Trevorum

Barry, no foolin? I'm a scientist who has to work with engineers.

I can hear it now: the troop committee holds hearings into the activities of the morally suspect scout, and he replies, "I did not have sex with that woman."

I've always had problems with holding up the idea of an Eagle Scout as a "hero", as someone different somehow than most boys. I've always stressed to our fellows that every single one of them CAN become an Eagle - if they want it enough and if they work hard. It's not out of reach for any boy. I believe there are some types of character flaws that should be recognized in a SM conference and - if not otherwise mitigated - should prevent further advancement using the "Scout Spirit" paradigm. However, I also believe that there is no transgression, no behavior, no moral lapse so awful that it should ipso facto deny a boy Eagle advancement, so long as he demonstrates understanding, genuine remorse, and character growth.

Everyone is welcome to a perspective. I see a lot of similarities between belief in climate change and belief in evolution. In both cases, the people who spend their careers studying and understanding the issues (climatologists, biologists) are very nearly unamimous, while non-experts are unconvinced. In both cases, there are powerful vested interests who are threatened by the scientific consensus. Well, that's my perspective. (oops, typos)(This message has been edited by Trevorum)

"Troop size should be limited to 75. Troops who successfully recruit can spin off new units. That is how membership numbers will grow." That's an EXCELLENT idea. I'd suggest maybe even limit troop size to 50 - six patrols of eight each, plus an SPL and an ASPL. (This from the SM of an 80+ troop.)

"We're due for a housecleaning" You may be right. Some folks have observed that perhaps intelligence may not be prove to be a successful evolutionary strategy in the long term. The earth would certainly be healthier without humans. Unfortunately, if we go extinct, we're apt to take a lot of other species with us as "colateral damage".

Welcome to the forums! Stick around and join the campfire. Share some stories. (oh, yeah - 1968.)

As a counselor for the Environmental Science merit badge, I can tell you it comes up regularly. [see reqts 1, 2, 3a(2)3 b(2), 3c(1), 3f(1)] IMHO, any ES MB counselor who does not discuss this issue is negligent. Kids are smart. They can pretty much see through the vested interests who deny climate change and they want to know what their world is going to be like after the grownups are dead and gone.

uz2bnowl said: "Makes us sound like a bunch of primates!" I think I understand your point, but, umm, we ARE primates. (Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human)

Scouting is the best character development program available for young people and I think every boy deserves the chance to be a Scout. Drop the Declaration of Religious Principle as a joining requirement.

LisaBob's post about the upcoming "mini-jamboree" her council is hosting got me to wondering about alternative celebrations in 2010. Fewer than 5% of all scouts will be able to attend the National Jamboree at AP Hill to celebrate BSA's 100th anniversary - is anyone aware of smaller, local "mini-jamborees" that are being planned at the council level? This would seem to be the ideal event to celebrate!

Congratulations to your son (and to his parents!). And extra kudos for him wanting to exercise control over HIS ceremony! His ceremony can be as simple or as elaborate as he (and you) wish. It is 100% up to the Eagle's family. Many scouts seem to take the easy way and simply recycle the last Eagle COH (I've actually seen speaker's programs with the name of the last fellow scratched out and the new guy's name written in). In my opinion, the most meaningful (and memorable) Eagle ceremonies are those that are custom designed to fit the personality of the Scout. I guess my own son must have heard me pontificate this way to other candidates. He chose to have a mountaintop ceremony. Short, sweet, and the way scouting should be - outdoors! One of the best parts was the unscripted reminiscences by his old Webelos DL and by his Eagle mentor. Not quite a "roast", but they sure recalled some funny stories! Yes, an Eagle CoH has some solemn moments, but it should also be a celebration. What better way than to remember all those crazy moments along his long journey from little boy to the fine young man he is now. Good luck with your cermeony!

