I need some advice

[inconsequential]

My son brought home an application to join the Cub Scouts today. He is so excited and seemed kind of let down when we didn't show the same excitement and say yes immediately. It's not that we don't want him to have the experience but I'm concerned because of the BSA's position on homosexuality. I'm not sure if there are any alternative groups in my area but I plan to check.

I doubt they would push too much in Cub Scouts but at the same time, I'm still concerned.

I know he would love it and I would enjoy doing a lot of the things with him. Should I let him join and just monitor closely what they teach him about SSA or should I pass and try to find an alternative?

 

[Shieldmaiden4Christ]

It really shouldn't be an issue; I really doubt they're going to push anything about homosexuality. Teach him about same-sex attraction yourself when he's of an appropriate age, teach him what's wrong with it, and teach him to respect the personhood of those who suffer from it. Keep in mind that I am not a parent, but I think a little pragmatism in this situation will go a long way.

 

[Joseph Hazen]

My spawn is only 5 months old, but I think I've decided that if he ever wants to join the scouts I'm going to start up our own group (provided I don't find an alternative that I think is good) based on one of the older scouts manuals.

It might help if you found out what he's excited about - camping? Camping away from mom and dad? Hanging out with friends? Maybe there's an alternative way you can get him what he wants without groups with questionable morals.

 

[snumerouno]

I wouldn't let him join. There are plenty of activities at Church to keep a child busy.

 

[Shieldmaiden4Christ]

You can also ask the Scout Master directly if they will discuss homosexuality!

Also,

http://www.bsaseabase.org/sitecore/content/membershipstandards/resolution/faq.aspx

Might help you make your decision of yay or nay.

 

[Knee V]

I believe that what happened earlier this year with the Scouts is just the first step down a long road. I think that before long it will right on par with the Girl Scouts. My wife and I were looking forward to our boys being in the Scouts, but not any longer. I would find an alternative.

 

[inconsequential]

Thanks, guys!

 

[Orthodoxiy]

Ignore This Post.

 

[MKJ]

I would be surprised if were ever an actual issue.

Almost any social group one could join is likely to include homosexuals from time to time. School friends parents, your own relatives, soccer coaches, teachers, museum guides.... at some point, you'll come across some in a position of authority or in contact with your child.

It isn't like the scouts are filled with an inordinate number of homosexuals either, or that you have to sign some sort of document saying you approve. If it comes up (which is pretty darn unlikely in most cases) you just have to be polite and myob. The way you have to in most other contexts.

Most scouts never even meet the spouses of their leaders.

 

[inconsequential]

I figure it's even less likely here in the rural South than in many other areas. I'm going to check around for other programs but not going to rule BSA out yet. The signup meeting conflicts with my son's karate class tomorrow so we won't be able to make that anyway but I will use the time to do more searching before we make a decision.

 

[rusmeister]

I would be surprised if were ever an actual issue.

Almost any social group one could join is likely to include homosexuals from time to time. School friends parents, your own relatives, soccer coaches, teachers, museum guides.... at some point, you'll come across some in a position of authority or in contact with your child.

It isn't like the scouts are filled with an inordinate number of homosexuals either, or that you have to sign some sort of document saying you approve. If it comes up (which is pretty darn unlikely in most cases) you just have to be polite and myob. The way you have to in most other contexts.

Most scouts never even meet the spouses of their leaders.

This dynamic is going to change, and sooner than you think. All you need is the appearance of one child who has been actively taught that they "are gay" and that it's OK to be such, be proud and so on, and then the new legal attitude of tolerance is going to force this highly inappropriate issue down your children's throats. This is a war on innocence as well as goodness. They will not be able to avoid the issue, when that is exactly what they should be avoiding.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

People who are afraid of snakes are ineligible to lead cub scout dens!

My spawn is only 5 months old, but I think I've decided that if he ever wants to join the scouts I'm going to start up our own group (provided I don't find an alternative that I think is good) based on one of the older scouts manuals.

It might help if you found out what he's excited about - camping? Camping away from mom and dad? Hanging out with friends? Maybe there's an alternative way you can get him what he wants without groups with questionable morals.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Pretty soon these cub scout boys are going to come in wearing leg-warmers, pink scarves, eye-liner, and Liberace-style vests. Nothing is safe!

