Re: Needed-Voices of Experience
Steven G. Tyler (sgtyler@EROLS.COM)
Wed, 30 Jun 1999 07:52:22 -0400
Pam Glidden wrote:
> Anyway, I'm glad for both you and this young man that he had the
> opportunity to achieve Eagle and yet also experience the happiness of
> participating in high school life. He may not have lived up to his
> commitment, but he certainly seems to have lived up to his potential.
Pam, I was so glad to hear a balanced perspective on this matter. I was
jolted and saddened to realize that anyone would question the character
of an Eagle who failed to spend what would turn out to be the rest of
his shortened life in Scouting, merely to honor an informal commitment
to stay in Scouting for an additional year.
A few years back, I remember reading about the distinction between those
things which are "serious" (with real-world consequences) and those
which are merely "solemn" (empty formalisms). *Life* is serious;
tut-tut'ing an Eagle who went on to do other things in the balance of
his life is merely solemn, IMHO.
--
YIS, Steve on Cattail Creek (Steven G. Tyler, Esq.) <sgtyler@erols.com>
The Computer Counselor -- Technology Consulting for the Law Office
Advancement Chair and Webmaster, Troop 339, BAC, BSA
(http://members.aol.com/troop339)
