InquisitiveScouter

You forgot ability, ethnicity, faith and financial background. And that is the crux of my point. In listing some groups, you are showing bias against others. Ultimately, the badge is hypocritical. The "important" (sic) terms of "diversity", "equity", "inclusion", "bigotry" and "intersectionality" are all based on the controversy whirling around a current social agenda. "There are real problems with this agenda, however. The first is that it’s dangerous, in exactly the manner it is hypothetically designed to fight. The argument made by those who are truly prejudiced has always been that the differences between groups are so large that discrimination, isolation, segregation and even open conflict–including war and genocide–are necessary, for the safety of whatever group they are part of and are hypothetically protecting. Why is it any less risky for the argument to be made in the reverse manner? The claim that group-based differences are so important that they must take substantive priority during hiring and promotion merely risks validating the opposite claim." https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/blog-posts/lie-of-diversity/ This merit badge is a poison that will kill off a portion of what remains of the Boy Scouts of America.

I'm not really sure you are being serious. If so, why bother with the MB?

And Duty to God is one of the Ideals of Scouting. Ideals – The ideals of Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the Scout motto, and the Scout slogan. The Scout measures themselves against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and, as they reach for them, they have some control over what and who they become. BSA has not changed the ideals. This Merit Badge attempts to. And, since earning the MB is not required of Scouts anyway, unless they wish to attain Eagle Scout, I'm more interested in the rank requirements they are talking about, which haven't been released yet.

Yes, but there are no wrong answers to these questions. A Scout and her parents define her duty to God, and you cannot contradict her in any way.

Now there's an idea! How about a DE&I Award. Same requirements, and NOT REQUIRED for Eagle Scout. Also, no requirements in the early rank structure.

No, we don't. Scouting simply recognizes awards sponsored by various faiths.

Thanks, @fred8033 the best line in the first paper is "But perhaps holding onto old-world beliefs of biological race is implicitly supporting the ideas that make possible the manifestations of “societal race” " The only way to stop the "manifestations of societal race" is to do away with the notion that such a thing exists at all. So the true definition of racism is "any belief that race exists."

Asked and answered?

A suggested PR release from BSA: Scouts don't care about what you look like, what your parents did, or where you're from. We care about your CHARACTER. That's why Scouting is impressive and why Scouts in every country have been a force for good in the world for over 100 years, because we only care about what matters, and what matters is who you are on the inside.

A to-the-point editorial today by Tucker Carlson on FoxNews. Find and read/view The military goes woke, and the consequences could be disastrous "Over time, identity politics will destroy our country. No nation can remain unified for long if people are encouraged to think of themselves as members of competing ethnic groups first and citizens second. Countries need a reason to hang together; unity doesn't happen by accident. The fixation on race that has seized our leadership class guarantees permanent disunity. It's terrifying if you think about it, but it could be much worse." "The military, we have all been told since childhood, doesn't care what you look like, what your parents did, or where you're from. They care about your performance. That's why the U.S. military is impressive and why they've been able to keep us from being invaded, because they only care about what matters, and what matters is protecting the United States. Not any more."

@Greeneagle5, While the idea for the project itself is a good one, your friend may be cool on the idea for reasons already mentioned, and possibly because of the idea that "...this project could be continued in future years..." As adult leaders, it is inappropriate for us to commit the unit to any ongoing (or possibly perpetual) projects. Program planning is the purview of the Patrol Leaders Council. And it is for the PLC to decide whether to undertake an ongoing project. (That is most certainly off limits for an Eagle Scout candidate.) I even caution our PLC during annual planning that, if they venture down that road, a future PLC may decide to end a "commitment" they make. That is, a current PLC may not tie the hands of a future PLC. Over 15 years ago, a long gone PLC (or leader) signed us up for an adopt-a-highway. At the past seven PLC Annual Planning Conferences (we do planning semi-annually, actually) when they review our previous year and come up with a list of their desired activities, I always remind them that they are not committed to any specific activity (like a perceived "Troop tradition"). Me: "You are not obligated to do an Annual Troop Picnic, or the Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Cookout, or the two-times-a-year Adopt-a-Highway clean up. You can pick other activities if you want." PLC: "Really? We don't HAVE to do those??" Me: "Nope...don't HAVE to do them. Remember, the Committee can support almost ANYTHING you want to do, but you don't have time to do EVERYTHING you want to do." There usually follows some discussion of past instances of the "traditional" activities (nostalgia), followed with comparing priorities on their list of "want to's." PLC: "Well, we voted and decided we still want to do those things again this year." Me: "I support you 100%, and I'll recommend the Troop Committee to approve."

No way! I just found it today. Maybe my computer hacking skilz are getting better

Lol...then someone is asleep at their "narrative steering wheel". It's been there since June.

@MattR for gauging, that video was not removed by moderators at my.scouting.org https://discussions.scouting.org/t/diversity-and-inclusion-mb/172457/30

@CynicalScouter, I begin to see a way through this... I sign up as a Merit Badge Counselor for this badge. I ask the parents to discuss all these topics and do any items with their Scout. When they tell me it is complete, I sign off the badge. I think I could do that ethically. A Scout is Trustworthy!

