Letter to the Editor: Boy Scouts

[crazyfingers]

I'm planning to send this letter to my town newspaper.

Comments?

I read with interest last week’s story on Sharon’s Boy Scout Troop 95 winning the Apache Relay. In many ways the Boy Scouts do many good things in the community. However it’s unfortunate that the story also sidestepped an issue that few people know about. The story said that the Troop "welcomes and includes scouts of all faiths". While technically correct, it sidesteps the fact that that the Boy Scouts of America discriminates on the basis of religion against people without a religious faith. That is in fact so.

While the Old Colony Council, the regional Council under which Sharon resides, has, to their great credit, gone against the national BSA on the issue of excluding gay scouts, they have not gone against the national BSA on the issue of religious discrimination. In short, any potential scout, or an adult who may wish to be a scout leader, must believe in a supreme being or they are excluded. About 10% of the US population do not believe in a supreme being and have no religious faith. These people are just as moral and are just as good citizens as those people who do have a religion. However in its’ religious bigotry, the BSA excludes these people.

The US Supreme Court recently ruled that the BSA has the right to discriminate based on their religious beliefs. However that doesn’t mean that people of good will should not pressure the BSA to reform their discriminatory policies based on religion. Under their current policy, Ted Williams would not have been allowed to coach a Boy Scout baseball team and boys would not have benefited from his involvement, just because Ted Williams was an atheist. The BSA needs to reform and stop discriminating against millions of good people solely based on their lack of religious beliefs.

The Boy Scouts might listen to the President: "...we've got to recognize in our society that strong values are shared by good people of different faiths, and good people who have no faith at all. These are universal values, values we share in all our diversity: Respect, tolerance, responsibility, honesty, self-restraint, family commitment, civic duty, fairness and compassion. These are the moral landmarks that guide a successful life. " - -President G.W. Bush

But will the Boy Scouts take that advice?

 

 

[crazyfingers]

Should I assume that silence means everyone agrees that the BSA should change their policy?

 

[seebs]

I dunno. I mean, yes, it's a stupid policy, but I'm not sure that means they should change it; maybe it means they should shrivel into nothingness.

I don't think the BSA has a clear idea of what it's trying to do anymore. Too many very different goals.

 

[Angel75]

Glad to see this thread. My son has recently become a tiger cub. In absence of any den leaders, i nominated my husband and I. We are NOT christians. I wouldnt call myself an aethiest...I am just smart enough to know that I dont not KNOW what the "truth" is. My husband grew up in scouts, and loved it. And my son wanted desperately to join after hearing about the camping, and archery and a few other things that piqued his interest. I debated with myself over letting him join. I dont believe in disrimination on any sort, and it was a little tough letting him join. But my husband convinced me to. we don't exactly open the ceremonies with anti gay material. So I think my point is this...The BSA first duty is to the kids. It's about teaching em the importance fo family, patriotism, respect, responsibility, developing character, and most of all lettin em have fun being boys!! There are a few fundamentalist christians left in the group that will want to use it as a pulpit, and I dont think that willl change. But then again, as much as there is supposed to be a separation of church and state in this country..there isnt. And i might as well start teaching my son to think for himself now. Should they change their values and views? I dont believe in discrimination. But i believe in allowing groups to meet and operate on their terms. ya dont like it? dont join.

 

[crazyfingers]

Originally posted by Angel75
Should they change their values and views? I dont believe in discrimination. But i believe in allowing groups to meet and operate on their terms. ya dont like it? dont join.

If they were a completely private group then I would agree that they would have the right to disciminate as much as they wish.  However, despite what the Supreme Court said, they are chartered by the US government.  They receive public funds and "in-kind" financial assistence in such ways as free or nearly free accomodation on public property whereas other organizations are required to pay a fee. Also, the nominal "Commander in Chief" of the BSA is the president of the united states. 

I believe that if the BSA wants to disciminate they will also need to give up all of the governenmt perks that they get for being federally chartered.

I find it ironic that an organization that prides itself for it's virtue, would behave in such a vile way as to exclude gays and nonbelievers in a supreme being.

Also by the way, the founder of the Boy Scouts, E. T. Seton, was a non-believer in a personal god.  It's only been in the last few decates that the BSA has been taken over by the super religious. They have changed quite a bit since the Federal Government chartered them and that charter says nothing about religion as being a part of the mission of the BSA.  How ironic again that the founder of the Boy Scouts would now be rejected as a scout leader under their current policy of discrimination.

 

 

[Angel75]

wow i didnt know that crazyfingers that is very interesting!!!
totally good point of public funding, although the military too is still discriminatory. so obviously the govt doesnt care too much about reinforcing some basic human rights huh? And also had no clue about the original founder...was he pushed out of chief scout position because of his aetheism/agnoticism??

