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From: Payne Family (payne5@SWBELL.NET)
Date: Sun Jun 11 2000 - 13:19:08 CDT
Bob Lazell wrote:
snip
>but you, as a women cannot by definition have the "skill" to be a<
>man. That is what a SM or ASM needs to do his job of a positive MALE<
>role-model. Boys need men in that position if you wish to be true to what<
>Scouting is all about. So, I believe that there should be plenty of<
>opportunity for women such as yourself to show that women can be as skilled,<
>or as you point out, more skilled at the outdoor tasks that *superficially*<
>make up what we do in Scouting. But, what Scouting provides is so much<
>more. And, it is not a political statement, or commentary of equal right<
>for me to say that a goodly portion of what Scouting can provide requires a<
>man.<
>It's about the development of boys into men.<
But doesn't the development of boys into men include teaching them to work, interact with, and respect women? It seems as blind to me to say that only men are needed to raise good men as it is to say, as so many do now, that a man is not necessary to the raising of a family. That a good single mother can do just as good a job. I object to both statements. In order for a boy to become a good man, part of his experience, in my opinion, _must_ include working with women in the kind of setting that the outdoor program provides. Affirmation of a boy from both genders when he works hard to learn the myriad lessons that scouting has to offer builds not only self esteem, but also respect for _all_ adults, male and female. I would never want
to be in the position of raising my three sons and one daughter without the strong male role model that my husband provides. Nor would I want them to have to grow up without the gifts that I bring to the picture. My daughter and I really _like_ men, and that is because we are surrounded by great men. I think that our sons deserve the same exposure.
In the program _always_ for the boys!
YiS,
Beth Payne
Adv. Chair Troop 730
Dallas TX
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