Well, life tends to require rather deep thinking on these kinds of matters. Consider, really, the implication of my statement and what denouncing it would mean. I never much liked this mentality, but sometimes its astute. “We can’t let the terrorists win.” I wont let bigots win either.
As a non-scout, maybe its harder to see, but there is a difference in “I am a Scout” and “I am a member of the Boy Scouts of America.” At one point in time both were true statements for me. The latter does not remain. I am not a member of their leadership (specifically because of this policy) and of course beyond the legal age to be a member of a troop. The BSA can deny to acknowledge my Scouthood, but they can not take it away from me either. Nor will I surrender it because the organization has lost its way.
For perspective, there are plenty of members of the BSA who are not Scouts. They do not live what that means…. and those happen to also be the ones most vocal against GSM people in their organization.
I keep having a proverb play through my head. What happens to one stone reflects upon them all.
On the surface, i’d say its a stretch the BSA is a hate group… but on the other hand, this proverb has a point that supports that assertion.
Membership policies in and of themselves aren’t enough to qualify it under the defintion you provided. From there its a very fine line, though. Its not so much that you discriminate in who can and can’t join your private club, but in how you go about it. They don’t let girls join either, and there are girls who feel equally offended and discriminated against.
(There is a seperate-but-equal argument to be made here, in regards to alternatives to getting the opportunities the Boy Scouts provides. One that scouting programs in other countries have largely addressed and that we are, naturally, behind in. Look outside the BSA and GSA though. There are others that aren’t nearly as big, and go by different names.)
Plenty of times I’ve been told, sorry, but you’re not welcome. It sucks, and it makes me angry to be excluded in something I want to be a part of, but it isn’t automatically the product of hatred. Sometimes it is, but more often than not it isn’t.
Does the BSA, as a matter of policy, advocate hatred and violence against anyone, GSM people included? No (at least not officially, and, frankly, it goes against the very core of what being a Scout is. The leadership may not get that, but it seems like there are a good number of scouts out there that do, and are advocating an end to a stupid policy.)
As there elements within the BSA that have crossed that line into what reasonable people such as ourselves can construe as hatred (if not violence)? I think the answer is absolutely.
There official policy doesn’t qualify them, but their refusal to condemn such behavior in no uncertain terms betrays that policy.
They can deny this all they want too, but when you have elements of your organization, however fringe they may be, engaging in outright hatred and hostility, then that does reflect on your organization as a whole… and spur you to do something about it.
What happens to one stone, reflects upon them all. So maybe elements of the public going down this road of labeling them a Hate Group is exactly what needs to happen to force them into dealing with it. I mean imagine if other groups came out and labeled them such!
There was a time I was a wee bit more forgiving of their policy.. back when I was in the program and we still remembered how Scouts treat people. That isn’t universally the case anymore, and that deeply saddens me.
As a Scout, however, its better that I stand with my brothers, and not against them. Those that are Scouts, anyway. There are those young men currently active in the organization that are fighting to end this. They have a real chance to bring about change and restore the BSA to its ideals. They deserve the support of not only myself, and their fellow Scouts, but non-scouts as well that understand what scouting is really all about and how this practice of theirs is not just inconsistent with American values, but rather inconsistent with Scouting values.
It’s not a very scouting way to put it.. but particularly in these kinds of things… my school of thought is “Do something. Do nothing. It’s up to you, just don’t bitch about it.”
Lots of bitching in America, not so much action. And we can’t let the terrorists win, so that’s why I make the call and remain a Scout. In spite of the BSA, if that helps.
I couldn’t not be a Scout if I wanted too. Its not what uniform I put on, or what I do with my time, its who I am. Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent…
Every single word of that law is far deeper in meaning than you will ever find in a dictionary. Only a Scout can truly appreciate it.
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