This dynamic is going to change, and sooner than you think. All you need is the appearance of one child who has been actively taught that they "are gay" and that it's OK to be such, be proud and so on, and then the new legal attitude of tolerance is going to force this highly inappropriate issue down your children's throats. This is a war on innocence as well as goodness. They will not be able to avoid the issue, when that is exactly what they should be avoiding.

 

[Joseph Hazen]

People who are afraid of snakes are ineligible to lead cub scout dens!

Not gonna lie - legit concern lol

Overall though I agree with knee-v. It's not just the problem with accepting homosexuality. The Girl Scouts have 'progressed' (from what I've heard) towards a humanistic, relativistic perspective on a lot of issues. When a group accepts one part of this (for lack of a better term) agenda, it spreads, and involves a lot of philosophies and ideas that start to run through the entire experience. When it comes to things like Scouts I want my kid to learn how to camp and start a fire and how to use a pocket knife safely. I don't want to have to run by what he learned while earning his Citizenship, Family Life, or American Cultures badges in the process.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I read somewhere (might have been on rorate cæli) that the Catholics were going to start their own scoutting program. Why not the Orthodox? Lets start a grassroots movement where the manuals and activities are open sourced. No central organization. That way the government can't force heresies down our throats.

now there is an interesting idea

 

[MKJ]

This dynamic is going to change, and sooner than you think. All you need is the appearance of one child who has been actively taught that they "are gay" and that it's OK to be such, be proud and so on, and then the new legal attitude of tolerance is going to force this highly inappropriate issue down your children's throats. This is a war on innocence as well as goodness. They will not be able to avoid the issue, when that is exactly what they should be avoiding.

I am not sure what that would look like in the context of the things scouts do?

 

[Knee V]

I am not sure what that would look like in the context of the things scouts do?

What they do with the Girl Scouts would be a start.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Instead of JUST making smores around the campfire, the boys will make pink smores around the fire while wearing leg-warmers, rainbow headbands, they'll do each other's hair, talk about what a hunk Ben Affleck is, and all the while "It's Raining Men" is playing in the background. The Wolf badge is replaced with the Footloose badge. The Webelo badge is replaced with a bronze image of Liza Minelli. The Bear badge is replaced by a rainbow, Bobcat replaced by a unicorn. Lots of changes in the works....

The national headquarters will be in the Castro District of San Francisco, I heard...

I am not sure what that would look like in the context of the things scouts do?

 

[rusmeister]

Unfortunately, I think ridicule counter-productive.

As K-V said, the Girl Scouts provde some precedent. But more importantly, whatever they do will be influenced by the philosophy they adopt, just like school or anything else.

If they have a policy requiring the teachers and leaders to approve of homosexuality, because their guiding philosophy says that it is a difference like skin or hair color, then sooner or later (and increasingly sooner) children will be taught, both directly and indirectly, about the benignity of this abomination. Most directly when any child, teen or parent walks in and begins pushing their new-found rights.

This is all so obvious to me now I don't know how anyone who thinks about it can fail to see it. We already have ample evidence of people in business being actively punished for taking a Christian stand, and of states enacting anti-discrimination laws and requirements for public schools supporting these various forms of insanity. The traditional view of mankind on this will be punishable by law. How can we NOT see it in the Boy Scouts?

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Sigh.......it's like talking to Spock, I swear. I try, Rus. I try....:o I feel like Dr. McCoy with you, man.

Unfortunately, I think ridicule counter-productive.

As K-V said, the Girl Scouts provde some precedent. But more importantly, whatever they do will be influenced by the philosophy they adopt, just like school or anything else.

If they have a policy requiring the teachers and leaders to approve of homosexuality, because their guiding philosophy says that it is a difference like skin or hair color, then sooner or later (and increasingly sooner) children will be taught, both directly and indirectly, about the benignity of this abomination. Most directly when any child, teen or parent walks in and begins pushing their new-found rights.

This is all so obvious to me now I don't know how anyone who thinks about it can fail to see it. We already have ample evidence of people in business being actively punished for taking a Christian stand, and of states enacting anti-discrimination laws and requirements for public schools supporting these various forms of insanity. The traditional view of mankind on this will be punishable by law. How can we NOT see it in the Boy Scouts?