fred8033

I've sat on many EBORs. I've never seen a scout asked that question. In fact, most boards avoid such potentially self-destructing questions like this. That issue is between the scout and himself ... and maybe his family.

MBCs are rarely "selected". Rather, warm bodies are often found willing to teach the MB.

Does race exist? Duke ... https://scienceandsociety.duke.edu/does-race-exist/#:~:text=In a landmark paper based,between two different population subgroups. National Geographic ... https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/04/race-genetics-science-africa/ Is it right to tax current/future children to pay for the sins of the past? Should the U.S. pay reparations? How to know who receives money? Policing ? Defund? Is it acceptable to call all cops bastards? Should cops benefit from being assumed innocent? Is it right to fire a police officer before the formal investigation? When is it acceptable for a police officer to discharge his gun? What can an officer do if someone is not following instructions? How many police officers are killed each year? Homeless? Are they a result of how society has discriminated against these people? Why do we have all these homeless encampments popping up everywhere for the last five years? Are they safe? STORY: Our troop had a lawyer volunteer to teach family life. They lawyer had appropriate related experience. Later during down time, the scouts were just chatting and they started talking about girl friends, social media, consent, problems / cost of girl friends. ... Then their conversation migrated to it would be better to legalize prostitution. The MBC and I were just on the side just relaxing. Either the MBC joined the conversation or the scouts pulled him in because he was a lawyer. ... It was interesting watching the MBC guide the discussion on legalizing prostitution. ... Later I told him I was glad he guided the discussion because I'm sure I would have fumbled. And, he did a great job. MBs are defined as adults providing their expertise to the scout. It's inherent in this being a MB. My issue is our youth get this 24/7/365. During the school day. During Sunday school. In their music and entertainment. From their families. ... A badge in this will be a joke to the scouts. If we add this badge, it's probably time to add a Sex Education badge. ... Many of our scouts (past and present) father children while being a scout. Let's add a badge on Parenting (diapers, feeding, etc). ... While we at it, probably a new Disease Prevention badge that can talk about immunization and how to stop viruses. ... Perhaps the citizenship badges need more discussions on how the government is funded the best way to fund the government. Flat tax, progressive tax, payroll tax. My big fear is what happened yesterday. I chatted with a good friend and he offered to be my son's DE&I MB counselor. Now this person has mentored my son with other badges and I'm fine with it. BUT, his views are located somewhere off the left coast of California. I want him no where near my son talking politics. That's the issue. I'm betting he would not want me as the MB counselor for his sons.

Links don't work

LOL ... You are right. ... no pun intended ... For the longest time, I could not remember who was left or right. A very conservative friend (to the point I try to avoid the discussions ... LOL) ... made a comment about California, calling it the left coast. It's the only way I remember who is left and who is right.

Title is bad. Obviously right leaning. But the content is well assembled and useful to the discussion.

Censorship can occur in any group and does not need government or a public forum. Censorship is about blocking ideas.

Martin Luther King. Morgan Freeman. Lil'Waye. etc, etc. YouTube video "What the left won't tell you about the plight..." It is right leaning, but the comments are reasonable, polite, concise and to the topic.

The video was 100% on target and useful to the discussion. The point is the D,E&I badge will pull in politics. Period. The video was 100% on-topic. BSA was the original non-political organization. Hold up and wave the flag. I'm good with that. Pledge of allegiance. Fine. Teaching how government works fine. I've been involved for almost 20 years. Perhaps it's time for me to finish up too. It's not that I don't want to be part of an organization like BSA. I'm not sure I want my kids involved and subject to the whims of political discussions like this, left or right. Teach them fire, knives, camping, tenting, etc. Teach them responsibility and taking care of themselves. Teach them that their choices have results. Don't zip up your tent, you will eventually sleep in a soggy sleeping bag. You want a badge like D,E&I, fine. Prepare for discussion. But let it be real discussion.

The video was 100% on-topic. Many people believe the DE&I badge is propaganda and can't be taught constructively without pulling in individuals personal political beliefs. The video has 100% on-topic discussion topics. Is race real? Is it useful to discuss? Where do the issues start? How to work with police? Removing that video is today's canceling culture and is censorship. If you want this badge, we need the ability to discuss and debate the topics in the badge.

