The Boy Scouts Of America

Discussion in 'Ethics, Morality, & Justice' started by wet1, Sep 4, 2002.

  1. wet1 Wanderer Registered Senior Member

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    8,616
    I heard something on the radio today...

    It seems the funding has been cut for the Boy Scouts of America by the United Way. The United Way has pretty much been the sole major source of funding for the Boy Scouts for the last give or take 20 years.

    What is behind this is that some years ago a man, who was a self-admitted homosexual, wanted to be a scout master. The Boy Scout authorities refused to allow this, their position that The Boy Scouts did not support such a lifestyle and did not want the boys exposed to anything of this nature while under their program.

    The issue went all the way to the Supreme Court, where the court ruled that the Boy Scouts were a private organization and as such, did not have to follow the creed of ignoring ones sexual preferences.

    However, The United Way and several other organizations, supported a more leinent stance. That gays should not be denied solely on the basis of sexual preference. To this end, eventually, The United Way denied any more funding of the Boy Scouts until the Boy Scouts fall more in line with their tenants.

    So, how say you, the members of the forum?
     
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  3. overdoze human Registered Senior Member

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    I say sexual orientation and "lifestyle" are two entirely different things. And all the bigots out there (including the Boy Scouts) who try to lump it all together can go get their asses stuffed.

    IMHO

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  5. spookz Banned Banned

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    what the hell do you mean by " get they asses stuffed'?
    bone smuggling? driving the hershey highway? plowing the back field? gardening uphill? goin' to brown town? fudge packing?

    lets keep these forums respectable if you dont mind!
     
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  7. goofyfish Analog By Birth, Digital By Design Valued Senior Member

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    I don't think it was all funding, I believe only fourteen United Way Chapters across the country defunded local Scout troops.

    The U.S. Supreme Court decided that the Boy Scouts of America are a private organization, and can ban homosexuals from participation. Certain members of The United Way don't wish for their money to be used by an organization that discriminates, and that is their right to do so, yes?

    Peace.
     
  8. Voodoo Child Registered Senior Member

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    Funny, most people think the Boyscouts is pretty gay, anyway.
     
  9. goofyfish Analog By Birth, Digital By Design Valued Senior Member

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    "Most people" meaning you and other homophobes like you?

    Peace.

    _____________
    Youth is the first victim of war - the first fruit of peace.
    It takes 20 years or more of peace to make a man;
    it takes only 20 seconds of war to destroy him.
    • -- King Boudewijn I, King of Belgium (1934-1993)
     
  10. Katazia Black Mamba Registered Senior Member

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    743
    I think the boyscouts has a predominant image of non-Gay activity, and I am sure the organizers want to keep it that way to support the organization's Christian roots. As a private organization they should have every right to organize and select/ban whoever they wish. And if they have private finances then good for them.

    The United Way, however, accepts donations from the public and many people may not agree with the funding of private organizations who have a particular bias. The result is likely that UW income might fall away.

    Perhaps a more interesting organization to examine is the YMCA which has long been seen as a training ground for homosexuals. I am too lazy to look this up but how is that organization funded?
     
  11. goofyfish Analog By Birth, Digital By Design Valued Senior Member

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    Training ground??

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  12. Adam §Þ@ç€ MØnk€¥ Registered Senior Member

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    Regardless of that organisation's ideals, they have the right to choose who they do or don't give money to. Even if I was a freaky NAZI wannabe who thought all fridges must die, I would have the right to give my money to whoever I wanted. Basically, I don't give a damn what either organisation's policies are. If they don't see eye to eye, why bother giving money over?

    Yes, I would apply this to things like charity as well. If my nation is going to give money to some poorer nation, my nation should have a say in how that money is spent. If the poorer nation doesn't like it, they can get their money elsewhere.

    If the Scouts have a problem with the whole gay thing, they should get their money from someone else who has the same views. Or they should change their own policies. One or the other. I really don't care which.
     
  13. AUSSIEABORIGINAL Abnormally original Registered Senior Member

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    114
    Although I was never a boyscout, I have always assumed that it was about sending sons to a recreational based learning organization, when at it's best. This was also the original intent of the girl scouts as well.

    I do not believe that the founding members intended to expose the children to anything other than good, wholesome fun and recreation. Therefore, the organizations of the boy and girl scouts must never have the purpose or intention to return the sons and daughters to their parents with anything other than what is promised by their mission statement, creedo, ect..

    If I were to open up a used car business, would I sell more cars by hiring fast talking, well dressed individuals, as opposed to a minonite farmer? Well, actually yes (now that I think about it), since nobody trusts used car salesman types & would trust someone of such religious conviction and honesty. (bad example, never mind)

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    :bugeye: If I were to open of a stripper club where I intended to make money from male heterosexuals, would I be more successful at hiring young, beautiful females, or would my intended clients like to see drag queens? I doubt the latter.

    Although many a Freudian follower would disagree on the ultimate purpose of the Scouts, I tend to believe that such complexities should not be assigned to these common, everyday groups for children. I also do not believe that government or other organizations should be able to interfere with the decisions of the parents to send their kids to these Scouting organizations.

