Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scout Organization works with boys from seven to eighteen years of age. Their mission is to develop physical fitness, to train boys to become good citizens, and to build good moral character. In order to become a member of the Boy Scouts, one must agree in writing to adhere to the values of the organization, which were delineated in 1911 in the Scout Law and the Scout Oath.
Scout Law
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
Scout Oath
On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country; To obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
Famous Boy Scouts
110 million Americans have been Boy Scouts, including eleven of the twelve men who have walked on the moon. Famous Boy Scouts include John F. Kennedy, Walt Disney, John Wayne, Bill Gates, Hank Aaron, Bill Clinton, Sam Walton, Harrison Ford, Paul McCartney, Bob Hope, Norman Rockwell, Gerald Ford, John Glenn, Walter Cronkite, Jimmy Stewart, Nolan Ryan, Michael Bloomberg, Henry Fonda, Joe Theisman, Mark Spitz, and Rick Perry—just to name a few.
Boy Scout Activities
Boy Scout activities include volunteer work for the community, educational opportunities, hiking, and camping. A boy who has been a scout for five years is twice as likely to earn a college degree. 100,000 mentally or physically impaired boys participate in the Scouting program at the present time.
Boys can participate in over 100 programs, in which they may earn Merit Badges with the Boy Scouts. Here are some that I found particularly interesting: Veterinary Medicine, Surveying, Scuba Diving, Sailing, Plumbing, Oceanography, Life Saving, Law, Home Repair, Geology, Gardening, Forestry, First Aid, Fire Safety, Electricity, Dentistry, Cooking, Computers, Canoeing, Camping, Automotive Maintenance, Astronomy, Architecture, Archaeology, and Archery.
The ACLU Vs the Boy Scouts
The adult Scoutmaster is an important figure to the boys. As the Homosexual Movement gained strength during the 1980s, many homosexuals volunteered to be Scoutmasters. From 1986 to 1991 alone, parents filed a total of fifty lawsuits against the Boy Scouts because Scoutmasters across the country had sodomized their sons. The cost to the Boy Scouts of America for these fifty suits is estimated at over $60M.
As a result, in 1991, the Boy Scouts codified what had always been assumed, that avowed homosexuals were not acceptable as Scoutmasters. This began what has been twenty years of lawsuits against the Boy Scouts, including the 14 that have been filed by the ACLU, for alleged discrimination. They have never lost one of these suits, but the cost of constantly defending them has been enormous.
American courts have repeatedly held that the Boy Scouts of America, and all private organizations, have a right to set membership standards in accordance with the First Amendment protected concept of Freedom of Association. In Boy Scouts v. Dale, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the Boy Scouts of America have the Constitutional right to Freedom of Association, and granted them the authority to expel an openly homosexual Scoutmaster.
The ACLU, in its ongoing effort to destroy the Boy Scouts because of their traditional American values, has shifted its attack to filing, or threatening to file, lawsuits against the 10,000 schools and municipalities who associated with the Boy Scouts through making available to them rooms or parks in which to meet. The cost of defending these lawsuits is prohibitive, and it is easier to cave in and move on. Nearly the entire state of New York has turned against the Boy Scouts rather than fight the ACLU.
To give one example, the ACLU filed the Barnes-Wallace lawsuit against Boy Scouts and the City of San Diego in 2000, to force the City to discriminate against Boy Scouts because of their constitutionally protected membership policies. Ten years later, the case is still ongoing.
The City of San Diego leases two park properties to San Diego-Imperial Council, Boy Scouts of America, which built a campground on one and a youth aquatic center on the other, each of which is open to the public. At Camp Balboa in Balboa Park, the Council built nine campsites, a swimming pool, and meeting facilities that are used by a wide-variety of groups in the San Diego area.
In a 2001 renewal lease, San Diego-Imperial Council agreed to spend over $1.7 million of its funds to further improve Camp Balboa. At Fiesta Island in Mission Bay Park, the Council spent $2.5 million of its funds to build an aquatic facility at the urging of virtually all of the youth organizations in the metro San Diego area. The Youth Aquatic Center has a variety of aquatic equipment and watercraft, all of which are available for use by any youth group.
