Trevorum

Ahh... the Old Lie: "Dulce et Decorum est, pro Patria Mori." Wielding a weapon to kill other people is an ancient, and ghastly, profession.

War is NEVER civilized. War is Hell.

There's a troop in the northwest that uses custom Roman numerals for their unit patch.

Thanks for the joyful thought, Fred. I feel that celebrating the solstices is important. Too many of us are removed from the weather, from the seasons, from the cycles of the natural world. (This message has been edited by Trevorum)

Another year of our lives - how fast flow the sands of time! Happy Summer Solstice (AD2007) to all!

Ed, do you know whether the Bellamy salute was prohibited or was merely discontinued? (That is to ask, could one be arrested these days for giving the Bellamy salute at a Veteran's day parade?)

A terrible tragedy. Freak accidents happen and remind us to live each day as if it were our last. Nothing will comfort the Scout's family, but I believe that the shock of this event will has some unknown but important effect in the life of someone else - perhaps a fellow camper. Several years ago I lost a close friend and colleague. He was camping in the Lincoln National Forest when a tree fell on him. A freak accident. How are we changed?

I believe Mr. Diaz, city solicitor is mistaken when he says, "... if you were to seek a job with the Boy Scouts, youd be asked to fill out an application that overtly states gays are not welcome." To my knowledge, BSA employees are not considered "leaders" and thus are not subject to the gay litmus test. Is this incorrect?

ScoutNut is correct. However, it is a policy most often honored in the breach. Around here, most of the troops that are large enough to have more than a half-dozen ASMs have adult patrols.

Moxie, Those are some great patch blankets! I can just imagine the wondering gaze of those young scouts as they realize that this Scouting thing is BIG, a lot bigger than their troop or pack, a lot bigger than their own neighborhood! If I can remember my Morse, I'll send an email. I did semaphore for 1st Class and can still wig-wag, but my Morse is rusty (Remember that scene in Independence Day where the Air Force defeats the Aliens by using Morse Code?!)

So, um... Moxie ... got any patches you want to trade? (a collector never lets an opportunity like this slip by!) I'm light on Maine ... I tell ya, there will come a time that JT fondly remembers Maine (the state, that is). Probably later this summer when the high temp will hover above 100 for weeks on end.

This is an extremist position, a local fiat by a petty control-freak. The Catholics I know are inclusive and warmly inviting of debate.

In Texas, the extra fees for a BSA license plate do not go to BSA but to a third party youth fund. As a result, few Scouters choose to purchse the plates. I have no idea why this is - Fred do you know?

ASM915, I know your suggestion is meant in good faith and that you would genuinely want to be inclusive of all scouts. However, my point is that by trying to enumerate multiple religions, some are inevitably going to be left out. Whether through oversight or intentional exclusion. For example, my guess is that the attempt at a Scout camp would almot certainly exclude the pentagram. This would be an ironic slap to practioners of Wicca and other Earth Religions. It is impossible to list - or include a symbol of - all religions. There are just too many. The best solution would be as Semper says, BYORS - Bring Your Own Religious Symbol to the chapel. IMHO.

Moxie, lemme tell ya - to a patch collector, that one letter is s BIG deal!

There very well may not have been a tour permit. Sounds like a rogue unit to begin with... using ATVs?

You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one

Moxie, let me point out that it's "Capitol" Area, here in Austin. The National "Capital" Area is in Washington D.C. A common mistake! Anyway, I'm glad to hear that our new SE is a good fellow. Let me know of any inside jokes we can kid him with...~!

My first coupla years with the troop, I was constantly surprised at how many things are done differently now, compared to how I remember (or perhaps mis-remember!) things when I was a youth. It was humbling. Of course now that I'm trained, I'm a know-it-all.

ASM915, That's thinking in the right direction certainly, but what about the non-"main" religions? Would someone think to include the flaming chalice, or the yin-yang, or the faravahar, or the khanda, or the pentagram? Better not to include any permanent symbols at all and let each service provide it's own, if desired.

We have a very nice outdoor chapel at our camp. Tall pines, peaceful view of the lake, rustic benches. It's a quiet place to meditate and commune. However, it also has a large cross right in front of the bences that is impossible to ignore. Christians love the chapel. But Jews, Hindus, and us other minorities tend not to go there because of the in-your-face reminder of our second class status. It would be nice if the chapel was more welcoming to all Scouts. Unfortunately, the Christians-in-charge don't see the disconnect between the inclusive Scouts Own services and the exclusive venue.

OGE, I'm sure pack will offer his own opinion, but here are my views. Worst case scenario: BSA allows "local option" and several liberal COs open membership to atheists and/or homosexuals. The LDS (say) is morally outraged and leaves en masse, reducing BSA membership by 30% in one fell swoop. BSA is leaner for sure, and maybe takes the opportunity to restructure. But what happens to those thousands of LDS fellows? Do they leave Scouting? Not at all! They'll just become LDS Scouts, some uniforming changes, maybe with different ranks and badges, but still under BPs grand plan of Scouting. And more closer aligned with their CO's values. I think that would be OK. In fact, I think that might be a win-win-win.

Owl observes, "And besides, it's kind of hard to tell Scouts not to bring electronics to outings when the camps put on big audio/visual and music displays instead of campfires....." Ah, yes. Scouting continues to reinvent itself. I can see it now - in another generation, scouts won't bother to attend summer camp, they'll just upload their avatar into the virtual experience.

I'm not sure that schools would want to get into the business of distributing "swag" ... but if you have a table/booth at a back to school night, it could be a nifty idea. What about fridge magnets? All families of school-age kids use fridge magnets! I've seen business card sized magnets at office supply stores that could be ideal for this purpose.

Laura - we're just down the road from Pf'ville and I understand your point about tent camping in a central Texas summer! We also schedule a week of summer camp in June. In July, the older fellows can go on an out-of state high adventure, but we also have a day event like Schlitterbahn for the whole troop. Then in August, when "everybody knows it's way too hot to go camping", we have a swimming/BBQ end of summer campout at one of the great ol' swimming holes here in the Hill Country! It's swim wear all weekend and great pfun!