The War on the Boy Scouts

[Voegelin]

The Denver Post
Opinion
By Al Knight


Some topics are best left both out of sight and out of mind. The American Civil Liberties Union's war on the Boy Scouts is not one of them.

The ACLU, in a rational world, might well have been expected to champion the First Amendment rights of an organization like the Boy Scouts. After all, the First Amendment to the Constitution (so dear to the ACLU) protects both speech and the right to associate.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 2000 upheld the right of the Boy Scouts to select members and leaders without regard to state laws that bar discrimination based on sexual orientation.
That ruling hasn't stopped the ACLU. It has simply shifted tactics away from the courts and focused its energies on local and often mean-spirited campaigns to deny the Scouts places to meet and the ability to raise funds . . .

http://www.denverpost.com/knight

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Some history on the opposition to the Scouts from a google search:

2000 Democratic convention Boy Scouts booed

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

Cry me a river. The aclu doesnt fight against the boy scout's bigotry against atheists, gays and others. It does fight against any organization that is subsidized with tax dollahs that discriminate. If the boy scouts removed its policies that promote and practice bigotry then the aclu would have no cause to file lawsuits. Also, anyone else tired of the word 'War' getting bandied about in the blackhole of hyperbole?

 

[invisible trousers]

opinion article

I can't imagine the stink you'd be raising if the Boy Scouts were antisemitic.

 

[Ryal Kane]

Also, anyone else tired of the word 'War' getting bandied about in the blackhole of hyperbole?

I am. Can we declare a War on Wars now? It couldn't be any more nonsensical than a War on Terror.

 

[burrow_owl]

After all, the First Amendment to the Constitution (so dear to the ACLU) protects both speech and the right to associate.

The Boy Scouts have a first am. right to free rent from the government? Amazing! How have I missed that all these years?

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

That is exactly the crux some of the bs apologists rarely ever address. Guess it's easier to cry persecution instead of addressing all fundamental facts. Hmmmm-reminds me of another fake 'War' being claimed by many in the same group

 

[Conspiracy Theory]

Cry me a river. The aclu doesnt fight against the boy scout's bigotry against atheists, gays and others. It does fight against any organization that is subsidized with tax dollahs that discriminate. If the boy scouts removed its policies that promote and practice bigotry then the aclu would have no cause to file lawsuits. Also, anyone else tired of the word 'War' getting bandied about in the blackhole of hyperbole?

Well, it's kind of hard to offer a God and Country award for someone who doesn't believe in God.

 

[craigerNY]

I am. Can we declare a War on Wars now? It couldn't be any more nonsensical than a War on Terror.

Everything is war these days. Therefore I am declaring a war on your war on wars. See you on the battlefield.

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

I dont care what self aggrandizing or hollow awards get passed out. I dont even care the bs are steeped in bigotry because that is their first amendment right. I do care when they ask the State to subsidize their bigotry. They have the right to be bigots but they need to do it on their dime. I would think more Republicans could appreciate this position.

 

[Maren]

Well, it's kind of hard to offer a God and Country award for someone who doesn't believe in God.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no God and Country award in the Boy Scouts of America. Instead, there are various awards presented to scouts and recognized by the BSA but the awards are all administered and presented by religious groups. Further, there is no requirement for a scout to earn one of these religious awards.

 

[loudatheist101]

What happens if you join the BS and you are a bisexual agnostic? Do they allow you in?

And the BS is really full of alot of BS.

 

[Jacey]

<staff edit>


Funny how the "no special privledges" line is for gay rights but forgotten when it comes to the Scouts

 

[ACougar]

The ACLU has no problem with a little bit of bigotry, as a matter of fact they will fight to defend peoples right to discriminate in a private organization.

The problem here is that the boy scouts are a specially priviliged organization, they get treated differantly than say Marthas Quiling Club or the Big Bass Catcher Club. Personally I don't have a big problem with boy scouts discriminating against gays, they have every right. Government on the other hand... that's a differant story.

