Tired_Eagle_Feathers

Thanks for that, Fred. Certainly puts things in the light that I understood them to be all along. It seems clear to me that the BSA did the best it could in keeping track of harmful people. I wonder if they still maintain such a list or have abandoned it due to potential liability?

I've been reading about this, and evidently there is significant liability that could fall on the individual board of directors if a troop self-charters by making itself a 501c3. In addition, the problem is that the BOD will constantly be changing as parents come and go in the troop. But whatever we do we need to move away from counting on external charter organizations propping us up.

Well what was the point of having the pervert files?!?!

Both things can be true. There has definitely been an ongoing attempt to undermine American institutions for most of my life. Anything that promotes patriotism and pride in America is under attack. "Nationalism" is now a dirty word. There are many who want to see institutions like BSA fail. A nation full of people who do not love their country is easy to divide. As for the child abuse, I personally think the BSA did the best it could in the times it operated. The earliest entry in the P-list is like 1912 or so. There were no computer databases back then - even into the 70s.

The Scout Oath and Law are fantastic, and have been fantastic guidelines for decades. They were good enough for decades, and they are good enough now. I was having a discussion with one scout and he said something like, "Aren't we already including everybody?" And I said, "Yes. The Boy Scouts is one of the most inclusive organizations you will ever find. The Scout Oath and Law pretty much guarantee it." I don't think anyone is afraid of having conversations about differences. What people have a problem with is when the differences start being used as metrics for enforced equality

Based on the conversations I've had with Scouts, and listening in to others while they were taking the merit badge, there is a situation, and the kids know it. In fact, given the often-cagey responses from the adults concerning the badge, they know it, too. Most worrisome is that people are clearly afraid to talk about it openly. Because it is. Not only that, it is, in my estimation, immoral. The merit bade speaks to "equity" and "equality". In the context of organizations with DEI efforts, these always, always end up being punitive in nature. The left has done a fantastic jo

The best way to help with this situation is become a merit badge counselor for this badge so you can make sure it gets taught properly.

If you know, you know. If you don't, you won't.

Our kids are wise to it.

This whole thing reminds me of how strange it is that troops need a charter organization at all. They should be able to self-charter and just rent a meeting location.

Traditionally and historically, churches have been exempt from certain kinds of taxes.

Girl Scouts is also suffering declining numbers. It's a shame.

I personally don't have a problem with the fees. BSA has been hammered with this lawsuit. It costs money to run BSA. Everything is more expensive these days. Scouting is in decline, so the burdens will fall to fewer to pay.

There is no doubt that our history has led to where we all are today. The past created our present. So a lot of people today are behind the eight-ball from the outset. It will take generations to right the ship. But, we've now also had generations of a relatively level playing field. My parents, born in the mid 1940s, were born poor. My dad's family had to get water in a bucket from the neighbor to flush their toilets. My mother was slightly better off but they did not own their own home when she was growing up, had ice delivery long after refrigerators were mainstream, and had no h

I don't know what this means.

Of course, but that is the bulk of it, and what matters to the kids.

I want to clarify here: I am not saying there are not differences between boys and girls. Of course there are. What I'm saying is that with regards to activities in scouting, there is no difference between boys and girls. In other words, there is nothing in the Scout Oath or Law or scouting activities like hiking, camping, watersports, etc. where your sex makes any significant difference. There is essentially one prerequisite for participating in scouting: enjoying outdoors activities. If you enjoy outdoor activities, then scouting will appeal to you, regardless of your sex.

I disagree with the idea the idea that "only boys are interested in action and adventure" and "girls are interested in planning menus". I think the "action and adventure" available through Scouting appeals to boys and girls equally. I also disagree with the assessment that logistical planning is not in the boys' "wheelhouse". I can't think of a single Scouting activity that wouldn't appeal to outdoor-oriented girls the same way it appeals to outdoor-oriented boys. I do not think this is an issue in mixed-gender Scouting.

I fully expected Scouting to go co-ed when they started having girl troops. On one hand, I believe that we are in an era of equality now and not only do girls deserve to have the same opportunities as boys in Scouting but boys need to learn how to function in a co-ed environment of equality. More women than men go to college now and so most men will be working for women in the near future. On the other hand, there is absolutely no denying that boys will behave differently in co-ed environments. Boys will "macho up" when there is the possibility of looking weak in front of girls. I

I think any "goals" that relate to group identity are woke and unnecessary. Scouting is Scouting. It appeals and us open to everyone from all races, creeds, and nationalities who believe in the ideals of scouting. As long as this attitude is preserved, then the chips fall where they may, and everyone who wants to participate can. That's not a risk, that's pretty much a certainty. DEI always ends up chasing arbitrary target numbers, and they will monkey with things however they can get away with to then achieve them. Maybe, DEI will be content with outreach programs to advert

I have no idea what OAN is nor do I see what "Antifa" has to do with this. I agree, the current incarnation of the new merit badge is fairly tame. But there is a saying: "Once you let the nose of the camel in your tent before you know it you have the whole camel in your tent." All of this woke stuff was pretty tame years ago and look where we are now.

I've actually considered becoming a merit badge councillor for this badge just so I could make sure it gets taught properly.

Time will tell. Every DEI I've ever encountered does these things. It's why they exist. I just can't believe this woke stuff has penetrated the Boy Scouts of America of all things.

Let's not conflate charity - voluntary giving, with forced giving. Our troop has funds to help kids who may be financially unable to do things. This is totally different from the aims of DEI as I have seen it elsewhere where the objective always ends up enforced equality that comes at an involuntary cost to others, and usually results in demonstrable negative effects for the non-beneficiaries (driving everyone towards mediocrity). DEI groups always seek to justify their existence. This means right away they start tracking numbers so they can point out inequities. And then the follow-o

Like I said, "If your idea of equity/equality means that everyone has the right to participate in something and give it the old "college try" with whatever they came to the game with, then sure, that's my idea of equity/equality." It's your responsibility and (and your parents, and their parents before them) to build up generational excellence to gain the advantages thereby. It's not anyone else's responsibility to take a handicap to make someone else equal in the starting lineup. The whole point of building generational excellence is to make sure that you get a head start in the race.