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Proud Eagle

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Everything posted by Proud Eagle

  1. SecDef resently stated that the primary reason for the larger than expected insurgancy is that the 4th ID was unable to enter Iraq from the norht, through Turkey. Basically this meant that we were short one division and didn't have a credible second front. This allowed some of those that could have been taken out in the initial invasion to fade away into the northern areas and then reappear after the initial invasion. However, there really wasn't any way to fix this problem since no matter how many troops we had sent in it still would have taken them a considerable amount of time to rea
  2. I really don't know what you mean by your last two posts. However, let me ask you a question: What is it that you want to see happen?
  3. I like the old canvas BSA flys. Of coarse I also like plywood collapsable picknick tables, patrol boxes, and dutch ovens... OK, so maybe I am not completely up to speed on the latest in equipment.
  4. Would it be possible to stop beating a dead horse? This thread is starting to look like the western front at its most stagnant. I think both sides have dug their trenches, strung their barbed wire, and sighted in their machine guns. Now all you need to do is harden the lines of communications and pre-plan your artillery fire for the next time the other side desides to try going over the wire...
  5. While in some cases the motive behind these things is profit, it should be noted that magnetic car ribons were created by some people hoping to give people a simple way of expressing support. Some have chosen to make money for themselves off of this idea, others to make money for worthy causes. However, the people displaying these generally have only one motive, and that is to show, in some small way, that they support our men and women in the armed forces. Now, perhaps they would be better off giving the dollar to USO, or the VFW, or something like that. I should note that lately
  6. Unless you counted the votes then you do not know what the vote count was. Even if you did count the votes you have no way of know who cast what vote. The boys talking about the election, who they voted for and why the didn't vote for someone else, are completely out of line. The instructions for the elections specificially mention there is to be no discussion about the Scouts being considered for election. If these Scouts can't figure out that talking about an election in such a way violates the spirit of a secret ballot someone should take the time to explain this to them.
  7. How, exactly, does theft and vandalism help? I don't see how it can make this guy's "guilt" go away, rather it will just give him something else to feal guilty about. I also don't see how steeling magnets off of other people's cars will in any way help bring anyone home safely any sooner. The author of this article sounds like he is suffering from depression. I hope he seeks some professional help. I have seen what depression can do to people when it goes unchecked, it is not pretty. (This message has been edited by Proud Eagle)
  8. Uncle, Not to get into a deep theology issue, but purgatory isn't the middle road between heaven and hell. There is no middle ground. You either go to one or the other. However, those going to heaven need to make a stop on their way to purge their impurities and prepare for the joys of heaven and such. So, it is really as much a process as it is a place. As to how long it takes to comlete that process, well, only God knows. Maybe a span of time too short to measure with the best clock, or too long to name with all the words and numbers of man. It is sort of like the practice in
  9. I don't know anything about this except what is posted here. However, I do have some observations. It sounds like BSA didn't like the old UUA stuff because it openly disagreed with BSA policies. It would be nuts for a group to support distribution of materials that do not support its policies. If the new group is clearly stating positions contrary to those of the UUA, then it should be made clear that it does not speak for all UUs or the UUA. However, that has not yet been demonstrated to be the case. The UUA should not be encouraging the uniform wear its medal. I think it i
  10. Lynda J, I am sure you followed the correct procedure in certifying eligibility, but in case there is someone out there who is not familiar with the process, I thought I should clarify, expand, and correct what you stated about who is eligible for election. Eligibility to be elected by a Boy Scout Troop or Varsity Scout Team as a youth in the Order of the Arrow are based on the following things: Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America, under 21 years of age (an exemption exists for certain special needs units). Show Scout spirit by living the Oath and Law and be
  11. Let us not confuse traditional card games with these other games. Games like Magic, etc, are sometimes referred to as collectible card games. This is because a good deal of the abilities of each player is based on how well they were able to go out and buy or trade for newer, rarer, and better cards. Many of the players of these games do get a bit obsessed. Also, many place a very high value on their cards. It is virtually impossible for a new player to become immediately competitive at these games (unlike many other card games that can easily be learned in a night). For starters each
  12. Sounds like a rather bad situation out there. However, even if the membership issue is true, that does not prove this guys case. These days it is extremely dangerous to say anything at all about a former employee for fear of being sued if they have difficulty finding employement. Employers should only verify dates of employment and basic facts of that sort if they want to stay lawsuit free. I think we have all identified that the problem is related to the numbers based retention, raises, and promotion of the professional staff. There must be a better way and it must be found soon,
  13. I have no problem with card games. I like to play them. I frequently play all sorts of card games during scout activities. I see nothing wrong with it. Now if people decide they want to stay in camp and play cards instead of participating in the planned activity, I could perhaps see a problem with that. Also, chips are a bit of a grey arrea. I don't see anything really wrong with it, but on the other hand it does look a bit odd to see a group of Scouts or Scouters playing a game with chips. Now if they decide to play a game with money or other items of value, I don't think
  14. HOLD ON JUST A DARN MINUTE. While we all probably agree that students' time is best spent on education, many schools spend huge amounts of time on all sorts of other things. If other groups are having in school recruiting assemblies and the like, then it is perfectly understandable that the local Scouting leaders would want to get in on the action. After all, most Scout leaders believe that Scouting is a very good program that teaches some very important lessons to Scouts. So if other groups are having special access to recruit, then the BSA should make use of the same access. I k
  15. Camp Crooked Creek is pretty nice. However, McKee now has a nicer dining hall. Also, I am afraid Roy C. Manchester has almost everyone beat when it comes to a lake...
