NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52547-2004Nov15.html

Military Bases Are Told Not To Sponsor Boy Scout Troops
Associated Press
Tuesday, November 16, 2004; Page A08


CHICAGO, Nov. 15 -- The Pentagon has agreed to warn military bases worldwide that they should not directly sponsor Boy Scout troops, partially resolving claims that the government has improperly supported a group that requires members to believe in God.

I kind of see their point...the whole separation of church and state thing being what it is, especially since the Boy Scouts has been confirmed to be a private organization and therefore frankly shouldn't really receive public funding anyway.

As a former Boy Scout (who often curses the organisation) I'd say that the charges are fairly unjust. The Boy Scouts don't require members to believe in a God, just have some form of spirituality. This is reflected by their religious awards, which cover everything from Roman Catholicism to Zoroastrianism.

So, whatever. I do think it is a semi-appropriate decision though, so, who knows, maybe I just don't car and am posting this to get my post count up, that's highly probable.

here here

spiritual requirements are ridiculous

I was a boy scout, and I don't believe in God, per se...but then again, they never asked. If an organization requires one to believe in god, especially a single religion's god, then it simply cannot get government funding. The whole idea of religious freedom, and the single most important point to the seperation of church and state is to keep the government from showing preferential treatment towards one relion over others.

No one is saying that the Boy Scouts don't have a right to exist or that an individual can't practice a religion of their choice. That goes against the freedoms that real liberals or leftists believe in. Also, what exactly is a pinko commie, and what are their goals? I was not aware we were living under McCarthyism again.

While the rules prohibit me from saying the poster of this thread is a politcal hack honesty forces me to say that this post smells strongly of hackery, bearing a likeness in aroma to rancid yak butter mixed with a dollop of weasel musk.

Oh no don't crack down on the boy scouts. How will society survive if kids don't know how to whittle sticks and weave baskets? oh no.

I kind of see their point...the whole separation of church and state thing being what it is, especially since the Boy Scouts has been confirmed to be a private organization and therefore frankly shouldn't really receive public funding anyway.

As an Eagle Scout and one that has stayed on bases; the ruling is overkill.

What we got were stuff that was not being used anywhay. For example, I once stayed in the U2 barracks on Edwards AirForce base.

It had water and it had electricity.

Finally the relgious aspects. It is not a Christian agenda(might have been), the ruling of the local council was that you had to have some sort of Relgious beliefs. We had Catholics, Christians, Muslims, and a couple Buddists.

As such Relgious Neutrality is maintained.

Oh no don't crack down on the boy scouts. How will society survive if kids don't know how to whittle sticks and weave baskets? oh no.
They do more than just whittle sticks and weave baskets. In fact they do an awful lot of volunteer service projects. They also help to inspire a respect for the out-of-doors, something any leftist would think would be a good thing.

Oh no don't crack down on the boy scouts. How will society survive if kids don't know how to whittle sticks and weave baskets? oh no.

Actually Eagle Scouts have been know to cause problems.

If anybody remembers the Chouchilla kidnapping, the main guy was an ex Eagle Scout.

;)

Occasionally I start a serious thread, but sometimes I just enjoy making parody threads of the rather hysterical posts I see here on a daily basis. If you have to ask which one this is, you'll never know :p

edit: the "real" reason I posted this is that with all this hysterical talk about the country becoming more of a theocracy (rofl) this thing happens on Bush's watch. Do you think Rummy has notified the Pres yet? ;)

I'd say their exclusion of gay leaders is far more serious than any vague religious connotations (they don't require you to believe in God).

Bush couldn't care less, he's a pseudo Xn out for power, period. Kerry would have been more protective of traditional values (yes, I'm serious).

As an Eagle Scout and one that has stayed on bases; the ruling is overkill.

What we got were stuff that was not being used anywhay. For example, I once stayed in the U2 barracks on Edwards AirForce base.

It had water and it had electricity.

Finally the relgious aspects. It is not a Christian agenda(might have been), the ruling of the local council was that you had to have some sort of Relgious beliefs. We had Catholics, Christians, Muslims, and a couple Buddists.

As such Relgious Neutrality is maintained.

I was a Scout myself...made First Class and then gave it up in high school. Maybe the ruling is overkill, but a lot of my troopmates felt imposed upon by Christianity when they were in Scouts. Also, factor in that courts have given the Scouts the right to discriminate against gay members and leaders based on the whole "private organization" argument. The military is a government organization; therefore, I can see why the Pentagon would hand down such a ruling, though I would hope it's a broad, sweeping ruling that prevents the military from doing the same thing for any private organization.

I was a Scout myself...made First Class and then gave it up in high school. Maybe the ruling is overkill, but a lot of my troopmates felt imposed upon by Christianity when they were in Scouts. Also, factor in that courts have given the Scouts the right to discriminate against gay members and leaders based on the whole "private organization" argument. The military is a government organization; therefore, I can see why the Pentagon would hand down such a ruling, though I would hope it's a broad, sweeping ruling that prevents the military from doing the same thing for any private organization.
Churches are private organizations. Charities are private organizations. Most organizations (by number, not by dollar amount) the government gives money to are private...

Just because the US justice system has ordered its military services not to sponsor a private recreational group for young people. How does that mean that America is a "Godless, Pinko, Commie State"?

Besides, what has 'Leftists' got to do with it?

Godless pinko commie state? Only in a better world my friend, only in a better world...

I was a Scout myself...made First Class and then gave it up in high school. Maybe the ruling is overkill, but a lot of my troopmates felt imposed upon by Christianity when they were in Scouts. Also, factor in that courts have given the Scouts the right to discriminate against gay members and leaders based on the whole "private organization" argument. The military is a government organization; therefore, I can see why the Pentagon would hand down such a ruling, though I would hope it's a broad, sweeping ruling that prevents the military from doing the same thing for any private organization.

That is the sad part. You had a bad troop leader. Baden-Powell didn't preech Christianity. He felt Relgion was good for development. Why else are the Scouts all over the world?

My troop was a rogue group we told the main council to basically stick it from time to time.

We were one of the three troops that traveled the 50 states(there probably have been more now).

I don't agree with the descrimination against gays. The main council is infected with dogmatic christians right now. The case you mention; the fact that every parent spoke in defense of the gay leader should have been respected. If the parents feel it's ok sorry but that makes it "end of story."

There are probably a few retards that think homosexuality = pedohphillia.

Just because the US justice system has ordered its military services not to sponsor a private recreational group for young people. How does that mean that America is a "Godless, Pinko, Commie State"?

Besides, what has 'Leftists' got to do with it?
It was the ACLU that sued, IIRC. And the reason the it has to do with godless pinkoism is because the reason that the Scouts are now losing their support is because of their support of religion, not because they're private.

My vision of a Perfect America would be a Conservative Godless Pure Capitalist state.

How is it that conservative Republicans can control the media, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Executive Branch, the Supreme Court, the majority of governorships, as well as the majority of state legislatures, YET STILL THINK THEY ARE OPPRESSED UNDERDOGS!?!?!?

These people do nothing by whine about liberals coming to take away their guns, their god, their bibles, and their sons & daughters (the gay invasion).

Look around right-wing troglodytes. Liberal democrats are a bunch of frogs boiling in cold water. Try defining yourselves by what you believe, rather than using evil liberal bogeymen to rally the goose-stepping faithful.