krypton_son

Only a matter of time before BSA removes the term "master" due to the historically injurious connotations.   

Lol, that wouldn't surprise me at all.

I am convinced that liberals view scouting as nothing more than a "camping club".  The mission and vision statement are just noble words of distant dreams. Liberals believe in equality over personal ambition through the path of mediocrity. 

That right there is exactly right.  The direction the BSA has been moving in the last 10+ years is the complete antithesis of what it was created for.  It's almost like it's an intentional dismantling of the founding principles it was based on.

Scouting has not thrived since these changes. They are no receiving the ground swell if new members many suggested might join after gays were let in. The corporate donations have not increased as many suggested would. In fact, Scouting continues to lose members and charter orgs at an increased rate. Donations are flat. In my Council many units have told their FOS teams to stay home and not bother to reach out. Units simply don't want to donate anymore. They are keeping their own money and doing their own thing. So the "change" in BSA culture has not had a positive membership or financial benefit yet. Still waiting to see this benefit happen. Doubt it will.

 

@@Sentinel947, I have spoken with several scouted and parents that will do the same; pull back from national, council and district and do their own thing. We had two leaders step back from the unit. I am personally stopping any work with anyone above the unit level.

I've seen the same thing happen.  When they announced that gays would be accepted we hade a severe drop in membership in my Council.  Donations have been cut almost in half.  Last night after this new announcement we had 3 boys pulled out of my troop and I know of several other troops in my district that have lost members.  I can't say that I blame them.  The Boy Scouts that we grew up with are now long gone.

 

Each decision by the BSA pushes me closer to opting out to avoid the hypocrisy of supporting an organization that is becoming less and less reflective of my values and strays further from what it says its mission is. I know there's a certain crowd that's gonna say "boo hoo, get over it, this is the way it is now" or "Goodbye bigot" or somesuch. I'm fine with you having your opinions, just recognize I'm entitled to mine as well.

I agree 100%.

Rare! Do you not understand female biology?

 

I have to agree.  I'm no gynecologist, but I'm pretty sure that every girl (excuse me, I suppose "boy" in this case) gets one every month.  And it last for a while.  I'd say that that doesn't fall into the rare category.

What I REALLY want to know does this mean I need to attend an additional training course and if so how much of time will it take.

Oh, I would say that that's almost a given.

Even if the person identifies as a male, they are still a female (i.e., female identifying as a male),

While I completely agree with you, I have to ask if that matters.  Is it worth a law suit to ensure that they're protected as a female if they insist that they aren't?  Personally I feel like if they make it such a big issue and want to be "boys" treat them like boys.  Let them camp with the real boys, shower with the real boys, etc.  It's like women in the military.  If they're going to make such a big deal about it, fine, put them in the front lines just like the men.  If you start treating them differently, you're open to all kinds of legal issues.

My background is Norwegian and I grew up with all the Norski jokes focused on the dim-witted Ole, Sven and Lars.  Of course there was the traditional peasant Lena that kept things exciting.  And yet when all the dust settled, I thought those jokes were extremely funny!

 

My favorite: In light of all the racial slurs and making fun of ethnic groups the politically correct manner in which these jokes are to be conveyed would be to put them into an ethnic group that doesn't exist anymore.  So with that being said.  "Two Philistines walked into a bar one day,  Sven and Ole..... " 

I'll be the first to admit.  I think Indian jokes are funny. 

I grew up in an area of heavily Indian influence.  The attitude you indicate here is what I normally get from those I associate with.  For a long time I was confused as to where the "racist" problem was coming from.  It wasn't until I began to see the pattern of a few that grabbed the headlines and raised the consciousness of the masses did I even know racism existed. 

 

I worked in a heavily Indian area for many years during college and developed friendships with many in that area.  I asked them out of curiosity if they all had "Indian names".  Of course they all had Americanized names like John Cloud, etc.  I'm sure the Indian sounding names were all made up, but I pressed on with, what would my name be in "Indian".  They made up some odd name and when I asked what that meant translated, they said Ugly White Man.  That was the end of all my questions. 

 

Good times, good memories.

Lol, I think that's the attitude of most of us.  We're proud of our heritage but at the same time have learned not to take it too seriously.  Besides, what a lot of people consider to be racist, a lot of others consider playful.  When I look at a pack of Red Man chewing tobacco, I don't see racism, I see a really cool logo that harkens back to my ancestors.  It's funny how the voices of the few are heard so loud in this country and the voices of the masses are quieted to the point of muteness.

  It seems as if there are getting to be fewer and fewer 'boys only" organizations as they are constantly getting attacked, yet having girls only organizations are not only OK, but encouraged.

Hit the nail on the head.

Out of interested why did a few 'scouting' babies cost the BSA dearly ? 

Imagine the lawsuits when the parents find out that their kids were having sex at BSA campouts. 

I attended my son's Arrow of Light ceremony and was surprised and somewhat disturbed to see that the ceremony included Boy Scouts dressed up and identified as Akela, Medicine Man etc. Complete with feathers and beating drums, the "Akela" pretended to inspect each arrow (made by machine I'm sure and decorated by parents via a kit) and declare it "worthy" or not. For an organization which requires respectful behavior from the scouts, I am confused and frankly a bit ashamed. I think if I were a Native American, I would be quite offended by this farce. Additionally, after years of our boys visiting museums and police stations and battleships to understand the world around them, why conclude their scouting chapter with such a fictional ceremony ... fictional Akela pretending to inspect store bought arrows etc. These young men do not require such folly, it teaches them nothing of actual Native culture ... which would be interesting for them to learn by the way ... and devalues the sacred symbols of other cultures. Is this condoned by the BSA?