Boy Scouts have paid millions of dollars to provide these facilities and services to the public while San Diego taxpayers pay nothing. The City has over 100 leases to community organizations on similar terms as the leases to Boy Scouts.
The United Way turned on the Boy Scouts in dozens of major cities by withdrawing all of its funding. Many corporations that had been regular donors, such as Chase, Levi Strauss, CVS Pharmacy, Fleet Bank, and the Pew Charitable Trust have also cancelled all of their donations to the Boy Scouts.
Many states and cities have also abandoned their support of the organization, preferring the approval of the Homosexual Movement, as opposed to helping their urban youth overcome fatherless homes by learning skills and being exposed to the values necessary for young men to become productive citizens.
The other major criticism of the Boy Scouts comes from Atheists who have repeatedly challenged—and lost every time—the right of the Boy Scouts to have their own oath. The founder of the organization, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, put it this way: No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys his laws.
Support for the Boy Scouts
Thankfully, the American government continues to be overwhelmingly supportive of the Boy Scouts. The House of Representatives passed a resolution in 2004, by a vote of 391 to 3, recognizing the amazing record of the organization in its service to the youth of America.
The House passed another resolution in 2005, more narrowly this time (418 to 7), in support of the activities of the Boy Scouts. That same year, the Senate passed the Support Our Scouts Act by a vote of 98 to 0. Congress passed the Boys Scouts of America Equal Access Act in 2001. Every American President from Taft to Obama has been the honorary President of the Boy Scouts.
Boy Scout Quotes
The Boy Scout movement is distinctly an asset to our country for the development of efficiency, virility, and good citizenship. It is essential that its leaders be men of strong, wholesome character; of unmistakable devotion to our country, its customs and ideals.
Theodore Roosevelt
The Boy Scouts have not only demonstrated their worth to the Nation, but have also materially contributed to a deeper appreciation by the American people of the higher conception of patriotism and good citizenship. Every nation depends for its future upon the proper training and development of its youth.
Woodrow Wilson
If every boy in the United States could be placed under the wholesome influences of the Scout program and should live up to the Scout Oath and rules, we would hear fewer pessimistic words as to the future of our nation. Not only is it based on the fundamental rules of right thinking and acting, but it seems to embrace in its code almost every virtue needed in the personal and social life of mankind.
Calvin Coolidge
As one who has been interested in Scouting over many years it has been most heartening to have so many evidences of the practical values of Scout training. We must remember that next to active military service itself, there is no higher opportunity for serving our country than helping youth to carry on in their efforts to make themselves physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
The Boy Scouts of America has contributed greatly to the character training of our youth. What a greater nation this would be if the principles of Scouting could be woven more closely into our daily lives. The Boy Scouts of America is making a vital contribution to the character building of our boys and young men. Let us work together to make the program of the Boy Scouts available to every American boy.
Harry S. Truman
I urge you to rededicate yourselves to the ideals of the Scout Oath, and to reaffirm your obligations to your God and to your country. In so doing, you will contribute to the strengthening of America's heritage and thereby to the realization of our common goals in the Great Society.
Lyndon Baines Johnson
I applaud your many efforts and programs encouraging character development and leadership among American youth. By sponsoring many useful physical, mental, and social activities designed to promote self-responsibility, the Scouts strengthen the cornerstone of individual freedom in our nation. These programs develop the youngster's confidence in his ability to deal with nature, society, and a challenging world.
Ronald Reagan
Times and challenges change, yet the values of Scouting will never change. Scouts of any era would recognize every word that you live by today, because those words have always defined Scouting. The goodness of a person and of the society he or she lives in often comes down to very simple things, and the words found in the Scout Law. Every society depends on trust and loyalty, on courtesy and kindness, on bravery and reverence. These are the values of Scouting, and these are the values of America.
George W. Bush
Related
Comments
AUTHORYomiko Readman— That is my real name and my real photograph.
The ACLU is not about equality or fair treatment. It is about Atheism and Communism (which always go hand in hand). I wrote an article proving this here:
https://hubpages.com/politics/ACLU
The ACLU seeks to destroy America. It takes its marching orders from Satan. It is, without question, the most vile, destructive, evil organization in America.
