Trevorum

Personally, I wouldn't give a NESA membership as a gift. NESA is a good group, but that's like making a donation in the fellow's name to the Sierra Club (or another group of your choice). I really, really like the idea of a Buck knife. If I had been given such a knife at age 15, I'd still be using it today.

Some of my fondest Scouting memories as a youth are playing Capture the Flag - working strategy with my patrol, crawling noiselessly on my belly through enemy territory, sprinting through the forest, getting thoroughly dirty and sweaty and having a terrific time. I always wanted to play Snow Fort too, but the southern California climate never cooperated.

I've never heard of this Brady fellow so I can't venture an opinion on that score, but I have heard of NASCAR. I've even seen a bit on TV and I gotta admit, it seems pretty silly and pointless for entertainment. I can't figure out the appeal. Of course I feel the same way about golf. However, I don't know why Ayn Rand's philosophy would not be compatible with Scouting, as is suggested above. I think she's been easily labeled as undesireable by far too many people who have never read her books. Her philosophical support of laissez-faire capitalism has broad political support these days, and she was a strong proponent of the "heroic American values", including individualism, which are not inconsistant with BSA values. Moreover (and I'll bet you didn't know this), Rand viewed homosexuality as "immoral" and "disgusting". That's right up there with BSA.

Over the last several years, I've developed this theory that knots have some sort of gravitational attraction to each other. After you earn a couple, they just sort of start multiplying when you aren't looking. I admit that I've become negligent in sewing on all my knots. For the council and district folks whom I see at committee metings and roundtables, rows and rows of knots aren't going to convey much new information about me, my training, or my background. OTOH, for the parents just joining our troop, rows and rows can be somewhat intimidating. I usta have two uniform shirts until one fell apart. That worked well - two different shirts for different Scouting functions ... maybe I'll just have to spring for another shirt.

Maybe he was working on 1st Class reqt #5?

That's such a Fascist thing to say.

"But god or gods or goddesses are incorruptible and their word is eternal." This is actually a fairly recent notion. Throughout history, most gods that people have worshipped have been selfish, cruel, and deceitful. (Just like people, go figure...)

These days, sewing seems to be in the same category as penmanship: a nice, genteel skill to be sure, but why bother when there are quicker ways to get the job done? Sorta symtomatic of our culture in general I suppose ... When my sons were Cubs, I sewed their all patches, but when they got that Tenderfoot badge, I showed them how to do it and told them it was now their job. Nah, I didn't mind at all that the first dozen merit badges on the sash were crooked ... after a while, they got the hang of it. Way back when I was (more) foolish, I designed a garish costume for a medieval faire and I had my then girl friend show me how to use a sewing machine. It was actually fun. My creation would never have won an award for craftsmanship, but I remember the feeling of satisfction, knowing that I had made my entire garb, head to toe.

Very good news, Dan. From my heart, blessed be.

John, Let me address your question, "...why earning the age-appropriate religious emblem is not an explicit requirement of the S-L-E matrix?" Many, perhaps most, BSA youth are members of mainstream faiths for which there is indeed a recognized religious award. However, for many youth of minority faiths, there simply is no approved religious award program. As just one example, Wiccan youth still have no award.

Good advice from all. In our largish troop, our ASM-Advancement tracks the status of all fellows who are 16 years old. We assume that since they are still around, most of these fellows are interested in earning Eagle. The ASMs job is to spot "fatal flaws" like the one described here and facilitate the scout in finding a solution. While there is still plenty of time.

I've used the same tyvek rain gear (generic frog-togs) for the last three years, including two Philmont treks. I've repaired them with duct tape in a few places (it looks goofy, so what?) but it's the best $25 investment in rain gear I've ever made.

"Thanks for quoting scripture"? Yeah, well I guess so. As a heathen, I know I always get a chuckle out of people who quote their Bible book as if it proves something. Anyway, back to the original thread, I think Neil has a pretty level headed perspective on this issue. Partially for those reasons, I don't like the label "Traditional". Neither do I like "Progressive", which has a holier-than-thou ring to it (ironic huh?). If we are to come up with labels for the opposing stances on the membership issue, I'd like them to be more descriptive, with fewer automatic connotations of left/right, new/old, heathen/bible thumper () As I mentioned earlier, the phrase "Big Tenters" appeals to me to describe those who think BSA membership should be for all boys. Scouting is a big enough tent for everyone. But I'm not sure what might be comparable for the other argument. It's a pointless exercise, of course, but sorta fun.

Anyone who sincerely wants to live in a country where "God is sovereign and His Righteousness cannot be denied or redefined" can always move to Saudi Arabia or Iran. I hear they take religion pretty seriously over there. It's even the same god.

{chuckle} E, now every time I pay my car insurance, I'm going to think of you with that charming accent ...

Thinking seriously about this (and taking a page from the "pro-life" vs. "pro-choice" factions), if I were to propose a label for how I feel about BSA membership policies, I'd suggest the use of "Big Tent". This is because I think BSA has a "big enough tent" to accomodate all boys; I don't think we should turn anyone away from a chance to be a Scout.

OGE asks, "Are there some other terms that could be used instead of progressive, regressive, family values, traditional values?" Well, Liberal and Conservative come to mind as being pretty well understood. But OGE then also observes, "Using labels just muddies the water". So, back to square one...

I'd guess that a better word might be "traditional". By contrast, "regressive" parents might enroll their kids in White Supremacy groups...

gcan, thanks! Absolutely, please use the WANTED poster idea as best works for your unit.

BullDog, From a fellow Austinite, welcome to our campfire and welcome back into Scouting! I, too, asked myself the same question when my son joined cubs, "Why did it take me so long to return to Scouting?". PM me and let me know what part of town your new troop is in.

At a recruiting event for Boy Scouts, we displayed a large "Wanted" poster like the following. It was eye-catching, attracted lots of attention, and got results. This poster idea could easily be modified for Cub Scouts. WANTED Boys aged 11 and up* FOR camping, catching fish, canoeing rivers, exploring caves, making campfires, shooting bows & arrows, swimming in swimmin holes, rappelling down rock cliffs, and other outdoors adventures. Must like knives, sharp sticks, bugs, getting dirty. Reward Offered Self reliance, Leadership skills, Character development Lots of fun Contact Boy Scout Troop xxx xxx xxx Church, xxxxx Steeet Meetings are every Monday 7-8:30 pm *To join a scout troop, a boy must be 11 years old, OR have completed the 5th grade, OR have earned the Arrow of Light award in Cub Scouts.

I've had more than one young fellow tell me, "patience", when asked in a SM conference what they think should be the "13th point".

It's an election year ... Dump the Bum!

Some folks call the red and white community strips "half strips", with the state rocker being the "quarter strip". Of course not all community strips are red and white. Some are red and khaki, or blue and yellow, blue and white, white and blue, or even green and brown! see http://www.rwsworld.com/intro.htm

As an anthropologist, I find tattoos, the reasons why people get them, and other peoples attitudes about them, completely fascinating. Humans are endlessly inventive when it comes to bodily adornment. And whatever one person does to adorn their body, other people are bound to find mystifying or perhaps even repulsive. Recently, The Harris Poll conducted a survey aboout tattoos in America. Among the interesting findings: currently, 14 percent of us sport a tattoo and 84% of those do not regret it. The full results are at http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=868