I believe government should basicly treat everyone the same regardless of sexual orientation, and that includes not giving special favors to organizations that don't uphold the same standards.

The Denver Post
Opinion
By Al Knight


Some topics are best left both out of sight and out of mind. The American Civil Liberties Union's war on the Boy Scouts is not one of them.

The ACLU, in a rational world, might well have been expected to champion the First Amendment rights of an organization like the Boy Scouts. After all, the First Amendment to the Constitution (so dear to the ACLU) protects both speech and the right to associate.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 2000 upheld the right of the Boy Scouts to select members and leaders without regard to state laws that bar discrimination based on sexual orientation.
That ruling hasn't stopped the ACLU. It has simply shifted tactics away from the courts and focused its energies on local and often mean-spirited campaigns to deny the Scouts places to meet and the ability to raise funds . . .

http://www.denverpost.com/knight

******************
Some history on the opposition to the Scouts from a google search:

2000 Democratic convention Boy Scouts booed

 

[xXThePrimeDirectiveXx]

The government should not give the Scouts any funding whatsoever if they're going to continue to discriminate against groups of people.

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

Pretty clear this op got pwned. It's encouraging to see peeps not buy into fake persecution

 

[feral]

Hmmm, so the Boy Scouts cannot be bigoted and enjoy free rent at the same time? Well, that seems entirely fair to me. If the Boy Scouts wants to run an exclusivist organization that does not accommodate individuals of various faiths, homosexuals and others, then it can do so with it's own money and not look to a government of the people to fund that sort of thing. If it wants free rent, it can stop being prejudiced regarding membership and include all.

Those who care about traditional notions of diversity and tolerance might consider joining the battle by showing support for the American Civil Rights Union. The ACRU, which was founded in 1998 as a response to the ACLU, is a champion of the First Amendment and conservative causes, including support for the enforcement of existing immigration laws, opposition to the Fairness Doctrine and support for the principle of executive privilege.

Ha, that's funny. They are protesting diversity and tolerance, and asking people to show support for their actions by calling their discrimination diversity and tolerance. Tricky...

 

[ACougar]

Hmmm, so the Boy Scouts cannot be bigoted and enjoy free rent at the same time? Well, that seems entirely fair to me. If the Boy Scouts wants to run an exclusivist organization that does not accommodate individuals of various faiths, homosexuals and others, then it can do so with it's own money and not look to a government of the people to fund that sort of thing. If it wants free rent, it can stop being prejudiced regarding membership and include all.

They have every right to discriminate, just don't expect taxpayer help if that's what you want to do. There is still lot's of private support available for all the good stuff boy scouts do.

Ha, that's funny. They are protesting diversity and tolerance, and asking people to show support for their actions by calling their discrimination diversity and tolerance. Tricky...

It seems to an effective strategy despite the fact that many see right through it.

 

[kermit]

<staff edit>

Funny how the "no special privledges" line is for gay rights but forgotten when it comes to the Scouts

The BSA is a great organization that helps a lot of young men grow into well-rounded men, on the local level that is. On the regional and national level the BSA is one of the most morally corrupt and intellectually bankrupt organizations out there. They seem to actively work to undermine everything the BSA stands for.

 

[Billnew]

The goverment can offer subsidies to anyone group.

This is a Christian youth group, that has a long time
established guidelines for what is acceptable for membership in the Scouts.

Christian(or belief/worship in/of Jesus), living a moral lifestyle, with goals to be a good citizen and help others. They frown on sex outside of marriage, illegal drug use, addiction, teach kids to learn how to take on responsiblity and not get into gangs.
Yea, lets cut giving to them and spend more on projects
that may cost more but don't require a moral lifestyle.

I have no problem with getting goverment out of giving money away. But it might cost more by doing so.

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

The government cannot fund any organization that discriminates-it's against Federal law. The BS isnt a Christian organization by its own decree, even though it receives over half of its funding from Christian churches. The poor witness here is deception for the purpose of getting money. Also, it could be argued the BS causes more problems than it solves by promoting bigotry.