'Down with Scouting'
Peter Van Houten (peterva@QM.WV.TEK.COM)
Fri, 23 Dec 1994 07:59:58 -0800
If that title doesn't catch your eye and make you read the message I'm not =
sure what will. I heard an interesting piece this morning on the radio =
and while it had reference to God please do not initiate this message into =
one of the 'God in Scouting' discussion, but it may come under the PC =
area.
A high school boy was seen wearing a hat embroided with the statement =
'Down with God'. His story, he had a rather rough life having been =
abandoned and left on the street at an early age, joined in with gangs and =
after severl run-ins with the law met someone who introduced him to 'God'. =
In gang terminology, to be 'Down with someone' is to be totally =
committed, even to death. His statement was he was a changed young man =
totally committed to God.
If you saw someone wearing a statement such as 'Down with Scouting'...how =
would you react. Would you be offended? Today's youth have a totally =
different language than I or maybe you had when we were that age. Often =
negatives mean positives and positives mean negatives. It may be there =
way 'not to conform' or to establish an identity. Being 'Down with =
Scouting' is good! It represents to our youth, specifically the High =
School age, that we're totally committed to the program. Putting it in =
their terms helps to build the bridge allowing Scouting to be a 'cool' =
part of their life.
Now before you jump on with them flaming fingers... and say...we don't =
want to bring associations from a gang to the Scouting Program. I'm not =
saying that. I'm stating: We should be open minded and willing to =
understand others before we jump to pre-determined preceptions and =
ideologies. Being 'Down with Scouting' may motivate a gang member to =
become an Eagle. [Not focused on the rank, but the qualities].
I'm 'Down with Scouting' are you?
Peter Van Houten
And wishing you the very best Scouting experiences in the new year and on!
[ps. was that offensive? :-) ]
Peter Van Houten / E-Mail: =
peter_van_houten.techsupport@qm.wv.tek.com
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
