Re: Drill Team?
Joseph T Gulick (troop212@JUNO.COM)
Fri, 23 Jul 1999 23:46:04 -0500
"Am I wrong in feeling this way, or does anyone else think we are "Safe
Scouting" and "P.C." ing the organization into becoming a lesser entity."
Jim,
At the risk of getting shot myself, I will support several things you
have to say. First, if the Cubs put all of the effort into doing a
smash-up job on their flag ceremony, they should have been allowed to do
so, as long as it was safe in presentation. On the other hand, the BSA
is NOT a military-type organization, so someone might have taken offense
in this matter. Kind of like we salute, but not each other, just the
American flag. If the ceremony had included the Cubs saluting someone,
then someone might have taken offense in that as well, and asked that it
not be done either. Let the "kids" have fun, but don't force them to be
like they are in the military. That's no what I am saying, but it could
be perceived that way, and probably was.
As far as Scouting becoming "Safe Scouting", I agree that it has become a
softer gentler Scouting, and I cringe at thinking what Scouting might be
like 5 or 10 years from now. National has gone astray on many IMPORTANT
programs that made a Scout a well respected and well rounded individual
at the sake of making it easier for anyone to acheive greatness(the
Eagle) in Scouting. I don't want this to be another debate on earning
the Eagle again though, but it just seems that alot of the program that
use to be allowed, is no longer able to be done.
I always enjoyed going on snipe hunts as a Scout, but now National calls
that hazing. Why? If the Scout is having fun, then why not allow them
to take part in it? Yeah, they might look like a fool for falling for
it, but it's fun. I would go on one now if I could. It's a part of the
experience. We NEVER had anyone in my Troop of 40 Scouts that griped
about it, whined, or had parents that complained. We use to go out into
the woods in the pitch-dark and tell ghost stories and the older guys
would scare the younger guys. We might get so scared that we might wet
our pants, but the next campout we would go out with them again. It's a
part of the experience. We did many things as a youth only 10-15 years
ago, that now National has a Direct Commandment against.
I agree with being safe, and not making a Scout's self-esteem be lowered,
but let's not be forced to be nannies or mothers to these young men. I
guess Scouting has been impacted by the societal view that youth these
days should not have responsibility, values, morals, or a sense of
importance and obligation. What can be done? I don't have an answer.
I don't live in the days of when I was a youth, but I try to give my
Scouts more control over the destiny of themselves and of their Troop.
Ignorance is bliss. I know the guidelines that are set, and I follow
them, but sometimes something happens, and the guildelines have to be
more like tightropes that we might stick our foot off of for a moment,
but not to an extent that we might be liable for any actions.
We can't always be expected to be a part of a Drill Team.
Sorry for venturing WAY off of the beaten path that the original post was
about, but it's like those guidelines that can't be followed TOTALLY.
Just my silver dollar's worth. You know, the REAL SILVER dollar.
Yours in Scouting and Service,
Joseph Gulick
Eagle Class of '90
Scoutmaster Troop 212
District Commissioner
Troop212@juno.com
