I don’t like it because here in lincoln nebraska, we have a school here where they bypassed the parents and tried to build up the idea of the boy scouts in my child’s head as such a fun thing. and hey, we already do sports and church and many other things we don’t need 64 meetings a year of boy scouts.

so that’s all they should bring this to the parents to decide this not the kids.

I find this all to be very interesting. I, personally, was a Bluebird, that’s part of what was originally known as Camp Fire Girls that was supposed to be the sister organization to the BSA. It was changed in the 70s to Camp Fire Boys and Girls when they started letting boys join and is now known as just Camp Fire USA. Although their first “law” is Worship God, they do not ask members to take an oath or anything like that. They do not discriminate based on religion or lack thereof nor do they discriminate based on sexual orientation. My partner and his sister were raised Wiccan and he WAS a Boy Scout, though I think it was only for about a year. He always said that he was only ever in it for the cookies and juice at the end of the meetings. Oh, and the match-cars, he like the match-cars. I am a Christian, a Baptist as a matter of fact and I love God and do worship Him. I would encourage my children to join such organizations as Camp Fire USA or something similar. I think they are helpful in learning teamwork and building character and confidence. However, I wouldn’t let them join the BSA simply because of the fact that they are discriminating against homosexuals. I was not aware of the religious segregation until now, yet another reason not to let my kids be a part of this particular organization. I no longer support The Salvation Army because of similar views on sexual orientation. I want to make one thing clear, as I said I AM a Christian and love God and worship Him. Not ALL Christians against homosexuals or atheists for that matter. Nor do we all say that we will “pray for them” or “love them in spite of” or other such nonsense. I have a great deal of gay, transgender, atheist, LDS, Hindu and even pagan friends and I love them because of who they are of how they define themselves not “in spite of” and I never “pray that they will find Jesus” or something. Just thought I’d mention it.

Last_Hussar:

LOL.  You make a good point; one Great Britain shares also.

But my overall point stands as I was not discussing the cost of the imporvement in the human condition, only the fact that America has contributed more than her fair share to the betterment of the species. 

To be fair (and incredibly simplistic), America has also contributed more than her fair share to environmental problems worldwide also.

But, bottom line, diversity results in a stronger group, if the Boy Scouts could learn that, the world would be a better place.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The Girl Scouts are more admirable than the Boy Scouts. When they realized their bylaws would exclude some girls from participating (due to a requirement of God belief) they changed their bylaws so they could be a positive experience for ALL girls.

I was a Scout once myself. I think it has a lot to offer in general. It’s just a shame they choose to exclude certain groups. As long as they continue to do so I will refuse to support them and I will encourage others to do likewise.

Our nation has arguably done more for the advancement of, and improvement of living conditions for, the human species that just about any other on Earth.

*cough*Industrial revolution *cough*

The problem with a “higher power” is it is all too often used as a code-word for the Christian “God.”  Theists always want you to take a step toward their theory by “professing a belief” in a “higher power.”  Once there, you might as well hang out the Christian shingle and start thumping that Bible.

Nontheism is finally realizing there is no babysitter you can count on.  As such, any non-theistic person is not welcome in the Scouts and frankly, that’s extraordinarily sad.

America has become the great melting pot of the world, and has experienced wave after wave of immigration.  All of these people, from every single culture in the world have brought differing beliefs, morals, religions and attitudes to the table.  And, at the end of the day, America has been the better for it.

Our nation has arguably done more for the advancement of, and improvement of living conditions for, the human species that just about any other on Earth.  Why?  Our diversity is our strength!  It is so simple to see, yet those who are bent on a semi-theocracy model, or who simply wish to maintain petty control of others will never accept that diversity of ideas, religion, attitudes and cultures lends great strength to a society.

If the Scouts only got their heads out of their behinds and realized that it is easy to teach morals, common shared values and culture to people without having them profess a belief in some imaginary “higher power” and that the organization would be strengthened by cultural diversity, the Scouts could be a great agent for good in America.

