http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=13&u=/nm/20050330/ts_nm/crime_boyscouts_dc
Douglas Smith's actions will stir more trouble for the BSA. Unfortunately, BSA is his employer. If he worked for WalMart, this would barely make the local news. Since he's with the scouts, it is nationwide. His actions give thousands of legitimate and dedicated and "respectable" volunteers a black eye. That's unfortunate.
Regarding the gay position, I've given this a LOT of thought over the last 8 years. That's when I re-joined scouting. The BSA has an incredibly effective youth protection program that, when followed, makes sure the boys and leaders are not put into a position that could be misconstrued as compromising. Youth and adult leaders are taught to always practice two-deep leadership and to never enter a one-on-one meeting in a closed room with an adult-child. Our troop leaders leave the door open when they are meeting one-on-one. No child is allowed in another parent's tent. The program is tremendously effective for protecting both the scout and the leader.
I don't believe all homosexuals are pedophiles. This guy, assuming he's guilty, shows us all pedophiles are not homosexual. It sort-of shows the two issues are unrelated. I think the "don't ask, don't tell" approach is best. If a BSA leader wants to use scouting as a platform to promote their agenda, it is wrong. I really don't care if it is homosexuality, women's clothing, or the baptist church is higher in heaven than the catholic church (example... don't take it personally). This kind of agenda doesn't belong in the scouts. If the leader keeps his personal life personal, and they are good scouters, they should be given the chance.
Having said that, the BSA can only kick out those "offenders" they know about. If they are doing something to make headlines, they are probably not setting a good example for today's youth. The BSA (and any other organization) deserves the right to ask them to represent our published values. If they refuse, the BSA has the right to kick them out. In short, good leaders set a good example. Bad leaders deserve to be reprimanded. I know for a fact some leaders in my troop have been reprimanded for being too negative. They admitted the example they were showing was inappropriate and have improved their approach.
The media is already started the lynching. This man has no chance and he'll drag scouting along. From what I've read, the BSA suspended this man immediately upon learning about his charges. Watch that get swept under the rug. I learned it costs about $150 per scout per year to provide the program to them. This includes paid executives, maintaining scout camps and facilities, and other costs. The BSA will probably have to spend more money on lawyers and publicity because of the actions of their employee. This is a shame since this money could be used for more productive things.
I feel better now. Thanks for asking.
2 comments:
Thanks Mike for writing what I have been thinking. As a father of an Eagle Scout, like you, and knowing how the program is operated, it is a shame that the left wing media will have a field day. The man is not on trial; it’s the Scouts! Why: Because it is an organization that has a strong moral foundation, it teaches leadership, it encourages philanthropy, and service to others. It has one flaw according to the left: it does will not allow professed homosexuals in adult leadership positions. This position is based on the Christian/ moral underpinnings of the Scouts. The left is all consumed with their rights and opinions, and they flagrantly infringe on others rights and opinions. I find it highly ironic that the same rights they desire are the exact same rights that they trample for those people who do not share their views.
The left feels that people of faith loft themselves over others and perceive themselves as perfect. However, nowhere in the Bible, I read, does it say Christians are perfect. In fact, it clearly states the opposite. Based on my limited experience with other faiths, I believe this statement holds true for them as well. The left has done a masterful job of trampling the conduct of faith based organizations, like the scouts, and stereo typing them as moral elitists, thus causing people of faith to be ashamed and embarrassed of their individual beliefs. A far cry from what the founding father of this country envisioned. Regardless of the religious foundations, what does the Scouts teach that is harmful to our society? Nothing! The scouts encourage the boys to follow the spiritual teachings of their parents. This provides for a very broad range and set of interpretations on moral and religious values.
The left’s thirst for blood and their desire to destroy organizations like the Scouts will drag this modest organization through the mud because of a single individual’s moral depravity. Mike’s Walmart comment is dead on target.
Now I feel better too!
Jerry Erbe
Thanks Mike for writing what I have been thinking. As a father of an Eagle Scout, like you, and knowing how the program is operated, it is a shame that the left wing media will have a field day. The man is not on trial; it’s the Scouts! Why: Because it is an organization that has a strong moral foundation, it teaches leadership, it encourages philanthropy, and service to others. It has one flaw according to the left: it does will not allow professed homosexuals in adult leadership positions. This position is based on the Christian/ moral underpinnings of the Scouts. The left is all consumed with their rights and opinions, and they flagrantly infringe on others rights and opinions. I find it highly ironic that the same rights they desire are the exact same rights that they trample for those people who do not share their views.
The left feels that people of faith loft themselves over others and perceive themselves as perfect. However, nowhere in the Bible, I read, does it say Christians are perfect. In fact, it clearly states the opposite. Based on my limited experience with other faiths, I believe this statement holds true for them as well. The left has done a masterful job of trampling the conduct of faith based organizations, like the scouts, and stereo typing them as moral elitists, thus causing people of faith to be ashamed and embarrassed of their individual beliefs. A far cry from what the founding father of this country envisioned. Regardless of the religious foundations, what does the Scouts teach that is harmful to our society? Nothing! The scouts encourage the boys to follow the spiritual teachings of their parents. This provides for a very broad range and set of interpretations on moral and religious values.
The left’s thirst for blood and their desire to destroy organizations like the Scouts will drag this modest organization through the mud because of a single individual’s moral depravity. Mike’s Walmart comment is dead on target.
Now I feel better too!
Jerry Erbe
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