From: David Gottshall (Gottshalld@AOL.COM)
Date: Sun Sep 03 2000 - 16:28:08 CDT
In a message dated 9/3/00 4:04:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
dansher@SPRYNET.COM writes:
<<
Come on folks! Let's get a grip on ourselves. Those that would destroy us
will succeed if we continue to go off in 100 different directions fighting
ghosts. For one thing, Levi Strauss pulled their support a couple of years
ago when the issue started in the San Francisco Bay area, not lately in
response to the Supreme Court decision. And for another thing, just as you
and I have our opinions on the subject, our sponsors and benefactors all
have their opinions and also have the right to funnel their support to
causes they choose to support. We have the best program in town and will
prevail if we do not lose our heads. This issue is far from over and
neither you nor I can accurately predict the final outcome.
>>
Dan,
This is not about "losing one's head." This is about supporting a business
that has supported the BSA in the past and having them do a one-eighty with
regard to supporting the program. As you noted, Levi Strauss pulled their
support a couple of years ago when the issue started in the San Francisco Bay
area. They were at the forefront of BSA bashing regarding this issue.
It is our right as a consumer and as a Scouter to decide whether we wish to
support this company financially through the purchase of their products and
services. If those Scouters feel inclined to drop Levi's a comment on their
website and express displeasure with their continued lack of support to the
BSA or decide to stop purchasing Levi jeans or Docker pants, I see no problem
with that.
On the issue of the BSA and its ability to set its own membership standards,
the issue is over. The Supreme Court of the United States of America has
spoken.
David Gottshall
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 502
Woburn, MA