  16. I am just waiting for the conservation people to start jumping up and down about the little disposable propane cylinders. They are totally one time use items. This greatly increases costs, weight, and waste from using propane for portable applications. Also, refilling the small cylinders is unsafe and in some cases illegal. Recycling of the things is also a no go in most cases. The only dangerous situation I have ever been in involving flammable materials was a Coleman lantern on a hoze connected to a 20 lb tank. The seal was loose and the next thing we knew the hoze was on fire, and th
  17. Of coarse the military industrial complex of WW II and its aftermath made the present system look tiny be comparison. As for China, I would say we should be more worried about them deciding to become the hegemon in the Asia/Pacific area. After all, once you rely on someone else for even a part of your defences it becomes hard to confront them. Also, don't forget China has a considerable stock of nuclear weapons and has proven they work. They also have ballistic missiles and such, including some more accurate new ones that incorporate guidance technology that we gave them back in the
  18. I fear dark days of development, traffic noise, and smog may be ahead. I also fear not-so-dark nights filled with dusk-to-dawn lights and such are in store for us. It may not be long before only the largest wilderness areas allow us to truelly get away from it all. Heck, even at Philmont you can use a cell phone in certain places. (ok, ok, that is a bit of stretch since Mt. Baldy is at 12,441 ft and has an unobstructed line of sight that goes on forever, but still it is true)
  19. My council owns 2 camps. One of those is used for weekend activities, but no major council activity can be held there. It was used as a summer camp, but closed as a summer camp in the late 1960s. It is too small to ever develope into a major camp. However, it is maintained mostly through the labor and money of the small number of units that use the place. There is no ranger, just a volunteer caretaker. Still, things do have to be fixed. Yet the place does have some income come from it do to district day camps, and periodic logging. The other camp is huge and has great potenti
  20. Actually, we already do contract out national security, to Wackenhut, among others. In fact, we have been contracting out our national security since at least the Revolution. After all, most of our military equipment is made on contract. Many services such as construction of ships, dockyards, forts, etc have been historically handled by contractors. Also, now we have companies being hired to provide security guards, assist in background checks, and even develope software to sift through data for evidence of terrorism. Even a good deal of the cryptology programming of the NSA or the image
  21. This is a good idea. Just make certain it doesn't take away from your other duties. The make your own club golf is a fun thing that I have seen done at several camps. On the other hand another camp actually had a golf outing to a local country club. Scoutmaster cook-off could be particularly interesting. They key would be getting info on that out ahead of camp so everyone brings the stuff needed. (Or you could require it be done with no utensils and with only given ingredients.... hum...) You could tie this in with a cooks night off, or with the Scoutmaster dinner. I woul
  22. Insignia Guide 2003-2005 On page 30-Venturing Insignia "Boy Scout advancement, earned Boy Scout rank recognition, may be worn on the Venturing uniform. See the Boy Scout section for guidelines." So, Venturers may wear their Boy Scout ranks in the same way that a Boy Scout would do. The only part that is at all tricky is the Ealge, since adults wear the knot while youth wear the badge, and as we all know Venturing and Scouting identify youth and adult by slighlty different ages. I would assume that the Boy Scout system would still apply so a youth Venturer 18 or over would wea
  23. Live, breathe, eat, sleep, and think Scouting. Go to trainings, they are great. Take SM training, New Leader Essentials, Youth Protection, etc. Get committee training too. Even if you want to be an SA, it would still be good to know the committee info. There is no such thing as too much training (though it is possible to take the wrong training for your needs, for example taking Cub Scout training to learn how to fix a Boy Scout Troop is going backwards). Read books. Read lots of books, manuals, guides, anything and everything you can find written by or about the BSA. (Start
  24. I had been planning on doing Philmont Trail Crew and OA Wilderness Voyage until I was asked to help out at camp last summer. When I was asked to help them out after someone else quit I decided to answer the call of service rather than going out and having a good time the wilderness. It turned out I had a lot of fun at camp instead. I would highly recommend these programs. I have been to Philmont for a regular trek and it was great. I imagine going with your brother Arrowmen and doing it for cheep would also be exceptional. I have talked with a few people that have done these prog
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