NationStates Jolt Archive

I know the BSA has come under quite a bit of flak as of late for it's views on homosexuality and athiesm. I want to clear a few things up.

I am a Life Scout and the current Senior Patrol Leader of my troop, working towards the Eagle rank. I have yet to hear a single word uttered by anyone in my organization that is anti-homosexual, racist, hateful, bigoting, or anything of that nature. I do believe however, that people are looking at the BSA with a skewed view of things.

The great thing about the organization is that it DOES teach values, and these values are not in any way, shape or form religious. We don't force a person to go to chapel and we don't believe in devine right. We don't constantly preach how the US is the greatest country in the world because that would be offensive to our Boy Scout counterparts in Europe. We do however, honor the dead and pay our respects to those who have served in our military.

As for kicking people out for being homosexual or athiest, know this: that was and still is a very controvercial and contested issue, one that is to this day being evaluated and re-evaluated by the BSA Council. My guess is that it will be overturned. Hell, most of the guys I've spoken to say we should allow anyone to join, as long as they are willing to learn and contribute.

So I come here to say: don't think of us as a religious establishment. Stop dismissing us as a bunch of homophobes or radical Christians. I am most certainly not either of these.

We're here to teach good, ethical values and leadership. And that is ALL we've been trying to do for the past hundred years.

Bolol: Liberal Life Scout

Thank you.

heck yes!

Tom Schrandt (not so liberal) life scout

Hmm...Good point. I haven't heard much about Boyscouts since that contraversy either. I was never a boyscout myself, but I do support them.

Hmm...Good point. I haven't heard much about Boyscouts since that contraversy either. I was never a boyscout myself, but I do support them.

Good to hear. I just don't like people stereotyping us as intolorant. Hell, alot of my friends in the BSA are as accepting as they come.

Eh, did my time as a Cub Scout for around 3 years. If Boy Scouts are anything like Cub Scouts, you guys are cool, I'm sure.

Eh, did my time as a Cub Scout for around 3 years. If Boy Scouts are anything like Cub Scouts, you guys are cool, I'm sure.

Yeah...Things are more strenuous obviously, but, it's all good.

Yeah...Things are more strenuous obviously, but, it's all good.
Of course, I'm sure you guys don't do (or do more than) the mind-numbing things we did.

I agree with everything you guys state. I too am a Life Scout, and am only a project away from being Eagle.

From:
Daniel
Pawtucket, RI, USA
Wildest car enthusiast this side of the U.S.!!!!!

I got up to life scout, and quit because I wasn't willing to make the time committment for eagle, but I don't ever remember having heard anything that would ever offend anyone.

To lump the enitre BSA as an intolerant organization due to a couple highly publicized incidents is ignorant.

However, it's been said once or twice that the BSA has every right to be selective. It's their prerogative. Now if they were a publicly funded organization like the Peace Corps or some such, then it's a different ball of wax, but that's not the case. I did my time in the Scouts and I enjoyed it immensely. I always thought it was like a little army :) we were always the most excited when we got to go to the firing range. :sniper:

Actually, the thought that the BSA is like a little army actually makes a whole lot of sense now that I look retrospectively.

I just had my scoutmaster's conference for Eagle. I'm a boy scout, but also a member of my school's gay-straight-alliance.

Actually, the thought that the BSA is like a little army actually makes a whole lot of sense now that I look retrospectively.

(Is a wee bit disturbed)

I don't like their policy on gays. But just because I don't like one aspect of something does not mean I should discount the whole of it as being somehow wrong. I was in the Scouts for a time (I am, however, too lazy for that sort of thing!), and have a great deal of respect for the organization and it's members.

But, to address some of what you said.. I don't think you need to be a hate-filled bigot to have [in my opinion] backwards views and opinions, as well as implement those opinions in your life and community. I sure that the people in charge of the BSA that have made this policy decision are great people - you have to be to run an organization like the BSA. But I think it's a flaw in their moral character to discriminate as they do. But a lot of people discriminate, in one way or another; their views aren't entirely PC, and sometimes they do things that are rather bad. But that doesn't make them bad people. Hate the sin not the sinner, right?

But, I would reiterate that the BSA is a private organization and not a business at all. They should be allowed to make whatever personnel decisions they want.

Also! The BSA really hasn't been in the headlines about this, lately. What brought this post on, Bolol? Was it just stewing?