BSA and United Way (Round 2)
Chris Roper (ROPER@VTVM1.BITNET)
Wed, 17 Nov 1993 08:36:10 EST
RICK BUSDIECKER OF CARGNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY WRITES:
>>This list is not comprised purely of reactionaries. Some of us might
>>even applaud efforts to eliminate ROTC programs from college campuses
>>even if they weren't discriminatory . . . .
>>
>>In any case, I don't see what ROTC has to do with this list.
I agree with you Rick, this isn't the place for a discussion on the
appropriateness of ROTC programs on college campuses, so lets end the
discussion already.
>>I think that the United Way / BSA situation is unfortunate. One way
>>to end it would be to have BSA National get rid of its antiquated
>>prejudices and join the rest of the world scouting community.
>>
>>One of the difficulties with membership is that BSA is perceived as,
>>not simply condoning, but actively promoting and enforcing bigotry and
>>intolerance. Many of my friends have said that they would (at least)
>>actively discourage their sons from joining BSA because of policies
>>which were never mentioned throughout the dozen years that I was
>>active.
>>
If insistance in adherance to a set of mores and social values that
promote a belief that the individual has a responsibilty to society
that is greater than his responsibility to self is bigotry and
intolerance, then I am willing to accept those labels, and will continue
to advocate them. Scouting is not intolerant of diversity in religions
or ethnic groups. I have always interpreted scouting ideals to include
that a belief in a benevolent deity is fundamental to the sound develop-
ment of a young man's character. Secondly, scouting strongly emphasises
the importance of family in the development of a young man's character.
By encouraging family members to participate in scouting and providing
them with organized training opportunities, parents are directly in-
volved with their son's day-to-day activities. How can this be bad?
Chris Roper
Cubmaster, Pack 86
Blue Ridge Mountains Council, Va. USA.
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
