scoutmomma

Thanks to both Eamonn and Packsaddle. It's been a rough few weeks. Also, I broke my tailbone so I can't go snowboarding on the troop's annual ski trip this weekend, so I'm particularly cranky.

Hans Zieger does not live in southeastern Pennsylvania or anywhere near Philadelphia, and is not part of Cradle of Liberty Council. He can very comfortably take potshots at Philadelphia from out west in Washington state. He can stay out there, and can take his nose out of Philadelphia and CoL's business, as far as I'm concerned. Cradle of Liberty is my council, and as far as I'm concerned and as far as I can see, has done nothing but posture since BSA forced them to toe the line back in 2003 when CoL TRIED to invoke "local option" and adopt a non-discriminatory policy back then, till

There was a time, I think, when being a reporter was considered an honorable profession. Honor means, in part, self-restraint. Honor also means truthfulness and honesty, even if it means you sell less papers or your own personal point of view doesn't carry the day. Beavah, you are stereotyping too: local newspaper reporters are not the same as national news anchors and smalltown newspaper publishers are not the same as international media conglomerate corporations. What goes on in "the media" in terms of ratings and selling papers has nothing to do with the actions of individual reporte

Perhaps not, but just as cops treat us all as potential criminals because it is safer, it is safer to assume that all reporters are biased and likely dishonest. You know what, I don't accept that all cops treat everyone as a potential criminal either.

Thank you, OGE, you articulate the case very well indeed

You created your own slant by editing out my followup sentence: Broadly stereotyping reporters is an easy dodge, the same as labeling all lawyers as rapacious ambulance-chasers, and I don't accept either stereotype. The examples you cite do not mean that all news is distorted nor that all reporters are dishonest.

Once one accepts that most "news" has been distorted, it's hard to get too bothered by whatever has been implicated. Well, other than FoxNews , I don't accept that most news is distorted. Broadly stereotyping reporters is an easy dodge, the same as labeling all lawyers as rapacious ambulance-chasers, and I don't accept either stereotype.

And in the article the Scoutmaster (I think) claims it was part of the original project Granted, which is why I said "It's still just 'he said, they said' as long as we don't know whether that rock was included in the original proposal or not."

The government didn't pay for the "God Rock" in the planetary walk. The government didn't even pay to host an exhibition. It simply allowed that expression. Well...to go back to the story that sparked the original thread whence this one came, the government denies having allowed that expression in the first place: ...city officials said the proposal they were given does not mention the "God stone." And that's still where we stand, when it comes to what we know. It's still just "he said, they said" as long as we don't know whether that rock was included in the original proposa

If, as some claim, a cross, Star of David, or even a Budhist Wheel somehow harms them or their children because they "may" respresent teachings they choose not to listen to, then they are not doing a very good job at supporting what they do believe, or want their children to understand. The power of a symbol is extremely compelling to those for whom it has meaning, whether positive or negative. The cross, the Star of David, and the Muslim crescent moon and star are just such symbols. Skeptic, I must be missing something -- I don't understand how you can seriously claim that those who f

Our troop uses 2-man REI Halfdomes, lightweight and easily divided between two boys for backpacking, with interchangeable parts that can be replaced. In three years, we have had to replace parts, but not tents. We did add several new ones this year to accommodate growing troop interest in backpacking, though -- we used to have about 12-15 Scouts per trip, now it's more like 20-25.

Sorry, religious rights are too important to allow 98% dictate to the 2% what they ought to believe, even if you think the 2% are being uppity. Hear, hear.(This message has been edited by scoutmomma)

The pack my son came from is about that size as well, also pulling from 3 schools. The question that comes to my mind is how many dens do you have, and how big are the dens? Our local pack has, I believe, 6 or 7 dens.

