Rick_in_CA

One thing to keep in mind, is that it took years for the BSA's reputation to change from "patriotic youth organization" to "bigoted conservative religious organization" after the Dale decision. It will take years for the BSA's reputation to change back. Just a couple of months ago, I ran into an old friend. We talked about the BSA and he had no idea of the recent policy changes. He still dismissed it as a bigoted organization.

I hope they have a fantastic trip!

You have a very odd definition of "hot air" and "excrement" if you don't think those words apply to what spews out of Trump's mouth and fingers (i.e. Twitter posts).

One issue on this topic is that the BSA guidance used to be "keep hats on indoors most of the time". Go look at all those illustrations and photographs from the BSA publications showing scouts with hats on indoors. I know most of the troops around here appear to be "keep the hats on" types. The BSA is not the military, and has deliberately cultivated different traditions in many ways (while adopting others of course - don't expect consistency from the BSA). I don't like the current guidance, as it fly's in the face of what I understand is the historical tradition in scouting. You are not i

This is my biggest worry with going coed. I know several scouters that said they would quit if the BSA went coed - not because they are so against having girls in scouts, but because of fear. As one said: "There is no way I'm taking girls camping in the woods, no matter the YPT rules. I won't take the risk. I've seen the damage unfounded accusations can make! If the BSA goes coed, I'm out!" (or words to that effect). Mix adult men and young girls and the paranoia flows. After all, all men are predators right? Look at how the GS/USA treat male volunteers (if they allow them at all). There is a

When I was a youth, I had a few platonic female friends, but most of my friends were male. And that appears to me to be still true of most the kids I see today. At least for those not yet in high school. I think that is true of most troops here in the states. I know it was in my troop when I was a kid. I think there are cultural issues that make coed scouting more difficult in the USA than in many other countries. Simply put, here in the USA we are much more uptight about many issues, and are much more fear driven. So what is easily dealt with in Europe, isn’t here.

So do I (and not VOIP). I live in earthquake country.

Wow. I cannot imagine what the families and troop are going through! Such a horrible act. My prayers are with them. Two honor roll students fatally shot in Maryland on eve of high school graduation from The Washington Post

Actually the world did change. Two big changes: both parents having to work full time, and fear. When I was a kid (and in scouts), almost the whole neighborhood had stay at home moms. Those that did work, worked part-time so they would be there when their kids got home from school. The moms talked and did things together. Those block parties? The moms planned those. Send all those moms to work full time, and a lot of the community building goes away. Then there is the fear. As a kid, I played with the other kids in the neighborhood. We ran around outside and played at each other homes.

Interesting, I took Baloo several years ago, and then helped teach a Baloo course a few years later, and my OWLs course were all about half women. When I took IOLS a couple of years ago, it was about a third women.

Thank you for sharing a great story!

I agree with a lot that you wrote here, but not with the bit quoted above. The idea that we currently seeing savagery that is new or unique is wrong. If we look at history, we can see many examples of unbelievable cruelty and violence in the name of religion. Here are a just two examples out of European history: The Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars in which some 200,000 to 1,000,000 men, women and children were killed. The 30 years war that lead to some 7.5 million dead (has been classes as the deadliest religious war in European history). Unfortunately there are a lot of others. An

I can't image how hard that must be. My thoughts and prayers are with troop and family.

The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is truly an amazing one. I had the honor of meeting two of these gentlemen at different times (one gave me a personal tour of the Smithsonian's Silver Hill restoration facility in my youth. It was an amazing tour, I got to touch the Enola Gay and see a lot that the normal tours don't. And best of all I got to hear lots of stories by this man. He flew P-39s, P-40s and P-51s in Europe. It really saddens me that after over twenty years I cannot remember this man's name). We are loosing the WW2 veterans at an alarming rate. It saddens me that most of the scouts I

I'm not sure what you are saying here? That if girls could earn Eagle, it would somehow diminish it for the boys?

Now that is a policy I can get behind! As long as I get my cut as a citizen!

What was their complaint?

Another Canadian school board cancels future trips to the US. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/23/tdsb-wont-approve-new-student-trips-to-us.html

If you can't see the obvious than I cannot help you.

So we are back to the No Go Zone fantasy? When policy is based on alt-facts (i.e. delusions) instead of reality, we have a problem.

The problem is the new executive order has nothing to do with safety, it's about pandering to fear, ignorance and bigotry. And it's obvious to anyone that is paying attention. For example, the text of the original order specifically mentions the 9/11 hijackers as a reason for the ban. But the 9/11 hijackers came from which nations? Fifteen of the Nineteen were from Saudi Arabia, and the others were from Egypt, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates. All of which are majority Muslim nations that are NOT included in the executive order. Why? Maybe because Trump has business ties to those nati

I'm sorry, but I've looked carefully through the posted report and I don't see any February numbers. What am I missing?

The numbers in the report all are from before the Trump executive order. Which is why it says "too early to tell".

The problem here is that the Obama administration did nothing of the sort (we all should have learned by now that just because Trump tweets or says something, doesn't mean it's even remotely true). What the Obama administration did in 2011 was too slow down the processing of refugees from Iraq while the screening procedures were expanded. http://www.businessinsider.com/big-differences-between-trumps-immigration-ban-obamas-2011-policy-2017-2/

Actually, the report that @@backpack posted says it is too early to tell, it is expected to do reduce travel. A pair quote from the article: and So I think it is fair to say that the statement "the report says it hasn't" is incorrect.