Haha, of course. The ACLU and their insanity! What with demanding equality and fair treatment for every single citizen! They are truly the bane of society!
I suggest you keep on trying to hide your real face behind pretty words.
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District Commish— I am honored at your presence here on my Hub. Thank you very much for taking the time to read my article. I so appreciate your extraordinary remarks.
You wrote: "I think Boy Scouts is the best thing going for our young men as well as our country."
I could not agree with you more. And I recognize that you are in the best position to judge.
As a cubmaster, Scoutmaster and now A District Commissioner and a father of three sons I think Boy Scouts is the best thing going for our young men as well as our country. To the mother who is worried I agree to an extent in these times. Check out different troops, ensure that the leaders are all trained and they follow the guide to safe scouting even become a leader yourself. The BSA has safeguards in place now and Troops should be following them. If you have any questions contact the District Commissioner of the District Executive who is a professional Scouter and express your concerns and ask that they look into it. A leader can be removed for wven the appearance of inappropiate behavior.
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Jimmy Fuentes— I believe President Obama did indeed snub the Boy Scouts. This is a sop to his homosexual followers. I enjoyed reading your comments very much. I agree with you. Thank you for visiting and you are welcome.
It's funny to talk about Mr. Obama being the "honorary president" considering the snub he delivered by passing on attending the festivities. I do believe he declined the boy scouts' invitation , did he not?
I remember hearing the comparison that there were other presidents who missed annual events like that, but it does strike me as a bit of a pattern of discourteous and ill-advised behavior (just as returning the bust of Winston Churchill to Britain) . Sorry James, didn't mean to veer off into politics when your post is about a great organization with a great tradition. Thanks for the hub
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prasetio30--- Thank you, my friend, for visiting me today. I appreciate your words. The Boy Scouts have been beneficial to tens of millions of boys.
This hub was remind me when I joined the boy scout, 20 years ago. I get a lot of advantages by joining boy scout. This activity maintain our discipline.I can't remember about that. Thanks James.
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GPAGE! I'm rolling, baby! We all want to protect our children. Taking certain precautions is simply prudence. Someone gave me a copy of "The Shack" but I haven't read it yet. Maybe I should.
No, things were not this crazy when my kids were little. The whole paranoia thing seemed to creep in about the time of the McMartin case. People are surely far more brazen today in every way. Restraint is out the window. The discouragement of flaunting aberrant behavior is not politically correct.
I am fine. I appreciate you taking the time to read my work and write to me. I know you are very busy these days. You are a peach. :D
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JAMES! You have been on a roll with your hubs! I thought I would comment on this one since my son is ten years old and I have NEVER mentioned or encouraged him to be a "Boy Scout." Because we live in California and there are so many crazy people (in our area, the hippies in hiking boots take over this leadership role under the idea that they are eco warriers ; ha)....On top of the bad press (homosexual leaders) and everything else, I was just not willing to "chance it." A friend of mine just takes her son's to the camping adventures when it is a family affair but will not leave them there alone. A lot of parents feel the same way as I do. How can you "trust" it? It is the same when a man offers to volunteer to be a Basketball coach. I do leave my kids there, but it is at the rec center and not out somewhere in the wild without a cell phone ; ha
I also read "The Shack" which made me cry for hours! This did not help ;
My main point is that all the the press just brings on more "paranoia." I was a Girl Scout many years ago and now my son has not experienced this? Sad really. I guess I fear the "girlie guy thing" the most now....the influences...the "in your face" stuff. My son keeps coming home with statements like "We now call Conrad HAPPY GUY." I go "what does this mean?" And he says "you know...the way THEY act." THEY meaning the "girlie boys." The whole thing is crazy! It is sad really that the FEAR is so there when it comes to children! BUT it is also a different place now. 3000 kids go missing daily someone told me? Was it crazy when you were raising your children? They are grown now.......I have recently met a lot of gay male teenagers who feel like "outcasts" and have voiced this growing up in a little town outside of LA.....The closest my son ever got to the Boy Scouts was when he attended a top British school for a year. This was like "finishing" school when it came to confidence building. Anyway.....I can go on and on......How are you?.....my handsome, debonaire "virtual friend........" ;
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BDazzler--- I am proud to have an Eagle Scout here to visit. Thank you very much for this treat. Honor . . . Duty . . . God . . . Country . . . they still mean something!? :D
They do to me. And you are welcome.