What was violated by that video? The video seemed 100% useful and appropriate for this discussion.

Removed

Outstanding video ... You are braver than I am. I would not post such a video because there are too many that are too quick to toss out words such as racist and biggot. I find the video very useful and 100% worthy of discussion. But I don't want to be the target of the stereo typing by people who would use such ugly and hateful words.

Two sided discussion is important. This badge can not sit in a one-sided political vacuum. The issues raised here really reflect that we've failed to teach "civics" as a school topic and "civility" as a social need. We need to be able to discuss these topics. That means that videos like about should be discussed without people getting upset and irate at each other. Welcome to the D,E&I (pronounced deny) badge.

Because we are continually working with our scouts teaching how to work with each other, be respectful, etc. It's what the whole scouting program is about. Scout Law and Oath. But we do it thru activities and the necessity of working with each other. I think @CynicalScouter had a great response above. But even more, it's offensive because I'm not sure I want to trust my scout to joe-blow MBC to get their view on diversity.

Thank you. It's my view of scouting is different. I've always seen scouting as something different that our youth need. Knives. Fire. Outside in the rain. Getting the scouts out doing things. It's why I like the MBs that require activity. I don't have issues with the ideas in the badge. I have an issue that it's a badge. In this context, the scouts should be required to earn a Scout Law merit badgse. We teach values during our activities, not as the activity itself.

I like the ideas discussed above. Every MB has requirements that are usually done poorly. For emergency preparedness, it's the drill. Never done great. Somehow our troop has used the summer camp emergency drill to fill the requirement. The emergency plan was often chicken tracks haphazardly done on paper.

Yeah. Over the top. My apologies.

As a MB, we are defining this as a discussion with an adult. You are right that scouts discuss this continually on their own and they discuss specifics. But MBs are about the adult connection with an experienced expert.

Because pushing this badge is offensive. A mentor of mine a long time ago said to watch out for companies that have signs such as "# of days without an accident" because those are the companies with accidents. So we need this badge because our scouts are ignorant about diversity, equality and inclusion? From what I've learned, this is being shoved down their throat day after day.

Our kids are getting indoctrinated at school, entertainment, etc all the time. Scouts should put this in the context of Scout Law and Oath and the nature of being a good person. To be honest, the MB is bordering on offensive to me that we need this as a MB. I'd rather see a required MB for sewing or a specific skill. This MB is at best a waste and a worst yet another MB that will be mostly done very poorly.

Impossible. ... We value making connections with our scouts. To make connections, we talk. Maybe a few can discuss this topic at the ideal concept level. But most will bring their politics into it, left or right. That's the nature of discussion. Specifics will be discussed. Is chanting "All Cops Are Bastards." a form of bullying? Is that the right way to protest? How about specific police incidents? Should you get a permit to protest? Is it okay to march on the highway? I can't tap dancing around the meat and expect the scouts to respect the discussion. I just don't see how this MB is a good idea. This should have been just a few additional requirements to one of the Citizen badges.

This is why I want my sons in scouting. Value statement with outdoor activities. Hike. Camp. Swim. Bike. Some of my best memories are seeing my sons outside with his friends doing things. This is a HUGE OPPORTUNITY for scouting. Break the reputation of stuffy, boring mtgs, etc. Get back to DOING THINGS. How about measuring unit quality by a simple ratio: Mtgs to Activities. Mtgs are indoor, planning, coordination, training, merit badges. Activities are movement, doing things, biking, hiking, camp fires, volleyball, swimming, exploring, etc. A goal could be 1-to-1. My first son's troop was close to 1-to-1. Great experience. My 2nd son had 1.5-to-1 or 2-to-1. My 3rd son was in my 1st son's troop and it was close to 1-to-1. My 4th son's troop was 4-to-1 if not higher. I can't call it a great experience.

I'm flexible on backpacking meals or bigger meals. I just don't want to be doing dishes late in the evening.

I just don't like overlapping both rank and MB.