I’ve always seen “boy scouts” as pre-military conditioning. Therefore, I am reminded of the movie, “Full Metal Jacket”, when the drill sargeant says: We give thanks to god for bestowing upon us the ability to kill without hesitation, and in return for this favor, we keep heaven stocked with fresh souls.”

Classic stuff,

NeoWolfe

I recently went to a school board sub-committee meeting to argue against the Boy Scouts’ request to have teachers hand out their literature in classrooms. (Fortunately, the board is leaning towards not allowing ANY groups to have their info given out by teachers.)

I find this group particularly annoying, though, because although they ARE a religious group (I did a bunch of research, and the God-related stuff they require the boys to do goes way beyond just pledging to honor him, etc.), they don’t stress that in their appeal to the kids. If a church-related Christian or Jewish organization came into the schools and tried to recruit kids, at least I could tell my 6-year-old son, “That club is only for kids who belong to that religion.” But it’s a lot harder to explain to my son that he wouldn’t be allowed to join a group that claims to be all about camping trips and pinewood derbies.

It would take: time, money and serious dedication. Sadly I’m just not up to those three things right now.

Perhaps somebody is though.

By definition, private groups discriminate! This is only logical.

David attempts to tag a private group with the definition of “discrimination” used for PUBLIC groups. You know, the one where you can’t discriminate based on race, color, creed.

Therefor, the Boy Scouts cannot be guilty of “discrimination” as Dave and others use the term.

The problem is this PRIVATE group uses locations paid for with PUBLIC tax dollars. Libraries, fire houses, military bases.

Re-read this paragraph from the post:
They are the only discriminatory private group that gets government funding and LOTS of publicly-funded/endorsed special privileges (pulling kids out of public school, free meeting space at the firehouse, etc), and THAT’S illegal, unless the same would be available to any other discriminatory private group.

In contrast, the klan is a PRIVATE group that receives no PUBLIC funding or use of PUBLIC property for meetings. If they chose to discriminate and prevent people from being members that’s fine because they receive no PUBLIC funding. If tax dollars were used to support that particular group I doubt people would allow them to continue their discriminatory ways.

Back on track…

I wonder why past Presidents didn’t know about the “mythical” ban…I guess they never got the memo…

“For almost a century, the Boy Scouts of America have helped to make volunteer service an American ideal.

President Clinton

“As a former volunteer Scout leader … I am greatly impressed by the role of your fine program in our national life. It is a constructive initiative on the part of young Americans to explore career interests and to become better prepared for a more satisfying and rewarding future.”

President Carter

As I applaud your past, I also urge you to rededicate yourselves to the ideals of the Scout Oath, and to reaffirm your obligations to your God and to your country. In so doing, you will contribute to the strengthening of America’s heritage and thereby to the realization of our common goals in the Great Society.”
President Johnson

“In a very real sense, the principles learned and practiced as Boy Scouts add to the strength of America and her ideals.”

President Kennedy

What a greater nation this would be if the principles of Scouting could be woven more closely into our daily lives.

President Truman

I love this one…I wonder why there was no outcry from even the farthest fringe corner of America claiming a vilolation of the “myth”…?

We must make sure that those volunteer agencies which are supplementing the church, the home, and the school by providing programs that will help equip the present generation to cope with life problems in the difficult days ahead are maintained to their maximum capacity and effectiveness.”

President Roosevelt

President Wilson signed a bill on June 15, 1916, which was passed by both Houses of Congress by unanimous consent, granting the organization (the Boy Scouts) federal incorporation.

President Wilson

Yes, there is FREEDOM of association. Unless the government feels that certain people associating together is a bad thing. At that point they lose that freedom. Ask you local bikers how the feel about brothers that can’t wear the colors anymore because the government thinks it’s “too dangerous” for them to associate. “Oh but those are criminals!” the voices cry out from the dark. Yes, they are. But where does it stop?

Take a good look around you sometime and realize how many of your Constitutional rights you give up every day. By law you can stand on the sidewalk and try to convert people to Christianity or away from it. That is Constitutionally protected speech. When you go on your unpaid lunch break at work stand up in the break room and see if you still have that same freedom.

Don’t want to take that risk? Ok, start a MySpace or Facebook page where you make very negative posts about your employer and ensure your co-workers know about it. See how long you keep your job. I watched the termination process happen at my job today for a lady that said very profane things about her supervisor and the company on her MySpace page. She didn’t work on it using a company computer or while she was on the clock. As part of the IT dept I was responsible for verifying this. So why did they fire her? Part of the job agreement was that she would not reveal corporate information in a public manner without prior approval. She gave her supervisor’s name, her employer’s name, her job description and additional duties on her MySpace without receiving prior approval. So much for the 1st Amendment. I know, I know…she can sue! No, Florida is a “work at will” state. Legally she can be fired with no reason given beyond “She’s not a good fit for us.”

Freedom of association is not in the wording of the US constitution.

Neither is the phrase “Separation of Church and State”…

And your point is…?