Re: BDUs
GMarmet@AOL.COM
Sun, 28 Feb 1999 15:48:44 EST
<< The BSA is like a high school frat where pledges are forced to wear
the nerdy and dweeb clothing of clueless authoritarian adults.
Only in the BSA the pledging never ends.
>>
This is getting out of hand.
The BSA has designed a sturdy uniform. It is the uniform of a Scout. I am
proud to wear it. If it were kilts and a sash, I would be proud to wear it
because it represents being a Scout. The rest of this stuff is either
nonsense or hyperbole.
The comment above quoted is misplaced to say the least. The military does the
same thing, and are the most authoritarian of all adults. The truly sad thing
is how this is not really related to any of the comments previously made. The
writer of the above quote has at least got part of it right, whether he knew
or not. It is about fashion, nothing more.
Current youth fashion tends to Army surplus like pants. So thats what is
desired. Thirty years ago Scout pants were nerdy because they were loose when
tight pants were fashionable. Now they are tight when loose pants are
fashionable.
Comments have been made about cotton. "Cotton kills" "Do not ever wear
cotton." Well like many things there is some truth to what is being said.
But I have always worn Cotton long underwear on winter campouts. Why because
that is what I had. Wore them under my Scout pants. I never got cold, cause
I didn't get wet. So the idea is to get a kid to give up his cheap cotton
underwear and buy expensive polypro. And this at the same time that we are
saying the problem with the uniform is that it is not something everyone can
afford? I'm missing something.
I was going to stay out of this cause I thought Mike Walton said everything
pretty well. But I really think we are missing the boat here. If we have
program, boys will come. If we have adventure, boys will be interested. If
we can teach something, we will have been successful. And if they learn and
if they are truly inspired by the adventure and the program, they will wear
the uniform. Wood Badge is correct. Setting the example is worthwhile. In
contrast to all those who describe the uniform as a city uniform not suitable
for manly outdoor adventure, I wear my uniforms out. I wear it to camp, I
wear it every waking hour that I am on a campout (not just to and from), I
wear it to every troop meeting. The only thing I do not wear regularly are
the socks and that is because I dont always change my socks coming home from
my office, to go to a Troop meeting. I get out of my suit, but on new pants,
new shoes, new shirt and a neckerchief, but I usually donot change my socks.
But I even do that when I go to a court of honor. And I usually wear heavy
wools socks on campouts (even in summer).
Anyway, count me in the group who wears the uniform and encourages others to
as well. Oh, and by the way, vanity would cause me to change the shirt. You
can't wear a necktie with the shirt successfully without have a set in collar
instead of that floppy and inexpensive thing we all have to wear. But I wear
it, and will continue to do so until Irving Texas changes it.
Yours in Scouting,
G. John Marmet