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Duchess OBlunt--- Why, thank you dear for your lovely compliments. I think I spent about six hours boning up on the Scouts before I wrote this one. :)
I hear what you are saying loud and clear in your second paragraph. I'm not sure the differences between our countries on this, but here we are constitutionally guaranteed Freedom of Association. And that is being infringed--amazingly, by tiny groups of people.
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HealthyHanna--- Thank you very much! I salute you as the mother of a soon-to-be 4th Eagle Scout. That is a great accomplishment for one family and says a lot about you.
I have not heard of that book but I am interesting in it. I'll Google it and check it out. Thank you for that tip. I appreciate your outstanding comments. Thanks for coming! :)
In 1977 I became an Eagle Scout. Each time I received a progress award (rank) I explained the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Words like honor, duty ... God and Country ... they still mean something. James, thank you for posting this hub.
James, what an enlightening hub. As always, full of interesting facts and wonderful quotes. How much time do you spend on research? It shows.
I'm glad you mentioned the "gay" issues, I think everyone has a right to know what standards are being upheld by any group our children associate. We must continue to be able to choose to support it or not. I get a little tired of hearing that my rights don't count because I'm not gay.
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This is a great tribute and objective look at what's happening to the Boy Scouts of America today. As mother of three Eagle Scouts and one 'almost Eagle' scout, you know I know the benefits the Scouting program plays in the life of a boy, young man and good father.
Have you read "Boy's Adrift"? It is not about Scouting, but about the plight of boy today. It shows how we need Scouting more today than ever before. I am glad there are good men to carry on the fight to keep it alive.
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stars439--- What nice and pleasant words you have written to me tonight. I feel a lot better having read them. Thank you, my friend.
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festersporling1--- Thank you! I am glad that you had a chance to enjoy scouting as have over 100 million boys in the last 100 years. Thank you for writing to me and reading my work.
Dear James: Your work is refreshingly clear and honest. You always bring out the best in all of us. God Bless You.
Great hub. My dad was an eagle scout. I did it for a few years and loved the nature aspect. Especially growing up in a very large city where that was minimal. Was always nice to go out on camping trips outside of the LA area and do things with my friends and fellow scouts.
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msorensson--- The Boy Scouts are a great organization and an American institution. Thank you for your fine comments and compliments. I appreciate you and you are welcome.
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Truth From Truth--- I enjoyed being a Boy Scout, too. And yes-it is a damn shame. I hope people will rally around the Scouts.
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prettydarkhorse--- I think the law is well defined in that the Supreme Court has ruled on the issue of openly gay Scoutmasters. What we have now is a campaign of legal harassment and a great stretching of the separation of church and state to prevent schools from allowing the Boy Scouts room to meet that other groups are granted. The Scouts do not ask anyone what their sex lives are like. They will not allow an "openly" gay man to take little boys camping out in the woods, openly meaning a man who makes it a point to broadcast his sex life to everybody, which should be a private affair.
I'm glad you love them. I hope they have a bright future. Nobody has done more to help fatherless boys. And they need help. Thanks for the sharp comments and the compliments.
I wanted my son to join the Boy Scouts..however I did not force him to join it. I know of so many people who were there and they only have praises for it.
Thank you for another greatly written and informative hub, James.
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Angela Blair--- Mom, apple pie, and the Boy Scouts. Don't forget baseball! It's about to begin. You're welcome, Sis. Thank you for coming.
I enjoyed being a part of the Boy Scouts growing up. It is a shame the liberal agenda is out to destroy them.
ACLU oh well, and those lawsuits hmm,. those are sign of times, -- social issues such as homosexuality as Scout Masters will continue so long as laws and rules are not well delineated -- like hiring of Scout Masters etc, how do they know that they are homos,
Lastly, I wouls like to say that you did a good job in featuring an organization which should continue and bloom because the youth need a firm and solid ground of sets of values to grow with,
February is a big month -- hearts, Boy scouts and spring is in the offing YAY,,,
I love Boy Scouts , Happy weekend Sir, Maita
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OpinionDuck--- Shocking, isn't it?