In town, the Palace of the Governors is the oldest continuously used public building in the United States, dating to 1610 (if I recall correctly). Packsaddle is right about Bandelier National Monument. It is great and ranks with Mesa verde and Canyon de Chelly as a must-see window into our prehistoric past. Adjecent to Bandelier is the "secret" city of Los Alamos, where the atomic bomb was developed in WWII. Close to Los Alamos is the huge ruin of Tsankawi, also operated by Bandelier. Also, the pueblo ruin of Puye is owned and operated by the Santa Clara, about 1.5 hrs north of Santa Fe. East of town, don't miss Pecos pueblo. Near Pecos is the site of the Battle of Glorieta Pass where the pesky Johnny-Rebs were defeated in the Civil War. Wish I was going with you!

Sounds like a fair compromise. But I'm wondering what they would do if a skinhead group wanted to send fliers... Are the four times per year pre-established by the schools, or can they be taken at the convenience of the group?

Oak Tree, What a great list. I think we should all copy it and just start using shorthand in our banter - "I'll see your R3 and raise you a J5 ..." One edit: R1a. The rule is divinely inspired.(Was used to justify slavery; still used to justify social discrimination.)

I think laws on knives vary tremendously between local jurisdictions. Here in Texas, the maximum legal blade for a folding knife is 5.5"

The width of whose palm? The 10 year old and small-for-his-age Webelos, or the 6'6", 280 lb linebacker Eagle Scout? Just another scouting myth. (Maybe the "young staffer" is trying for a promotion to the uniform police ...)

Kudu is right on - no ceremony should ever have anyone reading from a piece of paper!

Howdy hotfoot! Cubmaster is the greatest job in Scouting! You're gonna have a blast. I actually saw some purple loops once. They were being worn by members of a particular religious CO. (I can't remember precisely, but it may have been Greek Orthodox or Armenian or something like that). Not regulation of course, but no one said anything. Very curious.

SWS, I didn't mean to come off as cagey. In 2005 I was disappointed to learn that the Archeology MB was not offered. Never did learn why not. But I talked to the midway folks and offered to (help) plan it for 2010.

My SE suggested I call National. I discovered that the National Events Division won't appoint a chief for the Jamboree MB program until this October. However, I did get a contact name who I will keep in the loop. You're quite correct, it is pretty early. However, the program I want to develop will require some complicated planning, including advance coordination with the AP Hill Environmental Office as well as arranging daily transportation for participants to a remote site away from the jamboree encampment. I want to plant the seed with the appropriate people well before the opportunity is foreclosed.

Not to belabor the obvious, but I believe the whole point of the Flying Spaghetti Monster movement is that some religious beliefs ARE absurd. Perhaps some things that should be "self-evident" are not because different people accept different standards of evidence.

At one time, the Law of the Land said: NO COLOREDS. At one time in this country, women were not allowed to vote. At one time, people were allowed to own other people. At one time, it was considered right and proper to murder Natives. Thank God the country came to it's senses with regards to these issues. The point is that not all rules are equally just. Some rules are injust and are plain wrong. The point is that as our culture continues, we tend to develop a higher sense of moral responsibility. The point is that in our country, rules can change because people realize they need to be changed and then they do something to change them. (This message has been edited by Trevorum)

Our family had our traditional roast leg of lamb last night. My beautiful bride enjoys the mint jelly which my sons and I find merely annoying. I was recently chatting with a colleague about traditional holiday fare - turkey at Thanksgiving, ham at Christmas, tamales at New years, matzohs, etc. - and I spoke longingly of the Easter leg of Lamb repast. She looked at me like I had lobsters crawling from my ears. She had never heard of serving leg of lamb at Easter and moreover thought it akin to slaughtering bunny rabbits. (Which are also tasty, but are not necessarily holiday fare.) We did an impromptu (non-scientific) survey of our co-workers and came to the conclusion that the leg of lamb Easter feast is common among those of western Catholic and Episcopalian origins and far less so among those of Protestant denominations. But I have no idea why this would be ...

Thanks for that link, pack. It explains much. However, I'm not sure I fully understand all the implications ...