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Everything posted by acco40
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What about assigning work details as punishment? For example, many units assign latrine clean-up duty to Scouts who have not acted in an appropriate manner. What are your thoughts on that? At the National Jamboree push-ups were used as a task to gain a benefit (SEAL t-shirt, scuba pin, etc.) The boys loved the challenge! Personally, I don't like positive things used as punishment. It gives the wrong connotation to the activities. How many know judges who "sentence" someone to community service? How do you think this warps the perception of performing community service? The same goes for different forms of exercise.
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OGE, I'm no Hillary apologist but ... The thrust of the article was about illegal alien High School graduates, with good academic credentials, being able to attend colleges as "residents" and having them pay the same fees as international students. Now how did they get high school diplomas in the first place? Illegal aliens should not be working and I think (but am not sure) that public schools do not have to take them. Should we, the US, use some sort of criteria for granting citizenship for illegal aliens? If an IA graduates from a high school with an excellent citizenship and academic record should that weigh in the decision process? What about colleges grades?
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When my oldest son was four years old I was sitting on the couch with him watching the NBC news. It was about the time of the Muslim/Serb/Croat slaughtering in Bosnia/Serbia, etc. so I was watching with remote control in hand to shield my son from any explicit violence. With no cable, my channel selections were around 6 or 7 channels. I briefly came across Entertainment Tonight or some other tripe and they were showing some nubile young starlet in a bikini. I was on the channel for about five seconds and then went on to the next station. Suddenly my four year old asked me to go back to ET. Then he said, "I don't know why I like this but I do." I was somewhat surprised, amused and dare I say it relieved? Trevorum, I'm no expert on LDS but I don't think that the LDS feels that females are necessarily unfit to be Scout leaders. They do not allow them to be Scoutmasters for their units but for a different reason. For their church, Scouting is used as a young mens ministry. It is THE official youth group for boys. As such, they do not allow women leaders.(This message has been edited by acco40)
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Leaving tomorrow evening - by bus. Came back from a great backbacking trip last weekend. Been working until 10:00 PM - midnight the past few days. I start to pack a few hours before departure (helps keep the load down). Looking forward to two weeks without a (paying) job! Stop by subcamp #12 for a visit. I'll be the one sleeping.
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"Fewer and fewer Scouts are really "Scouty".
acco40 replied to Eamonn's topic in Wood Badge and adult leader training
The goals (aims) of Scouting ARE NOT to learn how to pitch a tent, cook over an open fire, learn first aid, learn orienteering, etc. They are: 1) Character Development 2) Citizenship Training 3) Mental and Physical Fitness The methods to meet these aims include the outdoors. But if computers, "urban" skills, etc. can lead to the same goals I'm all for them. The Scouting program has eight methods to use to obtain the aims but heck, if I find a ninth that works I'll use it!(This message has been edited by acco40) -
I was not aware that the government was. I know that non-citizens can go to school, get jobs, join the BSA, etc. but not illegal aliens. In fact, is "illegal immigrants" a legal term at all?
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It is difficult to separate being a parent from being a Scout leader to your son. Scatological humor is big with some 12 - 14 yr olds. Every comport seems to have some sort of "fart" joke involved. It is not my cup of tea. I try to distance myself from the boys during such times - it is not a health and safety issue, and they all seem to enjoy it in their own perverse way. As a father, I would not tolerate it at home but on an outing my son knows he has a longer leash. On the flip side, a Scout with a parent as a leader may have a different perspective. It is very natural for a son to ask his father for assistance, regardless if he needs it or not, in cooking, setting up his tent, breaking camp, etc. Why do by yourself if "dad" will help you out. I know I expect much more out of the boys during an outing than most of their parents at home. One of our "unwritten troop rules" is that a Scout may ask any adult for help as long as it is not his father or mother. This seems make the boys more reluctant to ask for help out of pure laziness. It depends on the situation but usually when a Scout asks me for help I redirect them to their PL or if a PL, the SPL/ASPL.
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On the surface, I don't think avowed homosexuals or avowed heterosexuals make good role models. Conversely, on the surface I don't think avowed homosexuals or avowed heterosexuals make bad role models. I believe both could or could not display characteristics that would make them or not make them good role models and the CO/COR should be the body that determines who would make good role models (i.e. leaders) for the specific units. I know heterosexuals that I believe have disgusting sexual behavior - the same for some homosexuals. The converse is also true. I also feel you, Rooster and others don't use certain terms the way I do. "Normal" for example. I'm left-handed (i.e. sinister - look it up). That is not normal. That, in and of itself, is neither bad nor good. Good if I aspire to be a MLB player. Bad if I want to drive a car in the USA, cut with scissors, use a door knob, operate a telephone, wear a watch, use a butter knife, write the English language with a pen or pencil, and a myriad of other things in this 8&%$!`** right-handed world (but I digress). The fact that homosexuality is or is not normal should be irrelevant to BSA membership.