James - the Boy Scouts definitely have my support. They're as much a part of the American scenario as mom and apple pie. Thanks for bringing their on-going battle to all our attention. Best, Sis
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rls8994--- Thank you for the fine compliments. I appreciate your support of the Boy Scouts. They have mine as well.
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JOE BARNETT--- Wiser words have never been spoken, my friend. Thank you for adding them here.
homosexuals in the "Boy" Scouts!
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Wealthmadehealthy--- You are surely welcome. Thank you very much for coming by and for leaving your wise words on this page. The Scouts are standing tall against evil. May God bless them!
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Tammy Lochmann--- Thank you, dear. I think that is fabulous that the two of them get away into nature together, father and son. These are memories that will never fade for your son. I appreciate you coming and sharing this with me.
As usual an excellent hub. I never knew any of this.
Great information to know. I will no longer give to the united way and will never shop at cvs again!
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J.S.Matthew--- Thank you! You make a fine witness. You did a lot for your community. You use what you learned every day of your life. President Gerald Ford echoed your testimony some time ago. I appreciate your words.
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akirchner--- I am glad you came by to read my article and left your comments. I think it is great that your three went through the program and that you've testified as to the benefits accrued.
yeah james i think you hit the nail on the head. moral anarchy- no system or standard-anything goes and is exceptable!that is what they want. everytime they find a standard or moral they want to destroy it
I am so thankful for this hub. It makes me think that all is not lost in our country....I have known many people in my life, but I will tell you, the ones who were good scouts and actually adhered all of their lives to the principles they learned while being in that organization have been by far the best people I have ever known....
I have nothing but praise to the fact they have fought extensively the homosexual battle and continued to win....at least they honor the true values of the Word God Wrote for us to live by....
Again, thank you for this....great hub!!
Great tribute to the Boy Scouts...My Husband and Son are heading for a camping trip this weekend. My Husband and I grew up in Canada, I was a member of a Brownie troupe and he was a member of a Cub Scout troupe. I don't really remember but my shares his fond memories with my son about his time as a Cub. My Son loves the fact that they have something they do exclusively together.
Great Hub, James! I was a Cub-Scout and Boy Scout in my youth. I learned so much an we did a lot for our community! There is not a day that goes by that I don't use some skill that I earned in Scouting!
Great Job!
Great information and a tradition that has been around for a long, long time. Both our boys were scouts and our daughter a girl scout - it is a good thing for them to be involved in and the carryover is not to be minimized! Think they remember many things from their scout days.
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cosette--- Thank you! I appreciate this visit. It is always a pleasure to see you. Boys truly learn great skills in the Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts. They deserve our support.
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fits4life--- Thank you very much for taking the time to read my article. I appreciate your gracious comments, too.
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JannyC--- Thank you for your compliments. I appreciate this visit from you. I may write about the Girl Scouts. They are not connected to the Boy Scouts. The Girl Scouts have signed on to a radical agenda of relativistic leftists and no longer represent what their heritage represents.
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hypnodude--- I totally agree with your first paragraph. The ACLU is a radical, Communist, Atheistic group of lawyers (American Civil Liberties Union) that files mountains of lawsuits against everything that is virtuous, or honorable, in America.
I surely agree with you that homosexual does not automatically equal a pedophile. Thank you for your excellent comments. It's always great to hear from you.
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Cheeky Girl--- I'm glad you enjoyed it and found it informative. I have heard that "Up" is a great film but I didn't know about the Boy Scout theme. That's interesting. I'll check it out. Thanks for coming. :D
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50 Caliber--- Thank you, kind sir. Yes, I agree with you. If you start something you're going to finish it. I remember that axiom but I was never any good at it. In fact, I have always been incredible out of the starting blocks but I peter out half way through the race. Boy Scouts and Church may not have been as cool as trippin' and rappin'. The membership in the Scouts held steady until about 10 years ago, when many cities and public schools turned against them, making it hard to meet, and making some troops not have the funds to do anything. Membership is down 16% since then. My first thought when I heard about this homo thing was the same thought as yours: why not start a rainbow scouts? You see, it is not at all about scouting. It is about destroying. Destroying all that is good, or clean, or virtuous about or in America until all that is left is a nasty cesspool of debauchery. I'd say your Dad summed it up perfectly. Thanks for your thoughts. You are always welcome, my friend.
my son was in the Cub Scouts when he was little. it was a great experience for him, and he learned a lot of great skills. very nice hub!
