scoutingagain

Thought this would be of interest to members of the forum. Ironically, the girls described in the Texas GSTroop in the article are probaly more aligned with the "values" of the BSA, but are ineligible for membership. Anyway I found it interesting that the BSA's female counterparts have their own morality issues to deal with. I'm not taking a position pro or con. SA Some Texans Boycott Girl Scout Cookies By ANGELA K. BROWN, Associated Press Writer CRAWFORD, Texas - Some families are boycotting Thin Mints and Do-Si-Dos and other Girl Scout cookies. Troop 7527 is down t

Gee Rooster, I saw the headline of this thread and I thought you were going to discuss President Busch. I was all excited about a possible topic that didn't start with Wheeler. I share your pain. I too have seen my ratings slashed. I guess I don't know enough Greek. SA

One thought I had while reading this thread was, if the boys get significant experience camping in Cub Scouts, what's to offer them in Boy Scouts? We already see some of this in our Troop on the Klondike Derby. Most of the older scouts have no interest. They have been doing Klondikes since they were First Year Webelos. There seems to be some value in drawing out the experiences in scouting. I like this aspect of scouting. In others areas of life everyone seems to want to push younger kids into doing more and at an earlier age. At some point do we want to be the first Den Leader to

So is everyone busy counting the references above to confirm or disprove their authenticity? Or should I consider it "Truth" or just Wheeler's knowledge? See, if we all would be willing to give up our materialist lifestyles and stop spending time earning money, we too can come to know these things. Although then I would not have a vehicle and would not have been able to take a group of scouts along on a snowshoe trip this past weekend. I'm so confused. SA

I've been on the road the past few weeks and havn't had time to respond or post much, but have been lurking some. Given some of the current topics I don't now where I'd begin and question if it's worth the effort. OGE's caveat to those that don't read these posts regularly is well timed and gets another thumbs up. SA

How could I have been so stupid? Of course "A Man Needs A Maid" Neil Young My life is changing in so many ways I don't know who to trust anymore There's a shadow running thru my days Like a beggar going from door to door. I was thinking that maybe I'd get a maid Find a place nearby for her to stay. Just someone to keep my house clean, Fix my meals and go away. A maid. A man needs a maid. A maid. It's hard to make that change When life and love turns strange. And old. To give a love, you gotta live a love. To live a love,

OGE, I appreciate your reminder of Loudon's one hit wonder. But we're discussing great philosophers and men. To truly appreciate Loudon Wainwright's understanding of the male psyche I would refer you to his writings in " Bein' a Dad", "Conversations with a Son" and "Grown Man". However few can argue that there is a contemporary writer/musician that understands the teenage male pysche better than Brian Wilson. In addition to "When I Grow Up", I refer the reader to "In My Room" and "Surfer Girl". I'm sure somewhere Neil Young had something to say about manhood, I just can't recal

"Wheelists" study "Wheelism". SA

When I grow up to be a man Will I dig the same things that turn me on as a kid? Will I look back and say that I wish I hadn't done what I did? Will I joke around and still dig those sounds When I grow up to be a man? Will I look for the same things in a woman that I dig in a girl? (fourteen fifteen) Will I settle down fast or will I first wanna travel the world? (sixteen seventeen) Now I'm young and free, but how will it be When I grow up to be a man? Oooooo Ooooooo Oooooooo Will my kids be proud or think their old man is really a square? (eighteen nineteen) W

OK, all together... Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday Hops Scout Happy birthday tooo youuuu! Me, Born in the mid-fifties in Central New Jersey on a typical hot, steamy mid-atlantic July day. SA

"When a man has a serious outlook, he participates in serious things. When a man has an "I want to be amused outlook", then that is what he searches for. " "My joy is in reading and learning and not making money, so I have to trade off. " Wheeler, I'm curious as to how you reconcile your current condition of poverty with the above statements. You are obviously intelligent, yet choose to work odd jobs and are clearly capable of more intellectually challenging work that would pay more. You complain that some young men avoid serious work and you scold them for their laziness. Yet

Wheeler said: "I am a creation of God. God made a form from the mud, and BREATHED into it spirit. All men are reproductions of this first man. We have differentiated into races but we are all created." Firstpusk responded" "So it appears that you accept the creation story in Genesis chapter 2. What scientific evidence do you have to support your view that this is historically and scientifically correct? May I also take it that you then believe that the account in Genesis chapter 1 is not accurate? What scientific evidence do you have to support this conclusion?" I have to dis