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Is being a redhead a genetic defect? No, if one was born in Scotland. Yes, if one was born in Saudi Arabia. I firmly believe, even if I can't prove it, that many of our traits are due primarily to our genetic code. That does not make those traits right or wrong, sinful or free of sin but it does make them socially acceptable/unacceptable, for the good/bad of society as a whole, etc. The whole debate of nature vs. nurture, free-will vs. predestination, and on and on come into play. I would like to know why the BSA decision makers believe avowed homosexuals would not be good role models. Until they explain that, I have very little ammunition to argue with.
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Rooster, sorry but the engineer in me couldn't resist. Rooster definition - normal: i.e. as not being a sin Rooster statement: Ive never claimed to be without sin. Acco40 statement: all of us are not free from sin Acco40 postulate: If all of us are not free from sin, all of us are therefore sinful. Thus, being sinful is as normal as it gets! (This message has been edited by acco40)
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The only requirement that a family member (father/son) can't sign off is for the Board of Review. Now what is allowed and what is good practice is debatable. I am a Scoutmaster (SM) and a merit badge counselor (MBC)and while I have signed off as a MBC on some of my sons MBs and a few rank requirements, I have not given them SM conferences because I feel that I do that anyway (informally) at home and that they need to get in the habit of interacting with other adults. Not all agree with that approach mind you.
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If gay parents don't produce/raise children who are gay - that fuels those who say sexual orientation is biological (nature) and not learned behavior (nurture). (GernBlanten postulate?) If heterosexual couples can produce gay children, it fuels those who say sexual orientations is NOT biological (nature) and thus is learned (nurture). (Ed Mori postulate?) Acco40 postulate - Most behavioral psychologists believe nobody is 100% gay or 100% homosexual but that we all reside somewhere between those extremes. For example, let's say I'm 90% heterosexual and 10% homosexual. In the society that I've been exposed to homosexuality among males is ridiculed and used in a pejorative manor amongst most. Therefore, societal pressures coupled with my own "pre-wired" desires influence my sexual behavior to be 100% heterosexual. Science is now discovering differences between the "male" brain and the "female" brain and have found that many homosexual males have a "female" brain. That also describes why many transsexuals opt for surgical "corrections" today. Another biological anomaly is the fact that many babies are born with genitalia that is not 100% female or male. Societal pressures in the past have made parents/doctors choose the sex of these babies immediately after birth - the vast majority going "female" because it is much easier to "remove" so to speak than "add" surgically.(This message has been edited by acco40)
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Uh, seems to me that the author is listed on the left of every post. Why the need for a signature line?
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Our troop is going camping this weekend (Thur - Sun) so we had a "mini" Jambo meeting last night because we will miss our contingent troop's last meeting on Sunday. I'm geeked. P.S. Council has already started to push the World Jamboree. Any idea what the Central Region "gateway" city is (or will be?). Stop by Subcamp 12, Troop 1230 and ask for acco40!
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Please don't take this as an advertisement and no, I haven't really a clue as to what the show is really about but ... I've seen lots of promos for the new ABC TV show Brat Camp. It seems on the surface to be an intense Scouting program, condensed into 60 days, for wayward teens. Comments?
