Re: Are you afraid?
Brian Davis (brian@SETON.COR.NET)
Sat, 11 Feb 1995 08:06:06 +0000
Gary,
I must admit, that after all these messages, I'm still a little
unclear who you're flaming.
I agree with you, Scouts must always place moral principle and
honor ahead of every decision they make, without exception. Anyone who
questions this isn't much of a Scout.
On the other hand, I notice that the word "liability" gets tossed
around almost as though it were something someone *did* to you, rather
than something you take to yourself. The simple fact is, that in 99% of
all situations, liability simply means you have done something negligent
(read: stupid and unthinking), or willfully wrong (i.e. criminally mean).
There are certainly cases where individuals have been sued simply because
they had money. But they are in the extreme minority of cases filed.
Regarding the rules concerning sleepig quarters for different
sexes, there are some mighty good reasons why these exist. I really
can't imagine why I would need to elaborate them among a group of
adults. Suffice it to say, that something about camping seems to stir
peoples primal impulses, and the occasional result has been a known
problem on campouts where both sexes were present.
Most of the posts I've read decrying this policy stated in so
many words that it was occasionally inconvienient for them to follow this
rule (re: sleeping in a one room cabin, tents in the rain, etc). I would
remind you that convienience is a lousy reason to overlook the rules.
Was there some reason you couldn't throw a couple of tents outside the
cabin? And why exactly would a group of scouts be traveling away from
cover without adequate tents? Be prepared.
I recall one woman who complained that "Are we out of our
minds??" because the rules forbade her sleeping in the same cabin with
her son and the other males in the group. Her main comment was, that
they were denying her son this wonderful shared experience. I would
remind her, that her son will probably get more out of the exerience
while he is awake. I can't imagine that listening to his mom snore for 8
hours will be one of those "golden moments" we all cherish in later years.
Nothing against mom, but the son would more likely cherish the memory of
a little male-bonding, and the occasional haw-haw caused by noises and
such that men often make only in the company of other men.
| Brian L. Davis Internet: brian@seton.cor.net |
| Richardson, Tx Compuserve: 72600,2721 |
| Used to be an Eagle. |
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