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caretakerray--- That's because you are prescient, Ray. :-)
You are welcome and I thank you for the applause.
James
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JOE BARNETT--- I don't know of you agree, Joe, but I see no sissy in LBJ. :D
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Hello, hello,--- Thank you very much. I hear what you are saying. It is important to note that it is the rare pedophile who molests boys and girls both. In other words, they come with heterosexual inclinations or homosexual inclinations. I hadn't heard anything about President Johnson and J. Edgar Hoover. I doubt that one. Johnson seemed every bit a man to me. :)
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carolina muscle--- You are most welcome, my friend. It is my pleasure. Thank you for coming by.
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"Quill"--- Thank you, sir. I appreciate you for taking the time to read my article. Thanks for leaving your excellent comments as well.
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Ann Nonymous--- I want to personally thank you very much, and I also thank you on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America.
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JOE BARNETT--- Good for you. I'm glad to have a Scout chime in. I never heard of such a thing as a homosexual until I was maybe 16 and then I thought they WHAT!?
It does seem as if there is no end to the list of demands from the various groups of deviants. The end result to all of that would be moral anarchy, and that is exactly what the dark side wants. Thanks for coming by and leaving your comments and compliment, Joe.
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nancy_30--- You are welcome. I agree with you that of all the organizations to pick on, this is a lousy choice. The Boy Scouts do so much good. But the Prince of Darkness just won't leave them alone.
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eovery--- Congratulations on your two Eagle Scout sons! I am proud to have a ScoutMaster log in.
I am going to quote you here:
"I would not send my son out on a campout with a known gay person, just for the same reason I would not send my daughter out with a grown man on a camp out. Dah-it doesn't take much to link the two together. This is the best argument, "would you send you daughter out camping with men?" Then the logic makes sense why the gays are not allowed."
You are absolutely correct. This is the crux of the matter. No, I would not send my teenage daughter out camping with a man for the weekend.
I'll keep on hubbing as long as I can. Thank you very much for your keen insights.
I have certainly been enlightened where boy scouts are concerned. I Knew they had an oath but wasn't for sure on what it all entailed. I have met some men that have become model citizens that were boy scouts. Despite the negative news that we hear concerning scouts, I have seen the positive impact the scouts have made in the lives of others. Its nice to read something positive about them.
Wow I did not know boyscouts have been around that long. Interesting and informative hub. What about the girl scouts?
Freedom must work both ways, so I think that being a free, private association Boy Scouts have the right to decide their own rules for joining. As you know I'm not much on the Catholics side but I think that being a Scout is an experience that can enrich everyone. Good values are always needed. Who doesn't have an image in mind of a Boy Scout helping an old woman to cross a road? I think that in these times Boy Scouts are needed more than ever.
As regards paedophiles they must be fought at all times, and they are everywhere. I don't know what ACLU is, but I'm sure that every good human being, without taking into account sexuality, is against paedophiles. I mean as much heterosexuals are against heterosexual paedophiles in the same way I'm sure homosexuals are against homosexual paedophiles. The equation homosexual equal paedophile isn't correct.
Btw I think that if Boy Scouts have the support of the people some scared contributors won't make much difference. What can make difference is seeing how much the General Manager of Boy Scouts of America earns each year. These are the things that make people uncomfortable with boy Scouts.
I enjoyed reading this hub, it is very informative. The scout movement will recover from this, I am sure. As long as family values are at the core of it, it will flourish. By the way, get the film "Up" the pixar animated film, there's a boyscout theme running through it, it's a bag of laughs!
