Boy Scouts

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

So what do y'all think of the decision the BSA made to allow openly gay kids in the organization?

What about the churches that are deciding to break away from the scouts?

I think that the BSA has every right to decide to allow whoever they want in the organization and it should be their decision. The only concern I had over the whole thing was that it seemed like a private organization got bullied into doing something it may not have done on its own. I think the churches have every right to decide they don't support the decision or that it goes against their belief, and pull away from the BSA. It seems to me that both are doing what they feel is best for their organizations.

I did find it odd that the BSA stopped short in the policy change. Why just allow openly gay kids and not allow openly gay adults as leaders?

jgriffith · Posted: May 29, 2013 8:42 am Post subject:

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

The Boy Scouts should be as asexual as possible. I know the LGBT advocacy community is pushing their way into things left and right these days but the organization is not centered around sexuality so this should be a non-issue.

goofyboy · Posted: May 29, 2013 9:12 am Post subject:

It should be along the lines of don't ask, don't tell, don't care. They are there to learn how to build a fire and shoot a bow and arrow. If you have a gay troop member, great, he's gay. Don't bring it up. There should not be any bullying of any type in the troop, so that should not be an issue. There should not be any slanderous language toward any group of people in the scouts, as that goes against their honor code. Just let the kids be kids and teach them to be good people.

GnarShredd · Posted: May 29, 2013 9:41 am Post subject:

They're a private organization who can do what they want but the only reason it's such a big deal is because of dickhead bigot parents wanting something to bitch about. Kids don't care, It should be a non-issue for the reasons goofyboy mentioned.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

GnarShredd, it's an issue because the LGBT advocates were lobbying and making a public ordeal about the BSA policy. This involved calling on the government to remove their tax exempt status.

pet575 · Posted: May 29, 2013 10:57 am Post subject:

[quote="jgriffith"]

jgriffith · Posted: May 29, 2013 11:06 am Post subject:

GnarShredd · Posted: May 29, 2013 11:34 am Post subject:

Nor*Cal, I did not realize, ignorant on the issue since it doesn't really affect me. I just get bummed out when people hate others for no reason. Unfortunate that either side feels like they have to make this an issue when they could just let kids be kids.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

Don't they have female den leaders? I thought I recalled that being fairly normal when I was in scouts, but that was a long time ago so my memory of the situation may be a little off.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

i hope this turns every cub/webelo/boy scout gay and the far right's nightmare comes to fruition.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

My nephew was in scouts and I was super stoked to take him hunting with us for the first time this past fall. When I began inquiring about his scout knowledge he had nothing to offer for woodsmanship. He couldn't light a fire, tie decent knots for the tent, identify plants or animals or explain basic first aid. Here I thought my nephew could have had a coming of age experience while displaying his skills.

When I asked what they did in scouts he told me they helped with habitat for humanity and other social services....what a bunch of queers.

jgriffith · Posted: May 29, 2013 12:22 pm Post subject:

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Nor*Cal, nope, but they'd load them right in to the female scout leader's Subaru for that weeklong trip and not bat an eyelash. Idea

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

nmballa · Posted: May 29, 2013 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: Boy Scouts

brew · Posted: May 29, 2013 4:32 pm Post subject:

The issue is that most Scout troops, at least in our area, are church supported and have very conservative backing. This rule change will end the Boy Scouts where I'm located as the churches will pull their support and the large donors will pull out. Our local office is projecting that their donations will be cut in half and the membership is going to drop by a similar margin. I'm not even sure the policy change has an effect here on who would have been in the Scouts, but the impact will be significant.

Not saying it's right or wrong or anything else, I'm just telling you the local impact of the policy change in our region. Maybe nationally the organization will come out stronger (the Boy Scouts had a positive impact on my life, so I hope that's the case), but in the South it's going to be interesting.[/quote]

jgriffith · Posted: May 29, 2013 5:30 pm Post subject:

I wonder if these churches would kick out openly gay members?

The boy scouts had a policy excluding gays, do the churches have the same? If not I see a little hypocrocy

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

pet575 · Posted: May 30, 2013 11:24 am Post subject:

Everyone make sure I'm not stating what I stated as fact or my own personal belief. I'm just stating what perception is for gay leaders at scout camp. I think the example I gave comes from the general misunderstanding out there that gay men want to make everyone gay-men and boys alike.

I do not agree with that perception and I think it is ignorant. As NorCal said, homosexuality does not equal pedophilia.

Conversely, that is why I have no problem with a male leader taking a bunch of girl scouts camping for the same amount of time.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

CA State Senate voted and passed legislation yesterday to remove the tax exempt status of the BSA.

jgriffith · Posted: May 30, 2013 11:39 am Post subject:

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

jgriffith · Posted: May 30, 2013 4:43 pm Post subject:

California's constitution bans gay marriage right? The government discriminates at the same time they punish others for discriminating in the same way.

goofyboy · Posted: May 31, 2013 3:24 am Post subject:

I don't know if the constitution bans it, but they did pass a law banning it. The difference is that the law was passed by the people. The tax exemption was done by the sitting government.

Okie - that is an interesting question. It really shows the hipocracy of some churches. God is supposed to be the only judge. The church is supposed to help you live a sin free life to get to God. However, these churches are deciding what sins are are worse than others. Do they kick out the guy that cheats on his wife? What about the glutton that eats 8000 calories a day? Or the sloth that won't work because welfare is easier??

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

goofyboy, Prop 8 added the language to the constitution banning it, and yes it was a ballot initiative. We are going to find out in the next few weeks whether or not SCOTUS lets it stand.

Saying that "some" churches are hypocrites is being very kind.

goofyboy · Posted: May 31, 2013 7:47 am Post subject:

ah, so it was a constitutional addition.

and yes, i was being kind when i said some.

Rhawn · Posted: May 31, 2013 8:05 am Post subject:

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

I don't want to get into a biblical discussion all around various topics, but I will say this. The conclusion that God or Christianity approves of slavery can be shown to be false when scripture is read and understood in context. That same can be said regarding the treatment of women.

I don't live in the society or time those scriptures refer to, and the reason for slavery that existed back then is not really in place today. So, no, I don't follow that and there is no reason to follow that in our modern times. Although, you could say we are indirectly involved in slavery today when you look at the way our system is set up and what slavery in the biblical times was all about.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

goofyboy, yup, it is something interesting to ponder isn't it? Not very many churches are looking at things correctly in that respect, if you strictly look at it from a biblical perspective.

Rhawn · Posted: May 31, 2013 8:56 am Post subject:

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

Actually, you're the one picking and choosing out of the Bible to make the point you seem to think is correct. To fully understand the few scriptures you picked out you need to truly know the whole Bible and understand the context, as well as the culture of the day.

Do you know why people were slaves in that day and age?

Do you know how the slavery of that day compares to the slavery we know in this country?

Do you know why there were specific instructions to the people of that day that those scriptures are referring to?