Originally Posted By DouglasDubh Today is the 100th anniversary of the charter of the Boy Scouts of America. As the dad of a boy working on his Eagle, I hope the BSA continues for at last another century, making young men more self-reliant and better citizens.
Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF >>I hope the BSA continues for at last another century, making young men more self-reliant and better citizens.<< But...ONLY if they're straight, Christian(ist) young men! And preferably Republican.
Originally Posted By dlkozy Happy Birthday BSA! Good luck on your son's Eagle, DouglasDubh. My son has just finished all the work, packet is in-we are almost done! YEAH!
Originally Posted By mawnck >>I find these attempts at blatant trolling to be pretty hilarious.<< And this one would have been SO easy to just stay out of .....
Originally Posted By onlyme >...And preferably Republican.< Yes, I distinctly remember all of my fellow troop members going to the polls and voting for Nixon.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I find these attempts at blatant trolling to be pretty hilarious.>> If someone else had wished the BSA happy anniversary, would it still be trolling?
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Proud to have been involved in Scouting and have earned my Eagle badge. (Also made the Order of the Arrow.) As a Scout I visited Yosemittee and hiked through the volcanoes of Hawaii so it certainly had a postive impact on me. Moreover, I'm sure I learned a great deal about independence from participating in Scouting. My grandfather was the Ranger of a scout camp for much of my mother's life and they grew up in the camp. She really cherishes that part of her life.
Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF Hmm...that was weird... It's too bad that Camp Fire USA hasn't been able to attain the level of recognition and notice that BSA and GSA have. It's good that kids have that as an alternative.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss My sister was a Camp Fire Girl. I never went beyond being a Cub Scout Webelo; my family moved and I never hooked up with scouting again. Not that I would have become a Boy Scout anyway. I never felt like I fit in.
Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF Me either. The den mother in the neighborhood group had a thug for a son who, of course, NEVER misbehaved. I saw him at my 20th class reunion. He hadn't changed a bit.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper You know why the Boy Scouts don't sell cookies? Nobody wants to eat a cookie with "BS" stamped on it.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Happy Birthday to a flawed (like most) organization that does some great stuff but ought to welcome all.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<But...ONLY if they're straight, Christian(ist) young men! And preferably Republican.>> FWIW, there is an organization that caters to such folks: The Royal Rangers. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Rangers" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R..._Rangers</a> Apparently BSA is too inclusive for them, since they welcome Jews, Muslims, Hindus and young men of other faiths.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Count me in as another proud Eagle Scout. I feel like I really was able to get a lot out of the program, and that it made me 'cultured' in a way that's often forgotten in the modern era. Many things that I took for granted, I've seen folks struggle with throughout the years, and I attribute much of my working knowledge and self reliance to BSA. It's a shame that it's not as popular as it has been in the past, but it's still a great organization, and I hope it continues its path of very effective teaching and outdoor training.
Originally Posted By ecdc I love the Penn & Teller episode on the Boy Scouts. I'm troubled by their policies towards gays and non-Christians, and I hope someday it will change.
Originally Posted By Mr X I haven't heard anything about their policies towards non-Christians (atheists, yes, but other religions?).
Originally Posted By tiggertoo Another Eagle Scout here. The program, like most aged organizations, has had its share of black eyes. But overall, it does a lot of good for a lot of people. Happy Birthday, BSA!