    I do believe that adult role models do affect (perhaps infect) the minds of the young. In so very many ways that are yet to be understood, children pick up & immitate their adult role models. Most notably, children reflect the upbringing of their parents. Although many children do rebel and become often completely different than their parents, they are always still the result of their early role models, for better or worse.

    The affect of homosexual scout leaders on young boy scouts would be undeniable.

    Simply, there is no way that a homosexual scout leader could avoid giving off subliminal/subconscious signals, whether through his actions, his beliefs, his words, or even through the often denied--sexual opinions, even though homosexuals refute this. The fact is that most homosexuals do eventually make it a point to inform others that they have become casual and relaxed with. This is the main reasoning behind the decision to refuse employment to any adult who is "Bold" enough to publicly announce their sexual preference. In other words, if a person has the inability to keep their private (sex) lives to themselves normally, then it is indeed quite obvious that they ((s)he)) is NOT going to do any better when it comes to being a camp counselor, ect.... Hence, the mother & father of little Johnny will have their child returned to them with "teaching" that they had not intended for their child to have.

    I could go into basic evolution on this subject, but it would be redundant.
     
  14. Chagur .Seeker. Registered Senior Member

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    2,235
    The B.S.A ...

    Fuck them and their adjunct, the Sea Scouts (if it still exists).

    Back in '43 or so, wanted to join the SS, went down to the BSA
    store (yeah, NYC had one back then) and bought, along with the
    req'd. shit, a pocket watch that showed the 'watches' and 'bells'
    that I thought was neat.

    The watch crapped out a few weeks later and, being the 'take it
    apart and see what's inside' kid, I opened it up and discovered
    that the $3.50 watch was a $2.00 watch with a paper face!

    If they can do that to a naive kid, who the hell are they to get
    upset with homo's? Want to keep the 'fucking the little darlings'
    all to themselves?

    Take care

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  15. goofyfish Analog By Birth, Digital By Design Valued Senior Member

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  16. YoungWriter Audiophile Registered Senior Member

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    Such maturity

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    True.

    I recently finished my one year as Senior Patrol Leader. Our troop is about 1/3 older kids (14-15+) and 2/3 younger (14-). I had nothing but a fulfilling experience.

    There are still ways around it. Be like the Army: "Don't ask, Don't Tell" (That is the Army, right?)

    Put yourself in a parent's position: Would you want your son or daughter being under the authority of an open gay or lezbian?

    Most wouldn't.
     
  17. You Killed Jesus 14/88 Registered Senior Member

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    401
    Man, being in the scouts after 12 is embarrassing enough, try getting kicked out for being gay...

    Sorry to offend if I have, but I'm not an american and the premise of the boy scouts seems rather odd.
     
  18. YoungWriter Audiophile Registered Senior Member

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    Tis no excuse

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    . Scouting started in Europe. Specifically, England.
     
  19. grazzhoppa yawwn Valued Senior Member

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    Yep, I used to be in the Indian Guides....sort or like Boy Scouts but with less direction, we just kicked back, lit a camp fire and hung out. Who needs money to have fun in the outdoors? We just had to pay for each campout we went on and a $20 per person/per year fee, that's diddly for how much fun we had. There was a "Chief" who organized the "pow-wows" but we went with our fathers...sort of like the boy scouts but less like boarding school.

    Anyway, there would be no issue with homosexuals because

    I have not met nicer folks in my life, the fathers were having a great time...and who cares if a gay man was having fun with his kid?

    Sorry to repeat someone but I think one of the reasons they don't want homosexuals around their kids is because they don't want to tarnish their "Scout's honor" image. The boy scouts have a long history.


    Anyway, the boy scouts are joke to the media.....that South Park episode...and the Trigger Happy guy "I need my walking-old-lady's-home badge"

    And what's the point of the Boy Scouts nowadays? You don't need survival skills now...the only thing I can think of is putting it on your college application :bugeye:
     
  20. reformedtopunk got punk? Registered Senior Member

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    663
    i was in scouts for a while. i left because of the politics of it. the kids who were rich, or who's parents were leaders were pretty much in competition with people like me. *lower class, disinterested parents*. And this was no friendly competition. this was full out "we are better then you, you are shit" in so many words. it was bullshit.

    and funded by my local church, durring the time i was experiancing with wicca/satanism.

    go figure
     
  21. wet1 Wanderer Registered Senior Member

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    I was in the Boy Scouts. I found the lore taught to be excellent and some of the skills learned I have used to this day. Knot tieing is something that I have some skill at and actually use. Many marveling as to how I might have knowledge of such in this day and age. From splicing eyes, weighted ends of rope, knots, mats, and many others. I rarely tell where I learned such skills. Not that I am ashamed of the Boy Scouts, I am not, but just that I picked it up along the way.

    My camping skills were greatly increased at a young age, along with flora identification, carving, and first aid. All of which I owe to the Boy Scouts. In the military, I found that my basic campout skills were exceptional compared to those around me and many copied some of them. Things that I seemed to have had knowlegde of a long time.

    Never did I experience nor encounter any gay indications during that time. Of course that was a many a year ago...
     
  22. CounslerCoffee Registered Senior Member

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    4,997
    I was never in Boy Scouts. They are a private organization so they can have whomever they want in their club. And if the people in charge are against Homosexuality then they have that right. You cant tell private organizations what to do.
     

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