Humor??

Am I the only one to find the following humorous? I don't want to rehash the gay debate but I had to chuckle when I read this. I thought Mr. Frank's response was very apropros.

 

Congressman Barney Frank today released a copy of the letter he had sent to Roy Williams, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, expressing his surprise that the organization had asked him to send them a letter of endorsement. Frank noted that the Boy Scouts have characterized gay men as unfit to associate with, and declined to engage in an act of hypocrisy by signing the letters.

 

The letter from Mr. Williams and the response from Congressman Frank are below.

 

 

January 27, 2004

 

Mr. Roy L. Williams

Chief Scout Executive

Boy Scouts of America

1325 West Walnut Hill Lane

Irving, Texas 75038

 

Dear Mr. Williams,

 

I was very surprised to receive from you a prepared text that you wish me to sign, expressing my support for the Boy Scouts of America. Where there is much about what the Boy Scouts do that I admire and I am a former Scout myself, I was under the impression that you considered people like myself to be unworthy of association with the Boy Scouts. I am a gay man, which according to your policy as I read it in various court decision means that I am neither "morally straight" nor "clean." Why do you want a person you so characterize to be signing a tribute to you? So I will not be agreeing to any of the three drafts you sent me, because it seems to me hypocritical of you to ask me to sign it, and even more hypocritical for me to do so.

 

BARNEY FRANK

 

 

 

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

National Office

1325 West Walnut Hill Lane

P.O. Box 152079, Irving,

Texas 75015-2079

97'2-580-2000

 

January 9, 2004

 

The Honorable Barney Frank

United States House of Representatives

2252 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

 

Dear Representative Frank,

 

For 94 years, the Boy Scouts of America has been preparing young people to make better choices over their lifetimes. Through the efforts of more than 1.3 million volunteers, Scouting teaches its 3 million youth members important lessons about leadership, character, and service.

 

In 2004, we will build on this legacy of service by launching a national service initiative called Good Turn for America. This national call to service is a collaborative effort of some of the most respected service organizations in the nation, including Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, and The Salvation Army. U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona has agreed to serve as our honorary national chairman.

 

We would be honored if you would lend your support to this important effort. Together, we will continue to positively influence the lives of young people throughout the nation. I have included a limited edition Good Turn for America coin as a token of my appreciation, as well as a brochure that provides more information on the initiative and sample letters of support for your reference.

 

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions regarding Good Turn for America, please contact Mr. Willie Des, group director for Development/Strategic Initiatives, at 972-580-2102.

 

Sincerely,

 

ROY WILLIAMS

Chief Scout Executive

 

 

 

(date)

 

Roy L. Williams

Chief Scout Executive

Boy Scouts of America

1325 West Walnut Hill Lane

P.O. Box 152079

Irving, Texas 75015-2079

 

Dear Mr. Williams:

 

On behalf of the [ district] I commend the Boy Scouts of America for its efforts to promote and build a culture of service across our nation. More than ever before, our country needs the support of organizations like the Boy Scouts of America to help build stronger families, neighborhoods, and communities.

 

I am pleased to support Good Turn for America, and I look forward to another century of service from the Boy Scouts of America.

 

Best wishes in your continued efforts on behalf of America's youth.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

(name)

(title)

 

 

 

(date)

 

Roy L. Williams

Chief Scout Executive

Boy Scouts of America

1325 West Walnut Hill Lane

P.O. Box 152079

Irving, Texas 75015-2079

 

Dear Mr. Williams

 

It is my great pleasure to support the Boy Scouts of America and the Good Turn for America initiative.

 

We in the [district] share your dedication to service and young people. We look forward to many more efforts in support of Good Turn for America.

 

Congratulations on the excellent work you are doing and your proud history of service to our great country.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

(name)

(title)

 

 

(date)

 

Roy L. Williams

Chief Scout Executive

Boy Scouts of America

1325 West Walnut Hill Lane

P.O. Box 152079

Irving, Texas 75015-2079

 

Dear Mr. Williams:

 

The [district] congratulates the Boy Scouts of America on its long history of service, and proudly supports the Good Turn for America initiative.

 

The vital lessons of leadership and service young people learn in the Scouting program prepare them to make significant contributions in all aspects of the life of the nation. I am honored to be a part of that effort through Good Turn for America.

 

I encourage and commend the Boy Scouts of America for their efforts on behalf of our communities.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

(name)

(title)

 

 

#####

 

 

 

 

It seems amusing to me, Acco.

 

As we've already seen, however, not everybody around here shares our sense of humor about some things...