We use troop tents, approximately 20 REI Halfdome tents purchased with money from troop fundraising events. It's not so that we look "uniform" -- in the three years my son has been in the troop, we have not yet attended a camporee -- but at our Scoutmaster's request, because they are lightweight and easily divided among two boys for backpacking. It also spares expense to parents of our crossovers each spring, who are already suffering from sticker shock for the cost of a decent sleeping bag, hiking boots and backpack. Plus there is the added benefit of interchangeable parts -- at least until

Never mind, I'm stepping out of this discussion.(This message has been edited by scoutmomma)

I always tell 'em that a COH is an act of service. They don't need it, but the community needs it. It's a way of providin' an example for younger scouts, and a way to thank the SM, ASMs, parents and parent volunteers for all their efforts over da years. Yeh say "thank you" to those people by giving them a chance to celebrate. I like this sentiment, and I can attest to the inspiration that seeing an Eagle Court of Honor can provide: about a month after my son crossed over, he was invited to an ECOH for a Scout he did not know. We went, and he was asked to be in the color guard. At a

What is "SMC"? Scout Master Conference? (as opposed to Scoutmaster Conference)

Are you presuming that all UUs are atheists?

I'm interested in knowing this as well. Our troop is considering acquiring a trailer. Most of our trips now have 25-30 Scouts and 6-8 adults participating, and with each Scout year usually including at least one bike trip, one multi-sport trip (biking, hiking & canoeing), an annual family ski trip, as well as a week of summer camp, we find we need to rent a trailer several times a year, and collecting one the night before an early-morning departure or having to return one on a Sunday afternoon after a weekend trip can be a bit of a hassle. Our Scoutmaster has asked if the Troop Committee

I'd read about this a few weeks ago in a story that explained more about the process of retracing Sellers' Eagle paperwork in the Orangeburg (SC) Times and Democrat at http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2007/11/02/news/12806712.txt. This one has more emphasis on what Sellers got out of Scouting. Scoutmomma Sellers to receive Eagle Scout Award 45 years after earning it Better late than never, a Denmark man will receive his Eagle Scout Award 45 years after he earned it. Dr. Cleveland L. Sellers Jr., director of African American Studies at the University of South Carolina in

Scoutmomma, That conversation with your son will indeed be a classic. He sounds like he's developing great skills of critical thinking. We need more like him. He has that highly tuned BS meter that all 13-year-olds seem to have. You know, the one where they don't recognize when they're not making sense but can easily point out when anyone else is being illogical. :-) As my Thanksgiving coffee cup says, "Don't Let the Turkeys Get You Down". Thanks, Packsaddle. Scoutmomma

I was once a Girl Scout, but don't remember much in the way of learning outdoor or camping skills. Of course, this was many moons ago, when decorating bars of soap and making potholders and whistle lanyards passed for programming. :-p My son joined Cub Scouts when he was in second grade, the first organized extra-curricular activity he ever asked to be involved in. Over his Cub years, his interest waxed and waned, generally peaking at Pinewood Derby time -- he never went for speed, preferring creativity instead (he won design awards for his car four years in a row). He always said he was on

Unitarian Universalists are allowed to join so the "BSA is discriminating" line is a moot point. As my 13-year-old Star Scout son would say: Whatever. The conversation in which I explain to him why there are two UU emblems that he can earn, but BSA doesn't approve of the one sponsored by his church, and vice versa, is sure to be a classic. Scoutmomma

Not feeling welcome and not welcome are completely different A difference that makes no difference is no difference, to quote Mr. Spock. At any rate, what I was originally responding to was the question of what religions BSA discriminates against, and I contend that Unitarian Universalism is one. Saying that UUs are "welcome" except for their religious emblem (or "'religious' medal," as GW put it) doesn't tell me that they are not discriminated against by BSA. Scoutmomma

Unitarians are welcome in the BSA, it is just that their "religious" medal isn't recognized by BSA and so cannot be worn on the uniform. I don't think many Unitarian Universalists feel all that welcome when their church's religious emblem has been disallowed. The Unitarian Universalist Scouters' Association emblem, I understand, is accepted by BSA but not by UUA. Again, not a particularly welcoming feeling ensues. I'm not sure that Unitarianism is really a religion. All the Unitarians that I know tell me that Unitarian doctrine allows them to believe whatever they want including