I agree that an axe and saw can be used safely. As noted, they are tools and if cared for and used properly should not be an issue. I'm with those that find a saw a more useful tool on a camping trip than an axe. We usually go through the totin' chip with the new scouts in the first month or so in the fall. There is also a session we hold just before summer camp so new scouts can get a totin' chip before camp. In the past three years we have had two minor injuries associated with knives. Small cuts, nothing so serious as requiring stitches even. They have been used as learning exper

This is actually a good question Eisley. This is about a group that wishes to impose their idea of morality on the rest of us through government legislation. I assume all those that support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage or otherwise have the government regulate their own interpretation of morality would also support this effort. The days of duck livers in California may be limited. Personally I don't eat livers of anything and am already in a heterosexual marriage so how will this effect me? SA

My thoughts on the uniform. The pants should be replaced with a different style/type. As noted in other threads, many troops do not use the pants. They have spoken with their actions and wallets. A non-CAMO BDU style pant, would have much more acceptance, if the price can be maintained at a reasonable level. I also like FOG's idea of a Field Jacket that would go with the pants. SA

Sturgen, Your ongoing commitment to scouting is to be commended. And I agree with you that there are many young people with knowledge, skill and leadership capabilities. I've been very impressed with some of the postings in this forum of some of it's younger members. Outdoor Thinker and Hops come to mind. There are a couple of others as well. But I challenge you to keep your initial post in this thread for 10 or 20 years. Re-read it and see if you don't believe you have more "wisdom" then than you do now. The funny thing about the wisdom that comes with age, is you don't appeci

I figured it would not take long for Republicans to respond with their own allegations. In the paper this morning there are allegations that Kerry had an affair with an intern and somewhere a 30+ year old photograph of Kerry in the same frame as Jane Fonda has shown up. The Democrats for their part continue to pick apart any little inconsistancy they can find in GWB's military record and yes the Republicans now sound like the Democrats did when Clinton ran. The Republicans have also prepared the electorate with the warning that the Democrats are preparing to wage one of the dirtiest c

FOG, I agree with you. Last time around the Democrats had not much better evidence of military service for their guy than GWB so they didn't make it an issue. This time they will. The OpEd piece specifically acused Kerry of making it an issue. I figured if that were so something would be on his website. I have no doubt both sides will sling more stuff at their opponent before the election. The dirtier the accusation, the source will be further removed from the actual candidate. After several losses I suspect the Democrats have learned quite abit about campaigning from the

Some suggestions: Get a decent supply of those disposable hand/foot warmers. They are light and do put out a fair amount of warmth even if they get a little damp. Keep the scouts moving. Keep 'em dry as best you can. Warm soup or hot chocolate is easy to make and warms 'em up quick. If you are somewhere you can start a fire, keeping a fire going is great. While frostbite doesn't sound like too much of a concern based on the weather forcast, don't underestimate the possibility of hypothermia. Watch for kids who are shivering. Don't count on the boys to come up t

Now that I'm up to 5 stars I feel I can comment. I'm not worthy. Someone's gotta be yankin my chain here. SA

Both George W. Bush and John Kerry were sons of relatively wealthy families. Both graduated from Yale. George W. Bush volunteered to serve his country in the military in the Air National Guard. Perhaps he was inspired by his father. I don't know enough to make a judgement regarding his service. I know some have asked questions and Mr. Bush is trying to answer those questions. I checked www.johnkerry.com and could find no references to Mr. Bush's service record or questions regarding his service. Doesn't mean it's not there, I just didn't find it. I did find the following: "John

We have a close relationship with one Pack. We perform a crossover ceremony for all the Webelos II in the spring. Most start with the troop, some do not. The point of having them all participate is to let the Webelos know they are all welcome to join the troop and they don't need to make a decision at any one point. SA

Good post Zahnada. I agree. In scouting I make a conscious effort to be nonpolitical around scouts and leaders. Occaisionally an issue might come up but it is not discussed for long. I do enjoy a spirited discussion though. Maybe it's my New Jersey upbringing. When my family gets together it's not uncommon for us to have spirited "discussions" on politics, scouting, sports or other subjects. It's how we interact. I may disagree with my father or one of my brothers over an issue but it doesn't diminish my love for them. The "discussions" drive my wife nuts though. She doesn'

Bob White responded to NJ: "According to Webster, nonsectarian means " not affiliated with or restricted to a particular religious group", does NJ now classify homosexuality as a religion? " I don't mean to respond for NJ, but the BSA excludes, does not permit membership, discriminates against avowed homosexuals in leadership positions based on the premise that homosexuals are immoral and do not provide a proper role model for scouts. Assuming morality is part of religious beliefs or teachings I think NJ is getting at the notion that not all religions or religious leaders teach or accept

"I have been searching a long time for the BSA message board and I found this. " Man, are we lucky or what? SA