Re: Peer Pressures on Scouts
David Edward 'Byrdman' Byrd, II (DEB3291@TNTECH.BITNET)
Wed, 17 Nov 1993 09:31:44 -0600
>It would be nice if children depicted on TV and in the movies were
>shown being in Scouts. To the best of my knowledge the only one
The problem here is that the BSA does not allow the use of an
official BSA uniform as a costume in a dramatic or comedic performance,
except for certain circumstances. I don't recall the exact text of the
regulation, and I may be dead wrong. However, I do recall that Walt Disney had
to obtain special permission to use actual Scout uniforms and other regalia in
the movie _Follow_Me,_Boys_, since I imagine some of the boys were not Scouts.
>currently is on "Home Improvements". One of the child actors on the
>show is occasionally in a Cub Scout uniform. IMHO more of this could
>go a long way to helping public image and perception.
Again, if they would allow the use of the *correct* uniform, it
would be nice. I used to hate seeing sitcom characters wearing uniforms that
consisted of a Scout shirt, patches from Cubs and Boys in wrong places, and
some strangely colored hat, or the "Smoky Bear" hat.
A little more time on my soapbox, if you don't mind. I have seen
the episode of _Ozzie_and_Harriet_ where they televised one of the Nelson
boy's Eagle Court of Honor. I can't recall if it was David or Ricky, since
it has been years since I saw that episode(syndicated re-run, of course),
but I know that when a late alum of my home troop saw it, he was inspired to
earn his Eagle. What inspired him was, at that time, the Nelson boy was the
youngest Eagle Scout ever in the history of the BSA, since he got it not long
after turning 13. This alum, the late Jess Patrick Peterson, was inspired to
get his Eagle on his 13th birthday, which would make him the youngest Eagle
ever. His mother likes to tell the tale, but I'm not sure if the National
Office ever actually documented this fact. The point is, seeing a Court of
Honor televised nationally inspired Jess, and possibly countless others, to
shoot straight to the top of the Eagle ladder.
Of course, I would not recommend a dramatized Court of Honor; it
should definitely be a real one. But it just might inspire a new generation of
boys to put down the Nintendos, Segas, etc., and do something to improve
their whole person, not just their hand and eye coordination.
I now step down from my soapbox.
In Scouting,
David Byrd Bitnet: deb3291@tntech.bitnet
Eagle Scout(1987) Internet: deb3291@tntech.edu
Brotherhood OA member Freenet: cn521@cleveland.Freenet.Edu
Alumnus of Troop 63, Erwin, TN (Sequoyah Council)
Tau Epsilon Chapter, Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity
No current unit
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