James, a great hub, and sad at the same time. I remember the Boy Scouts as a fun adventure growing up, I still have remnants of my days spent and activities. I wish I had made Eagle, but I went from Star to Marine in my 17th year. In the prior years summer camp on Mount Lemon Arizona, just above Tucson was something I looked forward to every year. Even when I was trying to be a "cool hippie" I was willing to clean up my act and put on my uniform and be a Boyscout. I caught flak from childhood acquaintances for doing it as well as going to church. It was by my dads rule that if you start something you were going to finish it. My pals gave me grief over it, seems like they had learned to control their parents where I never gave that avenue the first thought. I didn't miss what they did instead but they missed a lot trying to be cool, I suppose. I remember going to the Boyscout store in Globe, AZ. about 60 miles from home and walking in and seeing all the cool stuff on the walls when I was getting my first uniform. I wonder if there still exist stores that are dedicated to the Scouts still in existence. Evidently there was enough activity back then to support dedicated stores. It is sad that such a valuable organization falls under attack by the ACLU or Homosexual law suites. With that amount of money being lost to these suites they could fire up an organization of their own and call it the "Butt Buddies" or something befitting their life styles and see how long it was before it fell apart due to participation falling to nothing. It's just folks who want a buck and don't care who it hurts. The homosexuals as far as I'm concerned have their right to free will as granted by God. What they don't have is the right to force it on anyone. At the age of participation up to 18 years of age, in my opinion, sex and habits there of have no place, zero, nada in this group or any other until they reach the legal age of consent, where time as a Scout ends. Like I heard my dad say, and this is out of character for him as he didn't speak crudely or against others and in a way he didn't speak against them, just their audacity to force sex issues on the public. He said "It's OK for them to be cock suckers, they just don't need to brag about it". I agree with that statement and I understand if you deny it. I have no problem with anyone's sexual orientation I don't force mine or discuss it and feel it wise for others to do the same, that said, if it were not proclaimed from the roof tops no one would know and then there would be no problem. Just my $.02 less change. Thanks for a hub that brought back found memories.
James A Watkins:
Some how I knew this hub was coming. As an ex boyscout myself I applaud your hub. :)
Thanx. caretakerray
HELLO HELLO what is hooper? do you mean hoover, the fbi director?also do you think a 19 year old gay asst scout master will care to distinguish a 14 year old scout? HELLO!
I can only write one thing, as always, a great hub, James. The gay pit could have been a b it played down. It would be only a very small minority. I would be ore concerned about the paedophiles. They definitely make sure they get to children. Another point and I don't know how true it is but according to an article I have read is that President Johnson was involve with Hooper.
James: On behalf of all the former Scouts --- thank you for this tribute !!!!! Great job!
Scouts...now that brings back memories. Great Hub James and a proper tribute to an organization that shapes children of the future.
This past summer I attended a funeral of a family member and I was able to meet my Scout Master "Akela" she was also a teacher in my school years.
It was my blessing to sit before her and tell her of the blessing she had been to many a young man in those days. Even more blessed to know that some 50 plus years later someone would remember...smiles.
Blessings
So much I didn't know about these fireside guys! What I did know I gathered from movies and you know how that information gets distorted! LOL...Happy Anniversary Boy Scouts and great job James!
james- i was a scout.troop 105. it was a great time! going to d-bar-a camp . I learned my lashing and morse code and got three merit badges before going from tenderfoot to the next level. can't remember that levels name. we didn't know what the word homosexual was.no clue!ask an eleven year old today. he can tell you all about it. that's because when it was time to speak up people were saying "well they're nice". anyway, their ploy was to get at the kids. much like mcdonalds did with ronald. they want to get them while their young. they twist words,use money, play victim and do whatever they need to do to get the result they are after. i keep saying no goal reached is ever what they want!right now they don't want marriage or don't ask don't tell in the military.it's only a ploy, a ruse. i say they won't be happy till women are having to fight and say that there is nothing wrong with a woman marrying a man.also i lived in frankfurt,germany for a few years. you would not believe what it's like in europe. great hub!
Thank you for this very informative hub. It really is sad that the ACLU is trying to destroy such a great organization as the Boy Scouts.
You know you are hitting a tender spot here with me. As a scout master and with two sons are are eagle scouts. The scouting program brings a lot to those who want to do the program.
