Freethought & Rationalism Archive

crazyfingers · 09-28-2002, 03:08 PM

I'll be sending this off to my town paper.

Quote:

Boy Scouts letter

I read with interest last week�s story on Sharon�s Boy Scout Troop 95 winning the Apache Relay. In many ways the Boy Scouts do many good things in the community. However it�s unfortunate that the story also sidestepped an issue that few people know about. The story said that the Troop �welcomes and includes scouts of all faiths�. While technically correct, it sidesteps the fact that that the Boy Scouts of America discriminates on the basis of religion against people without a religious faith. That is in fact so.

While the Old Colony Council, the regional Council under which Sharon resides, has, to their great credit, gone against the national BSA on the issue of excluding gay scouts, they have not gone against the national BSA on the issue of religious discrimination. In short, any potential scout, or an adult who may wish to be a scout leader, must believe in a supreme being or they are excluded. About 10% of the US population do not believe in a supreme being and have no religious faith. These people are just as moral and are just as good citizens as those people who do have a religion. However in its� religious bigotry, the BSA excludes these people.

The US Supreme Court recently ruled that the BSA has the right to discriminate based on their religious beliefs. However that doesn�t mean that people of good will should not pressure the BSA to reform their discriminatory policies based on religion. Under their current policy, Ted Williams would not have been allowed to coach a Boy Scout baseball team and boys would not have benefited from his involvement, just because Ted Williams was an atheist. The BSA needs to reform and stop discriminating against millions of good people solely based on their lack of religious beliefs.

The Boy Scouts might listen to the President: "...we've got to recognize in our society that strong values are shared by good people of different faiths, and good people who have no faith at all. These are universal values, values we share in all our diversity: Respect, tolerance, responsibility, honesty, self-restraint, family commitment, civic duty, fairness and compassion. These are the moral landmarks that guide a successful life. " - -President G.W. Bush

But will the Boy Scouts take that advice?

Edit: I received an email from one of our users and added the paragraph below. It might appeal to BSA supporters. But it's hard to believe I actually quoted Dubya to support my point! For once I agree with the guy.

[ September 28, 2002: Message edited by: crazyfingers ]</p>

gravitybow · 09-28-2002, 03:24 PM

CF:
This Eagle Scout wants to thank you for your Letter to the Editor. What's the name of the paper? Are they on the Internet?

crazyfingers · 09-28-2002, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gravitybow:
CF:
This Eagle Scout wants to thank you for your Letter to the Editor. What's the name of the paper? Are they on the Internet?

G,

I sent you an email. I don't want to post it here because with that info, any Worrier for God could learn my name and number.

Buffman · 09-28-2002, 05:06 PM

As a former Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow member, Den Chief and Asst. Scoutmaster, I wish to also thank you.

Try as I might to identify the specific members of the National Council and Executive Board of the BSA, to see if I could determine other interrelationships with radical religionists, I could not find a list of members. I did find the following of interest:

<a href="http://www.usscouts.org/aboutbsa/rpa1991.html" target="_blank">http://www.usscouts.org/aboutbsa/rpa1991.html</a>

<a href="http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/New/Attempt/BSA-0202-Resolution/bsa-0202-resolution.html" target="_blank">http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/New/Attempt/BSA-0202-Resolution/bsa-0202-resolution.html</a>

<a href="http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/God-Top/god-top.html" target="_blank">http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/God-Top/god-top.html</a>

<a href="http://www.scoutingforall.org/aaic/resolution.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.scoutingforall.org/aaic/resolution.shtml</a>

<a href="http://mail.bsaprotest.org/pipermail/bsaprotest/2001-February/000007.html" target="_blank">http://mail.bsaprotest.org/pipermail/bsaprotest/2001-February/000007.html</a>

<a href="http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?c=xds&terms=Members+of+National+Executiv e+Board&x=62&y=3" target="_blank">http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?c=xds&terms=Members+of+National+Executiv e+Board&x=62&y=3</a>

(Extract)
To further our values and faith-based mission to serve young people and their families, the growth of traditional membership and units is essential.
(End extract)

<a href="http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?c=xds&terms=Members+of+National+Executiv e+Board&x=62&y=3" target="_blank">http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?c=xds&terms=Members+of+National+Executiv e+Board&x=62&y=3</a>

(See Religious Emblems...Getting Started)

[ September 28, 2002: Message edited by: Buffman ]</p>

09-28-2002, 06:08 PM

As long as the boy scouts recieve the same rights as other religions (including no government funding), I will fight for their right to discriminate, although, I think its horrible and ignorant.

crazyfingers · 09-28-2002, 06:19 PM

<a href="http://xxx.infidels.org/~nap/bsa_government_grants.html" target="_blank">BSA Councils and trust funds receiving government grants </a>

Also:

Quote:

The U.S. Congress chartered Boy Scouts of America in 1916, with the declared purpose of promoting "the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others, to train them in scoutcraft, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues."

There is no mention of a religious purpose, obviously, since our secular U.S. Congress could not have chartered a religious organization. Imagine if Red Cross, which also has a Congressional charter, demanded to know whether victims of natural disaster believed in God before being willing to help them!

BSA would not be the large, successful group it is today without public sponsorship. It demands the privileges and funding of a public-sponsored organization, but refuses to honor its public duty to be nondiscriminatory in its policies and functions. Among the privileges BSA receives:

The nominal "Commander in Chief" of BSA is the President of the United States.