 

[crazyfingers]

Originally posted by Angel75
was he pushed out of chief scout position because of his aetheism/agnoticism??

I don't believe so.  It was way back in 1915 that he left the Scouts. 

 

[Marcel]

It's sad that this sort of discrimination (or any sort for that matter) is openly indulged. As far as getting attention from your local paper with that letter goes WackyDigits... the least you can do is try; and thumbs up for doing so.

 

[crazyfingers]

Originally posted by Marcel
It's sad that this sort of discrimination (or any sort for that matter) is openly indulged. As far as getting attention from your local paper with that letter goes WackyDigits... the least you can do is try; and thumbs up for doing so.

 

Hi Marcel,  Thanks  The letter was in the paper on Friday.  So far no one has called me at home to tell me I'm evil - yet.

What's unfortunate is that the Boy Scouts are Chartered by the US government which means that the government is complicit in this discrimination and that the BS get both govermnent funds and in kind contributions like free use of public property that they would otherwise have to pay for if they were non-chartered like almost all other nonprofit organizations.  Of course they were chartered by the Federal govt. before the BS was taken over by religious zealots.

 

[IslandBreeze]

It's not "discrimination." It's about not giving in to what's "politically correct."

 

[crazyfingers]

Originally posted by Cammie
It's not "discrimination."

That is quite a statement.  Why is it not discrimination based on lack of religion?

It's about not giving in to what's "politically correct."

You say this as if you think that nonbelievers should be discriminated against.  Please explain.

 

 

[Gunny]

It is my sincere prayer and hope that The Boy Scouts of America stand firm in their resolution. The Boy Scout pledge is clear and concise. I pray that the Lord's hand of protection be upon the Boy Scouts of America. I pray that Almighty God(The Father, The Son[Jesus Christ], The Holy Spirit) might thwart any and all efforts of the ungodly to bring moral relatavism into the Boy Scouts of America. This, I ask in the only name unto Salvation, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.

 

[crazyfingers]

Originally posted by gunnysgt
It is my sincere prayer and hope that The Boy Scouts of America stand firm in their resolution. The Boy Scout pledge is clear and concise. I pray that the Lord's hand of protection be upon the Boy Scouts of America. I pray that Almighty God(The Father, The Son[Jesus Christ], The Holy Spirit) might thwart any and all efforts of the ungodly to bring moral relatavism into the Boy Scouts of America. This, I ask in the only name unto Salvation, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.

 

A prayer in support of their bigoted policy?  Of course, nothing fails like a prayer...

 

[Gunny]

Originally posted by crazyfingers
 
A prayer in support of their bigoted policy?

Bigoted to who? The ungodly.

The Christian Bigot Trump Card once again.

 

[crazyfingers]

Originally posted by gunnysgt
Bigoted to who? The ungodly.

The Christian Bigot Trump Card once again.

So, because I don't believe in a god, I am somehow unworthy of the same dignity that others have in this society? 

 

[Gunny]

Originally posted by crazyfingers
So, because I don't believe in a god, I am somehow unworthy of the same dignity that others have in this society? 

No Sir, your ungodliness excludes you from the Boy Scouts of America. Personally, I seek no external dignity from any man nor society. The dignity I have as a man, a Christian, a father, grandfather, husband, son and a Marine Combat Veteran is derived from within and is fueled by my personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

 

[OutletOverkill]

It's not necessary to pray through a message board.

 

[crazyfingers]

Originally posted by gunnysgt
No Sir, your ungodliness excludes you from the Boy Scouts of America.

Then I would expect that you would agree that if the BSA wishes to continue in their discriminatory abd bigoted ways, that the federal government must revoke the federal charter than the Boy Scouts have enjoyed for some 85 years, that the boy scouts must not be given public funds and that they must not be given in-kind gifts from the government such as free use of public property when other nonprofits must pay for that use? 

 

[Gunny]

Originally posted by crazyfingers
Then I would expect that you would agree that if the BSA wishes to continue in their discriminatory abd bigoted ways, that the federal government must revoke the federal charter than the Boy Scouts have enjoyed for some 85 years, that the boy scouts must not be given public funds and that they must not be given in-kind gifts from the government such as free use of public property when other nonprofits must pay for that use? 

I believe the Boy Scouts of America have the right to public funds just as the godless public school system garners public funds to teach children that thier ancestors are chimps and disallowed to even mention the idea of creationism.

 

[crazyfingers]

Originally posted by gunnysgt
I believe the Boy Scouts of America have the right to public funds just as the godless public school system garners public funds to teach children that thier ancestors are chimps and disallowed to even mention the idea of creationism.[/B] [/B]

Guess what Gunny, our ancestors were not chimps.  Rather our ancestors were ape-like and we (humans) and chimps, both evolved from this common ancestor. It's a fact Gunny. 

I suppose that you also have no respect for the value and the constitutional requirement of separation of chruch and state?