I have no idea why you would be offended in any way.  I'm Native American (or as I like to call myself, an Indian) and I love that the BSA and Order of the Arrow honor my people in so many ways.  I get so sick of people screaming racism and bigotry when there isn't any.  I've seen and participated in many Arrow of Light and Order of the Arrow ceremonies where people of all races and backgrounds have dressed up like Indians.  They work hard to have authentic (or at least, good looking) regalia and work even harder at memorizing the lines and learning the characters.   There is no bigotry to be found in it.  Completely the opposite.  There is a lot of reverence and respect that these kids put into this.  I think it's great.  By the way, I'm also a fan of the Washington Redskins and the Atlanta Braves, and I have never met another of my kind that is offended in any way by them.  Although I'm sure there are some thin red-skinned among us that are.  Next time you see them do a ceremony dressed in amazing regalia, thank them for it and enjoy it.

The ice has become too thin that after 45+ years of working with youth, it's time to err on the side of self protection here.

I agree 100%.  We live in a world with too many lawyers and people ready to sue a the drop of a hat.  It's an unfortunate thing that people need to worry more about protecting themselves then the youth, but I'm afraid that it's definitely come to that.

Wow.  Hate me all you want, but I'm not ok with this.  If I had to guess the "Scouts" of America will be co-ed by the end of the decade.

I've found that there are always going to be those who want to pick on others.  It's funny how in high school you care so much about what others think about you.  I'm glad that most of us grow out of that.

I confess I've never heard of this question being asked at any board of review eagle or otherwise. Nor do I see why it should be. When I earned eagle, some forty years ago ,I stood six feet talk and weighed 175 but to wear a scout uniform to my high school would have been asking for a beating from multiple people at the same time.   I think I knew every scout in that high school and none of us ever wore our uniform in those halls.  

 

Was I proud of being a scout? Absolutely.

 

Was I stupid? No.

My thoughts exactly.

Congratulations, that's one of the best things he will do.

careful there.....

Now that's the kind of old crow that I can get behind.

I had a friend whose house burned down.  Of course the whole family was shocked, but the one comment made by the mother has always stuck with me over the years.  She said "All those things that reminded me of who I am are gone."  My wife makes fun of me because I tend to be a hoarder.  I have the candy jar of my great aunt that when I visited was always full.  It's sitting with candy my grandchildren enjoy on a shelf not more than 5 feet from where I am right now.  I have "junk" from scouts that tell me of what I have done over the years.  I was out hunting just yesterday and carried my pull rope, skinning knife, water, extra clothes, etc, in a BSA Yucca Pack that had my name and troop number on it.  It was the pack I used in scouting and still use today.  It is but one of many pieces of what most people would call junk, I just know it as those things that tell me who I am and what I have done for those around me and what they have done for me.

 

If that pack wasn't there yesterday, would I have spent the afternoon in the woods thinking about my experiences in scouting while I waited for deer?  Probably not.

You just described me to a tee.  I have an old basket that was my Grandmother's.  It sat on her coffee table for as long as I can remember.  I used to love to play with it when I was a kid.  It's now sitting on my dresser in my bedroom.  I come from a long line of Scouts.  I have my Grandfathers merit badge sash from when he was in Scouts in the 20's, etc.  I have a lot of family heirlooms and I treasure each one of them.

How could you have seen anything in that pocket?  Most people found the easiest way to sew on a Position of Responcibility patch on the little pocket meant you sewed the darn thing shut.  

Lol, I've always thought the same thing.  The pocket was always more for decoration than anything.  Once you sowed a patch onto it, it's worthless as a pocket.

 I hope nobody was ever really "failed" for the answer they gave to this question.  It's not necessarily an unfair question in the abstract, but using it is the basis of a "fail" seems unreasonable.

I don't think they used it as a pass or fail question.  More just to make the scout think.  Or to judge his response.  If he said yes, it showed that he was proud of being a Scout and was not afraid to show it.  If he said no, he showed that he was honest and would admit that he wouldn't do it.

Hey, it's still a pretty cool item.

Congrats, that's quite an honor.  You'll do great.

Growing up, it was always Mr. First Name. Except 1 SM whom we called '"DOC" Last name as he was an MD.

 

Those 18-20 year olds that stayed around, depending upon whom it was , would either go by Mr. First name too (usually the younger guys) or last name only (those they grew up with)

 

Except one guy. He was THE FIRST NAME LAST NAME!  He left the troop before his ECOH, going into the USAF. He was one of my SPLs while I was a PL, and really was a great mentor. Lots of sayings he used, I used later on when I was ASPL, and even today.He came back 4 years after earning Eagle and had his ECOH. Even though he knew only a handful of Scouts, EVERYONE knew him and his sayings. One of the new Scouts asked me if he was THE_________, and when I said yes, everyone started calling him THE ______________ and was in awe of him. A true legend in his own time.

I'd love to hear some of those sayings.

http://www.patchtown.com/images/view.aspx?productId=373

I'd love to get my hands on one of those.