefs. The Scouts are good at what they do, changing their core will only hurt the organization by not upholding values. BTW, if he says the oath and does not believe it, he has lied and that is against the first tenet of the Scout Law...undeserving of an Eagle Scout in my opinion

"TRUSTWORTHY
A Scout tells the truth. He keeps his promises. Honesty is part of his code of conduct. People can depend on him." -BSA


-RADAR, Eagle Scout

[jman01pa]

Originally posted by NeoStarO1
Its a earned right and should not be disqualifed because of an belief or sexual preference.

No. Absolutely not.

This is a quote from here , they should not have to change the foundation of existing because someone else wants something different.

The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated to provide a program for community organizations that offers effective character, citizenship, and personal fitness training for youth.

Specifically, the BSA endeavors to develop American citizens who are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit; have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage, and resourcefulness; have personal values based on religious concepts; have the desire and skills to help others; understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems; are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand our nation's role in the world; have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people; and are prepared to participate in and give leadership to American society.

[daveleau]

I have changed my mind a bit over this and think that the BSA should allow the boy into their group, but the BSA should make no concessions for him. If he doesn't want to participate in the religious aspect of this private group, then they should not have to change. If he doesn't try to change the scouts to accommodate him, then he should be able to join.

If this were a public arena, I would have a different opinion, but since the BSA are private, they can limit admission to one eyed patch wearing boys with red hair if they want to...

If people have a problem with their admission policies or their practices, then they should create a different private group and compete. That is the capitalist way. Making the BSA cow-tow to everyone's different intricacies is the socialist way, and is flat wrong.

[NeoStarO1]

Jman,

On that link you provided it says and I will quote the purpose.

Purpose
The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America—incorporated on February 8, 1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916—is to provide an educational program for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to develop personal fitness.

The boy in question has and will fullfill the purpose of the program reguardless if he is gay or athiest.

If they want to exclude gays and atheist then they should include something in the purpose portion that the purpose of the program is for NON-gays and NON-athiest (now append the rest of thier purpose statemetn to that).

I don't belive anyone should be discrimated against partisapating in program regardless of gay or athiest status.

do you think a Christain Church is going to turn a Jewish Person away just because the Jewish person wishes to attend and partisapate with the other Christains? No they would not. He is there because he likes the people and the community but doesn't nesscarly have to belive in all of the christain ways.

People are people for crying out loud. Why does everything has to be genger orintated or reliogous oreintated and such, its totally stupid.

I have known a few athiest and they are really good people and I enjoy being around them. I don't tell them to go away because I don't share theier belif.

I also have few gay and lesiban freinds. they are good people, do I tell them to go away because I don't like thier sexual preference? No i do not becaue they are good people. They don't inflict thier preferences on me and I respect them regardless.

This boy is doing the same, he is respecting the scouts by being a good person and earning the merits to recieve the eagle scout award. He doesn't influence his beliefs on the others, nor would a gay person.

Sheesh.

[RADAR1797]

neo, he lied. He is incompatible with the Scouts' tenets.

-RADAR

[NeoStarO1]

Techically I don't think he lied, cuz when he joined the eagles what 9 years ago? (can't remember) anyways, he wasn't an athist at that time so technically he did not lie. He converted later to athiest and even had told the board that he is atheist, they didn't do anything at that time and now people are complaining saying he lied.

so techically I don't think he did. That is my opionion. Reguardless he has been a superpb scout and that should count more for a religious or non religous beilef. they only want to can him cuz he is athiest.

so what if chooses to be athiest, he doesn't push it onto the others and he remains loyal and good and does good work. that is all that should count.

[RADAR1797]

This is where the definition of "is" comes into play. He lied, whether he did so coming in or later. After he decided to be an atheist, the honorable thing would have been to leave, not try and change the Scouts. By staying, he lied and should be kicked out.

-RADAR