From: Jason Cruse (jcruse@SOCKET.NET)
Date: Thu Jul 27 2000 - 21:43:11 CDT
<snip from Mike>
Final lines: the recent tornadoes that hit central Minnesota got me
thinking again about a string we talked about last summer during
the flooding in the Carolinas. Here's the basic question, once
again but with some explaination:
"Knowing what we know about youth protection in our programs,
about service to others that we use as a centerpiece in our
programs, and about the adage of "giving goodwill", how do Scouts
and Scouters get involved in the relief and rebuilding efforts of
communities hit by a storm, flood, hurricane, tornado(es), or other
natural disasters? Are we asking today's Scouts to do less than
their peers did back in the 30s, 50s, 70s?? Are we expecting too
much from today's Scouts, many of whom are too "little" in size
and too "immature" in behavior to take on responsibilities typically
and recently only performed by "adults"?
In some areas, relief is just what happens, without planning.
For example, my PLC contacted *me* (not the other way around) and asked if
we could raise money and equipment to be sent to Oklahoma last year. I was
very proud...
But, when you grow up on the banks of the Mississippi, you get used to doing
stuff for everyone else. I doubt that there is a scout troop along the
river in a low-lying city that hasn't helped fill sandbags, especially in
1993, for example. Youth in '93 were treated like adults--tetanus shots on
the levees and all...
I don't know why, or if, youth should think different or be treated
different from adults in relief situations. Let them prove
themselves...they always do.
JAC
Jason A. Cruse
Dept. of Political Science
University of Missouri-Columbia
jcruse@socket.net