Instead, they kick out homosexuals who have done nothing wrong, they demand that all members profess a belief in a “higher power” (code for God) and they scream like bitches when the tax money is cut off – while reminding us they are “private.”  Basically, they are spoiled children having a tantrum because they don’t get their way and long-term, they will die out because they cannot adapt.  Other groups will take their place and America will be better for it.

Coaltrain writes…

Look, I am mearly trying to point out that we are based off of some of the beliefs that this nation was founded on.

So is the Klu Klux Klan. Does that give them the same free pass you seem to want the Boy Scouts to have? Being based off some of the beliefs this nation was founded on doesn’t make your stance the right one to take. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but many of the beliefs this country was founded on have since been determined to have been faulty (e.g. slavery).

To adress that the BSA does not have religous freedom, that is only half right. While we do ask our members to have a belief in a higher being, we are open to every religon on the face of the planet that believes in a higher being, thus we are not only open to one religon which some consider religous freedom, or ones right to choose their own religon.

In other words: You are free to believe as you so choose so long as you believe in some type of “higher power.” I wonder how well that would hold up if some Satanists were to try and form a scout troop? Technically he’s a “higher power” of sorts, if you believe in that kind of nonsense.

*Edited to fix a spelling mistake in “Klux.” You can tell I don’t type that word too often.

Look, I am mearly trying to point out that we are based off of some of the beliefs that this nation was founded on. To adress that the BSA does not have religous freedom, that is only half right. While we do ask our members to have a belief in a higher being, we are open to every religon on the face of the planet that believes in a higher being, thus we are not only open to one religon which some consider religous freedom, or ones right to choose their own religon.

And, Coltain, do you realize what the phrase, “In God We Trust” means? It means all others pay cash, only God can use credit. 

Coaltrain, you are most welcome though you should really look at the date on the entries you’re replying to. I originally wrote this back in 2002 when many local and regional governments were still providing the Scouts with taxpayer dollars. To this day there are still places where the Scouts enjoy taxpayer funding and special leasing agreements that they shouldn’t.

You are quite correct that they are a private organization and thus have the right to discriminate against anyone they so choose to do so. It is that very reason that should receive no special privileges from the government in the form of special leases or taxpayer money. Discriminate if you wish to do so, but if you do you’ll do it on your own dime.

You go on to display your ignorance of history with the following:

I did use my history sir, you people have been talking about how we all believe in a higher being,or God, well look at how the United States was set up….

The United States was set up as a secular government of the people, for the people, and by the people. It is not and never was intended to be a “Christian nation.” That’s a myth perpetuated by the ignorant who wish to transform the country into a semi-theocracy.

On our money, the saying in God we trust

Your implication being that it was always there, it was not. It first appeared on the one cent coin in 1864 after Congress passed a bill allowing it. If you recall your elementary school history you’ll note the United States was founded on July 4, 1776 (somewhat ironic to be having this discussion today). That means that the phrase “In God We Trust” was first printed on U.S. coins almost 100 years after the founding of the United States. Thus the Founding Fathers had nothing to do with it.

Additionally the phrase has not been a constant presence on U.S. money having been removed and replaced several times over the centuries. And the phrase “In God We Trust” was not the national motto until 1956 when Congress, in a poorly-thought out attempt to distinguish Amercia from the Godless Commies, passed an act changing the motto.

The end of the Presidents ingural speech, so help me God.

Use of a Bible and the phrase “so help me God” at the end of the Presidential Oath is not required by law. Although a lot of folks like to claim that George Washington was the first to use it many historians dispute that claim. Even if he did he was not required to do so and it was an improvisation on his part. There have been several Presidents who have not used the phrase or have not used a Bible to swear upon. The oath itself, as it appears in the U.S. Constitution, does not include the words “so help me God.”

Hmmm….it looks like the founding fathers and the BSA had somthing in common…

Hmmm. Looks like someone is ignorant of his history…