I agree with the BSA's stand. I agree with Mr. Frank's response. And I find humor in it all.

 

Make's you wonder if we have the right person doing the proofreading of the address labels as they are being aplied to the bulk mail, though, doesn't it?

 

Mark

Mark, as I am sure you know, this kind of thing happens all the time, more usually in fund-raising than in a "letter of support" campaign like this. Every now and then there will be a funny story about the chairman of the Democratic National Committee or someone like that, getting a fundraising letter from the Republicans, saying "Dear Friend of the Republican Party" or something like that. Or vice versa. I think what probably happens is that the lists go through one level of scrutiny but that to do any more than that would cost more than the 30-whatever cents it costs to just send out the bulk mail.

Much like Donald Duck getting a platinum Visa card, sent to his Orlando address, alhough you just know one or both of the two Roys just had to have said, "lets be sure Barney Frank doesnt get one of these" when the wording of these letters was approved

 

When you think about it, Barney Frank is one of the most scandal proof politicians in office, what could he do that would shock anybody?

I see the irony as well as the humor. I can envision more than a few "Duh!s" or "Doh!s". I suspect Congressman Frank's was somewhat bitter humor, though, and he sure nailed it with his letter. Mr. Williams probably got a chuckle as well, though I can't vouch for his sense of humor. I don't know him well enough to judge.

Had Congressman Frank not received the same letter as every member in congress his indignation would probably be the same.

 

I would imagine a response from the BSA to the Congressman to be something along the lines of

 

As a member of Congress we are sure that you appreciate the fact that your right to make your choices is no greater than the rights afforded the BSA to make our choices. Although we may not agree with each others choices, I would hope that the right to make them will be respected.

 

Wouldn't it be funny if the Honorable Mr. Frank believed his rights superceeded everyone elses.

 

By the way Acco's summation of the Mr. Franks' letter is in error. "Frank noted that the Boy Scouts have characterized gay men as unfit to associate with" no he did not, and that is not an accurate representation of the BSA position.

 

Frank wrote " I was under the impression that you considered people like myself to be unworthy of association with the Boy Scouts.

Which is different then acco's statement, but this too is a misrepresentation of the BSA position.

 

The BSA has stated that leadership and membership by "avowed homosexuals" is inconsistent with the goals of scouting.

 

I guess I just have a different sense of humor.

I dont find any Humor in this.

 

The letter specifically asks for support of the Good Turn for America intuitive, not support for BSA. In fact the letter specifically makes note of the Collaborative aspect of the program. The sample letters of support, and there are three of them, are all written with a different constituent in mind. If you look at the last of the sample letters, I think you will come to the same conclusion that I did, Mr. Frank could have easily signed this letter. Instead he chose the response we see here.

 

This is just another example of the self-centered parochial vision that so many people carry with them today.

 

Bob, your imaginary reply by the BSA to Rep. Frank might be appropriate if Rep. Frank's letter was either (1) disrespectful of the BSA or its position on the subject, or (2) inaccurate about the BSA's position. It is neither. It is both respectful and accurate.

 

You point out what you claim is a "misrepresentation" by Rep. Frank. I don't see it. What is the real, practical difference between believing that openly gay persons are "unworthy of association with the Boy Scouts" and banning openly gay persons from "leadership and membership" because it would be "inconsistent with the goals of scouting?" In other words, what types of "association" with the Boy Scouts do not involve "leadership" or "membership" in the BSA. Giving money? (How nice, if that's the case.) Being a parent of a Scout? (Which would mean having your child be a member of an organization that publicly states that YOU (an openly gay parent) are not a good role model for being a moral person.) I don't think either of these support your point that Rep. Frank's statement is a "misrepresentation" of the BSA's position. Maybe I am missing some, so tell me Bob, in what other ways are openly gay people permitted to "associate" with the Boy Scouts?

I'm with Fotoscout on this. BSA wasn't asking Rep. Frank to endorse BSA's policy on gay members. Rather, they were asking for his endorsement, as an elected public official, for a worthwhile public service campaign. BSA didn't make Frank's sexual preference an issue here, he did. Sorry, but BSA occupies the moral high ground...again.

 

Frank's self-righteousness is more than a little disingenuous. He's asserting that because he has a philosophical disagreement with one aspect of BSA "culture", he can't support BSA in an area in which he has no philosophical disagreement. Well, Democrats and Republicans have lots of philosophical disagreements. Has Frank never compromised with House members on the other side of the aisle to get a bill passed, or a candidate out of committee, or a budget agreed to? Of course he has. What's the difference?

 

This is nothing more than an eye poke.

 

KS