Substance Abuse (of any sort)
hilding holroyd (blustone!hemingway!hilding@UUNET.UU.NET)
Thu, 14 Apr 1994 14:34:31 EDT
Hi all, this is not a flame (really!!), just comments.
It has been quite interesting seeing (reading) the many views re:
alcoholic beverage consumption. There are some fine lines that
are being drawn here (IMHO).
No one is disputing that drugs are no good. No one has advocated
that we should have anything to do with those type of substances,
except, of course, prescription etc, etc.
Alcohol, now, is another animal. It is SOCIALLY acceptable to
have a drink now and then. And yes there are NO Biblical
statements that say "THOU SHALT NOT DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
There are MANY statements and references against drunkenness,
though. So there is one standard.
BSA says that there will be NO alcoholic beverages at ANY BSA
function. There is another standard. Yes, that would include
District/Council dinners, Woodbadge functions, etc, etc. But many
have decided to overlook that stating that there aren't boys around.
Wellllll, sometimes there are. So where goes the standard?
Is there REALLY a problem with the limitation of "no drinking at BSA
functions"? Or is it that some individuals (that is general folks, not
specific in ANY way) don't want their "freedoms" restricted. Another
fine line, I think. Frankly, I strongly object to adult leaders leaving
summer camp (no matter how many leaders are there) to go out to a bar
for a few. What is the message to the Scouts, here? In fact, some leaders
leave for dinner on the night the Scouts are cooking in-site. Now that
is really some message, too!
Personal standard now ... no drinking in uniform, no drinking going to
or coming from a Scouting event, no drinking at a Scouting event (in
uniform or not) ... basically no alcoholic beverages anywhere near
Scouting. If I was working internationally where alcohol was allowed,
this would still be my own personal (for me alone) standard. If others
choose to follow a different standard, that is fine with me. But, please
do not make me conform to yours and I shall not make you conform to mine.
I would throw out a caution, though.
"What is the message you are giving to the Scouts?"
[If you need something with which to relax, try tea (whoops caffeine), hot
water, or just peace and quiet... Sit next to a flowing brook, small waterfall,
pond, campfire, etc. It works. Hmmm, maybe I am being too simplistic, sorry.]
Hilding W. Holroyd Jersey Shore Council
Adv. Chairman, Tr 250, Lakewood, NJ "I used to be a FOX!", NE-IV-54
Eagle Class '68 Japeechin Lodge (Brotherhood)
work: Bluestone [Consulting, Inc.] Voice:(609)-778-7900 [alt:(609)-727-4600]
fax: (609)-234-2877 [alt:(609)-778-8125]
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