It receives direct federal funding through the Combined Federal Campaign. (Federal employees can get paid leave to fund-raise for CFC groups.)
Its primary recruiters traditionally have been public school teachers.

It traditionally receives free rental from public schools. Half of all Scout units have been directly sponsored by public schools and school boards.

BSA uses local, state and federal buildings, parks and property free of charge or with major fee breaks, such as the rental for the token fee of $1.00 of Ft. Camp Hill, Virginia, for the Boy Scout annual Jamboree.

Boy Scouts has been recognized and advertised on U.S. postage stamps.

Another major sponsor is the PTA, a group set up to enhance the experiences of all students in the public schools.

Additionally, a significant percentage of BSA's overall funding is from United Way, whose own "Eligibility Criteria for Organizational Membership" (adopted by National Congress, November 30, 1972) reads: "Faithfully adheres to a policy of nondiscrimination with respect to age, sex, race, religion, and national origin in connection with the makeup of its governing body, committees, and staff and the persons whom it directly and indirectly serves." United Way of America advertises that "every group receiving funds ... maintains a policy of nondiscrimination."

Since BSA has redefined itself as a private club with a religious test for membership, its Congressional charter, government/public school subsidy, and United Way funding must be dropped. But why would it wish to discriminate?

<a href="http://www.ffrf.org/issues/bsa.html" target="_blank">Source</a>

galiel · 09-28-2002, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by himynameisPwn:
<strong>As long as the boy scouts recieve the same rights as other religions (including no government funding), I will fight for their right to discriminate, although, I think its horrible and ignorant.</strong>

So, now that you know that they receive government funding, are government chartered and benefits from free use of taxpayer-funded facilities, such as public schools, will you now fight AGAINST their right to discriminate?

Buffman · 09-28-2002, 10:53 PM

More insight into the BSA Federal Charter.

<a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:h.r.04892:" target="_blank">http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:h.r.04892:</a>

<a href="http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/bsa6.htm" target="_blank">http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/bsa6.htm</a>

Oxidizing Material · 09-29-2002, 04:28 AM

I was kicked out of Scouts.

Corey Hammer · 09-30-2002, 05:11 AM

As an Eagle Scout, former Assistant Scoutmaster, Order of the Arrow member, and camp staffer, I thought your letter was great.

The Scouts need to make some changes.

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09-28-2002, 03:24 PM	#2
gravitybow Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Washington, NC Posts: 1,696	CF: This Eagle Scout wants to thank you for your Letter to the Editor. What's the name of the paper? Are they on the Internet?

09-28-2002, 05:06 PM	#4
Buffman Beloved Deceased Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: central Florida Posts: 3,546	As a former Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow member, Den Chief and Asst. Scoutmaster, I wish to also thank you. Try as I might to identify the specific members of the National Council and Executive Board of the BSA, to see if I could determine other interrelationships with radical religionists, I could not find a list of members. I did find the following of interest: <a href="http://www.usscouts.org/aboutbsa/rpa1991.html" target="_blank">http://www.usscouts.org/aboutbsa/rpa1991.html</a> <a href="http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/New/Attempt/BSA-0202-Resolution/bsa-0202-resolution.html" target="_blank">http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/New/Attempt/BSA-0202-Resolution/bsa-0202-resolution.html</a> <a href="http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/God-Top/god-top.html" target="_blank">http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/God-Top/god-top.html</a> <a href="http://www.scoutingforall.org/aaic/resolution.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.scoutingforall.org/aaic/resolution.shtml</a> <a href="http://mail.bsaprotest.org/pipermail/bsaprotest/2001-February/000007.html" target="_blank">http://mail.bsaprotest.org/pipermail/bsaprotest/2001-February/000007.html</a> <a href="http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?c=xds&terms=Members+of+National+Executiv e+Board&x=62&y=3" target="_blank">http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?c=xds&terms=Members+of+National+Executiv e+Board&x=62&y=3</a> (Extract) To further our values and faith-based mission to serve young people and their families, the growth of traditional membership and units is essential. (End extract) <a href="http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?c=xds&terms=Members+of+National+Executiv e+Board&x=62&y=3" target="_blank">http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?c=xds&terms=Members+of+National+Executiv e+Board&x=62&y=3</a> (See Religious Emblems...Getting Started) [ September 28, 2002: Message edited by: Buffman ]</p>

09-28-2002, 06:08 PM	#5
himynameisPwn Guest Posts: n/a	As long as the boy scouts recieve the same rights as other religions (including no government funding), I will fight for their right to discriminate, although, I think its horrible and ignorant.

09-28-2002, 10:53 PM	#8
Buffman Beloved Deceased Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: central Florida Posts: 3,546	More insight into the BSA Federal Charter. <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:h.r.04892:" target="_blank">http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:h.r.04892:</a> <a href="http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/bsa6.htm" target="_blank">http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/bsa6.htm</a>

09-29-2002, 04:28 AM	#9
Oxidizing Material Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Somewhere where I don't know where I am Posts: 2,069	I was kicked out of Scouts.

09-30-2002, 05:11 AM	#10
Corey Hammer Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 368	As an Eagle Scout, former Assistant Scoutmaster, Order of the Arrow member, and camp staffer, I thought your letter was great. The Scouts need to make some changes.

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