Both of my sons are now out on missions Hub writer roastedpinebark, left in January on his mission. I find out that a majority of the LDS missionaries are eagle scouts. The gay indecent has actually made the program stronger. More people have stepped up and supported the program because they want it.
The matter with the gays is that there is a small portion of the gays that believe anybody at any age is open game. They do not heed to child molestation laws and believe there is nothing wrong with it. It is because of these few that the scouts have to watch out and keep the gays from being part of the system. I would not send my son out on a campout with a known gay person, just for the same reason I would not send my daughter out with a grown man on a camp out. Dah-it doesn't take much to link the two together. This is the best argument, "would you send you daughter out camping with men?" Then the logic makes sense why the gays are not allowed. Sad put the line has to be drawn. I will not take young men out camping with the chance that they may be molesteded. I will not put them in harms way. I don't care who says other wise. Let the see how the law suit would go. You took and exposed young men to a known gay, and the boy was molested. You are liable, and would face criminal charges too. So let them say what the want. Just look at the reality.
Keep on hubbing!
Keep on hubbing!
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Pamela99--- I'm glad you're glad. Thank you very much for your fine compliments. The constant attacks on one of the best organizations in the world makes me sick, too. I appreciate this visit from you.
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Vladimir Uhri! Hello, my good friend. Yes, I hear you. The Communist ideology brooks no competitors, not family, not business, not church, not scouts. You are welcome. Thank you for this story.
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SheriSapp--- If he is living a chaste life, I'm not sure he qualifies as gay? Either way, a friend is a friend is a friend.
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DiamondRN--- Ouch! We must play nice in the sandbox.
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GmaGoldie--- Great to see your smiling face. Thank you for your compliments.
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Tom Whitworth--- Thank you. I didn't notice that about Cal but come to think of it, I have heard that before. I appreciate the comment, Brother.
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RevLady--- I didn't mean to upset you, dear. Though I must admit: it is very sad for me to read this Hub back myself. God Bless Your Tender Heart.
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SheriSapp--- You are quite welcome. I am sorry to hear of the passing of your step-father. I lost mine that same year. That was thoughtful of your mom to help the scouts with a memorial fund. For your friend to contribute to the fund was kind. I agree with your thoughts. Thank you for visiting my Hub. :-)
James, This is an excellent article about the boy scouts. They are a great organization and it makes me sick the way the ACLU attacks them time and again and you know they can't really afford the legal fees. This article has a lot of very good information in it and I'm glad you wrote it.
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DiamondRN--- Bully for you! I dropped the Orlando Sentinel after a decade of daily readership because they came out against the Boy Scouts. Thank you very much for being my first visitor. I appreciate your comments.
My medical school friend was Scout before communists took over. Since he still was meeting with friends at the fire in mountains with guitar etc. the communists who closed the scout in Czechoslovakia interrupted his medical schooling.
It tell us everything, what communists stand for.
Thanks James for this great informative article.
DiamondRN-- I would not be happy!!! I don't support any sort of sexual abuse on any person of any gender or age. My gay friend is actually asexual as he has been totally single and sexless for over 9 years. He is just a kind and treasured friend.
SheriSapp: How would you feel if you were one of those little boys who was brutally sexually abused by the child predators/homosexuals?
James,
Enjoyed the quotes from the Presidents - as usual your research is thorough! Wonderful hub!
James,
Great hub about the Boy Scouts.
I'm kind of astounded by the length of the Coolidge quote. Silent Cal was noted for short quotes.
Sorry James, but right now, this is just too sad for words.
Forever His,
James, thanks for an interesting and informative hub. My stepfather who passed away in 2007 had been an Eagle Scout in his youth and had an enduring love for the organization. My mom had people make donations in his name to the scouts to honor him after his passing. Just an aside, one of my oldest and dearest friends is a gay man, and he even made a donation to the scouts in honor of my stepdad even though the scouts are all about traditional values. Guess that explains why he is my friend--an all-around great guy. ANYWAY, I know it could only help America if more young men joined the scouts!!!
James, I quit making annual donations to the United Way because of their abuse of the Boy Scouts of America. It made my boss mad, because I ruined his 100% employee participation; but, that was his problem, not mine!
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