[Vision2020] Anti-discrimination Ordinances

[Darrell Keim]

"What I don't understand is that there are a lot of "immoral" activities
besides "homosexuality" and atheism (neither one of which I consider to be
genuinely immoral). Why not explicitly list them all? You could apparently
be a thief, a liar, a rapist, etc. and the scouts don't give a damn. That's
why the restrictions are/were prejudicial in my view."

Joe:

When you join the Scouts you take an oath to "Do Your Best" to abide by a
code described in the Scout Oath and Law.

The twelve points of the Scout Law would seem to implicitly preclude
membership for rapists, thieves, etc.  I will concede that is not explicit
exclusion, as their current stance against homosexual leaders is.

Having spent nearly 10 years as a Scouting professional, and now serving as
one of the top local district leaders, I could go into great amounts of
detail about many Scouting related topics, but I will graciously save you
from the boredom.  Suffice it to say that most of their stances have to do
with how they are structured.  They are essentially a franchise, and they
license out the rights to use their program to local organizations.  Like
all franchises, those organizations own the local group, but agree to abide
by Scouting policies.  Once you realize that most (75-80%) Scouting groups
are "owned" by churches (Some of the largest users of the program are the
Catholic, LDS, Methodist and Lutheran churches), it becomes clear why they
take certain stances.


On Fri, Jun 7, 2013 at 9:56 AM, Joe Campbell <philosopher.joe at gmail.com>wrote:

> It is funny that you ask that, Wayne! Here is the BSA's statement on the
> matter:
>
> The BSA maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen
> without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout
> Oath or Promise the member declares, "On my honor I will do my best to do
> my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law."
>
> So technically, you can't be an atheist and a boy scout.
>
>
> What I don't understand is that there are a lot of "immoral" activities
> besides "homosexuality" and atheism (neither one of which I consider to be
> genuinely immoral). Why not explicitly list them all? You could apparently
> be a thief, a liar, a rapist, etc. and the scouts don't give a damn. That's
> why the restrictions are/were prejudicial in my view.
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 7, 2013 at 9:24 AM, Wayne Price <bear at moscow.com> wrote:
>
>> Tom,
>>
>> I hate to admit this, but we agree!   Now comes the question of why this
>> sponsorship was afforded to a private organization in the first place by a
>> branch of government, like the Sheriff's department, subsidized by taxes?
>>
>> I seriously run into 1st amendment issues, with a government agency,
>> supported by tax dollars, sponsoring ANY group who's basic principles
>> require an oath to " do my duty to God".
>> Does this mean that those who, for what ever reason, do not believe in
>> "God" are not welcome as they cannot take such an oath in good conscience?
>>
>>
>> Wayne
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jun 7, 2013, at 9:07 AM, Tom Hansen wrote:
>>
>> Wayne Price inquires:
>>
>> "And before some of the so called liberals on the list accuse me of
>> advocating one way or the other, does a sponsor (who ever that sponsor is)
>> have the right to bow out of a program that doesn't share it' s core
>> beliefs?"
>>
>> NOT if that sponsor is publiclly subsidized, like a county sheriff's
>> office by taxes.
>>
>> If a private entity wishes to withdraw its support for ANYTHING . . . so
>> what!
>>
>> Seeya at the Wingding, Moscow, because . . .
>>
>> "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
>> http://www.MoscowCares.com
>>
>> Tom Hansen
>> Moscow, Idaho
>>
>> "There's room at the top they are telling you still
>> But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
>> If you want to be like the folks on the hill."
>>
>> - John Lennon
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jun 7, 2013, at 8:57 AM, Wayne Price <bear at moscow.com> wrote:
>>
>> And before some of the so called liberals on the list accuse me of
>> advocating one way or the other, does a sponsor (who ever that sponsor is)
>> have the right to bow out of a program that doesn't share it' s core
>> beliefs?
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
> =======================================================
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