Re: Disturbing News
(no name) ((no email))
Sat, 12 Sep 1998 13:35:27 +0000
Ed Thompson asked a question but also commented from Bob Morehead's
posting:
>Bob Morehead from Copley, Ohio wrote:
>"This morning I read a disturbing piece of news (that)four boys,
>ages 8, 11, 13 and 14 and a 12-year-old girl were arrested ... and
>charged with repeatedly raping a 6-year-old girl over the summer.
>(part deleted only to conserve space)
>How this connects with Scouts-L, in my opinion, is that this is
>our target age bracket. These are OUR youths.
Remember that Scouts-L is a YOUTH PROGRAMS discussion group, not
just a "Scouting programs discussion group". Those comments are
not only appropriate, but the question is also likewise appropriate
to ask with regard to our various organizations and groups we
belong to.
Ed went on to comment to Bob:
>This is not vaguely tangential to scouting. As you so correctly
>point out, these are our youth, and most of us are in Scouting to
>create positive values in the lives of as many boys and girls as
>we can reach. The boys and girl you describe are exactly the
>types of young people we need to reach through BSA, GSUSA, and
>similar organizations. It is great when our Packs and Troops are
>populated by honor students, kids from stable families, young
>men and women involved in community service, etc., but we make a
>big mistake if we limit our attention to them.
But many communities do just that, guys. Several years back, I was
asked to head up efforts in a housing development in Bowling Green
and to organize a Pack and Troop. I wanted to pair up the Pack and
Troop, for more stability and for "modelling" purposes, with an
existing Pack and Troop that has been operating only 2 miles from
the housing development and which had NONE of it's members coming
from that block.
The Troop and Pack, as well as the District itself, balked at the
idea. They suggested instead that the city's Housing division
charter the Pack and Troop and that the leadership and programming
come from them. The "outside Pack", seeing the good in this, did
agree to have a joint Blue and Gold Banquet with the "housing
division Pack"; the Troop refused to have anything to do with the
"housing division Troop".
Both units folded up the year after it was chartered. I went back
to that same community to restart the units, and to even offer my
services (reluctantly, I've got to admit...my good days as a SM are
just about over) as Scoutmaster until they can get another person.
Nobody showed for the first three meetings, and when I went around
asking kids for their opinions, they all to a person stated "you
guys come in here, get our hopes up and then leave. Nobody wants
to be part of *deleted* like that".
That's where our NEXT challenge is, gang. To bring our programs to
kids that want it, but fear it's another "attempt" to spend money,
to say "we've used X amount of dollars in the inner city".
What says all of the rest of you...
Settummanque!
(c) 1998 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") (502) 827-9201
(settummanque, the blackeagle) http://dynasty.net/users/blkeagle
241 Fairview Dr., Henderson, KY 42420-4339 blkeagle@dynasty.net
(note that these addresses will expire on 1 October 1998)
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonm@hq.21taacom.army.mil
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