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Two-beader - Wood Badge course graduate (finished ticket too) Three-beader - Wood Badge staffer (satisfactory completed staffing of a Wood Badge course) Four-beader - Wood Badge course director Five-beader - any takers? (it DOES exist).(This message has been edited by acco40)
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Rooster, I may be wrong but I don't think the BSA has a position paper that states that they believe homosexuality to be immoral. Not the best role model is the language (paraphrased) that they use. I have a SA who smokes. His son obviously knows it. Most of the boys do to. However, he tries his best to do so out of sight of the boys. He is not banned. I don't know the legal definition of avowed. I don't hide the fact that I am married (my wife attends some troop meetings, shares my last name and is the advancement chair). But then again, I don't engage in any sexual activity with her in a Scouting environment! Am I an avowed heterosexual or not?? I would think that the BSA would be skating on very thin ice if it banned gay parents from outings. Now, if certain behaviors were demonstrated (preaching, the conservatively brandished "recruiting", etc.) that may be grounds for banishment. If a religious or group of people charter a BSA unit and their belief is that homosexuality is immoral - I guess they could ban self proclaimed homosexuals from attending functions but I'm not sure. Maybe that would be similar to LSD units excluding female leaders?(This message has been edited by acco40)
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This gets a little off tangent but ... My oldest son wears a strange combination of epaulets. He wears light blue epaulets with a gold embroidered wolf with a thin red epaulet around the right one. Now how did this occur? Three years ago I attended the Dorchester International Brotherhood Camporee (near London Ontario). While there, I purchased two sets of epaulets - the ones used by the Beavers (yellow) and Wolf (light blue). These are part of the official Scouts Canada uniforms for their Scouts of younger ages (I was a WDL at the time and bought them to show my Webelos Scouts.) Two years ago, my son attended the council JLT course (Top Knot - now NYLT) and was a member of the "red" patrol. Each patrol received a colored epaulet about 3/4 the width of the standard one. A year and a half ago, he attended an OA conclave. The Lodge Chief asked to borrow a red epaulet for a Vigil ceremony (don't ask) and he volunteered his. He ended coming home with one with the promise of having the missing one returned. So now, needing a pair of matching epaulets (and being almost 15 and wanting to be different), he "borrowed" my Scouts Canada light blue epaulets and on the right wears his red patrol "mini-epaulet." Assuming he is the only Scout in the civilized world to do this, if you see him please confront him in your best uniform police voice and ask him what would your father think!
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"It seems perfectly reasonable to me, if homosexuality is deemed by the BSA to be unacceptable behavior, which precludes one from membership then a troop should be able to prevent parents who claim to embrace that behavior from attending a Scouting event. " Rooster, that is my objection - the BSA has not defined homosexuality as a behavior! I believe all of my children are heterosexual - and celibate. I drink alcohol on occasion (never during BSA activities). The BSA does not ban me from outings.
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It IS in there. (I'm personal fitness MB counselor who is phat!)
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Trevorum, I trust your judgement but could a female district committee/commissioner volunteer wear silver if she was in a Cub Scout only type position (Unit Commissioner to a Cub Scout Pack, Cub Scout Roundtable, Cub Scout Training, etc.). I know that most wear the tan but ...
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"We only allow the web belt and the blackish/grey metal neckerchief slide." The blackish/grey metal neckerchief slide is a no-no. If you really want to be strict you can follow the rules: Official national jamboree uniform: Scout shorts Scout visored cap or jamboree cap Scout shirts, short-sleeve casual Scout khaki web or leather belt Scout socks (official red top) Jamboree neckerchief Jamboree neckerchief slide Jamboree troop numerals Jamboree jacket (optional) (jamboree jacket emblem optional)
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"In fact, our Scouts said the other boys in that Troop thought it was funny and that they had gotten away with it." There is the key. If your Scouts (oops, the Scouts that are in the troop which you serve) feel that they are being punished by being forced to wear a uniform and act "respectful" while another troop does not and "gets away with it" you have a tough row to hoe. If your Scouts felt pride in the way they themselves acted and felt glad they did not bring disrespect or dishonor to their troop like the other boys - you have a great group of boys. In either case, don't worry about the other troop but the boys in your own. I was extremely proud of one of our PLs and our SPL last year at summer camp when on their own they pointed out another troop bad behavoir to their fellow troopmates and made of point of telling them that is NOT how we act. They had pride in themselves, their patrol and their troop.
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Yes, I've had problems with achieving the proper height-weight ratio. I've been trying for years and years to increase my height to make is proper for my weight but no matter what I try I don't have any success. Any suggestions?
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Last night was our final National Jamboree committee meeting and during that time they passed around a brochure about the 2007 World Jamboree (100th year of Scouting!) in London. I was all pumped up to go and then this morning I hear about the terrorist attacks in London. That WILL NOT prevent me from going but I've already had moms ask me about security at Fort A.P. Hill. I'm afraid as the more our culture and way of life are attacked by terrorists, the easier it will be for our society to slip into a cautionary mode similar to interring the Japanese during WWII. No, I have no solutions just worries at the moment. Right now, it has no effect on my children thank God. If anything, the WOSM should do more to unite us than divide us. I wonder what will happen in Tunisia late this summer with the Breaking Down Barriers theme. Yikes! How did this fall under Council Relations?(This message has been edited by acco40)