The video is a compilation of interviews and speeches by prominent actors, performers, social activists, etc., and relates the experiences of those people with regards to whether "systemic racism" (see the MB requirements) exists, whether they experienced instances of it, what some of the facts are that people use to justify stereotypes, and appropriate response to perceived wrongs. As @fred8033 said, the video itself is respectful of these people and their views. @BamBam gave a perfect negative example of what the MB addresses with "Tell what more your unit can do to ensure anyone can participate regardless of their ability, ethnicity, faith, financial background, gender Identity, race, or sexual orientation. " in making a judgement about the validity of someones views and experiences based on their perception of the commenters' "financial background". @BamBam is "hoist with his own petard"

@EagledadBarry, thank you. What we really need is a Merit Badge that teaches classical disciplines of Logic and Rhetoric versus emotion and persuasion. https://www.hillsdale.edu/hillsdale-blog/writers/logic-rhetoric-intellectual-self-defense/#:~:text=Logic and rhetoric are the,things differently%2C but not defenselessly.

Lol, I think you meant "right", brother

@MattR On that point, I agree. The video title does enter the realm of clickbait. But the title does not diminish the importance and perspective of the thoughts, experiences, facts presented by, and advice of any of those it portrays.

@fred8033, to your point, and to move the discussion forward with you I respectfully ask you to search for a You Tube video on the interview with Mike Rowe (an Distinguished Eagle Scout, I'm sure you know) titled The Scouts' wounds are 'self-inflicted' To save those whose feelings would be hurt by the content of that video, and not to burden the thinly stretched moderator corps, I will not post the video here. It goes to the heart of the discussion here.

"must pertain to the original post and respectfully move the discussion forward." How does this not pertain to DI&E MB requirements? Req 1. The video address facts and opinions of influential people who are members of a perceived disaffected group. Helps to understand what "equity" and "bigotry" are and are not. These people are perfect examples of "upstanders." They witness unjust accusations and asperisons being cast, and they address them publicly with facts and experience. Req 2. Self-evident Req 3. Replete with examples Req 6. Yup Req 8. Yup @MattR , I respectfully disagree with your assessment. Lol, @CynicalScouter I just thought, maybe I should be a Merit Badge Counselor for this!

Please help me understand which rule this violated? Permitted and Prohibited Uses You may use the the Website for the sole purpose of sharing and exchanging ideas with other Users. You may not use the the Website to violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law, including without limitation any applicable laws relating to antitrust or other illegal trade or business practices, federal and state securities laws, regulations promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, any rules of any national or other securities exchange, and any U.S. laws, rules, and regulations governing the export and re-export of commodities or technical data. You may not upload or transmit any material that infringes or misappropriates any person's copyright, patent, trademark, or trade secret, or disclose via the the Website any information the disclosure of which would constitute a violation of any confidentiality obligations you may have. You may not upload any viruses, worms, Trojan horses, or other forms of harmful computer code, nor subject the Website's network or servers to unreasonable traffic loads, or otherwise engage in conduct deemed disruptive to the ordinary operation of the Website. You are strictly prohibited from communicating on or through the Website any unlawful, harmful, offensive, threatening, abusive, libelous, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, profane, hateful, fraudulent, sexually explicit, racially, ethnically, or otherwise objectionable material of any sort, including, but not limited to, any material that encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law. You are expressly prohibited from compiling and using other Users' personal information, including addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, email addresses or other contact information that may appear on the Website, for the purpose of creating or compiling marketing and/or mailing lists and from sending other Users unsolicited marketing materials, whether by facsimile, email, or other technological means. You also are expressly prohibited from distributing Users' personal information to third-party parties for marketing purposes. The Operators shall deem the compiling of marketing and mailing lists using Users' personal information, the sending of unsolicited marketing materials to Users, or the distribution of Users' personal information to third parties for marketing purposes as a material breach of these Terms and Conditions of Use, and the Operators reserve the right to terminate or suspend your access to and use of the Website and to suspend or revoke your membership in the consortium without refund of any membership dues paid. The Operators note that unauthorized use of Users' personal information in connection with unsolicited marketing correspondence also may constitute violations of various state and federal anti-spam statutes. The Operators reserve the right to report the abuse of Users' personal information to the appropriate law enforcement and government authorities, and the Operators will fully cooperate with any authorities investigating violations of these laws. User Submissions The Operators do not want to receive confidential or proprietary information from you through the Website. Any material, information, or other communication you transmit or post ("Contributions") to the Website will be considered non-confidential. All contributions to this site are licensed by you under the MIT License to anyone who wishes to use them, including the Operators. If you work for a company or at a University, it's likely that you're not the copyright holder of anything you make, even in your free time. Before making contributions to this site, get written permission from your employer.

Because subversion and deceit go against the Scout Oath and Law, and my own personal code of ethics.

I saw that, too.

Your statement could not be more prejudiced, bigoted, racist, and classist. And this merit badge will never help you see yourself in the mirror.