Freethought & Rationalism Archive

10-11-2002, 03:59 PM

I was a Cub Scout back in the late 1980's and at virtually every meeting we were FORCED to sing a song about the "lord" before we got snacks. I quit after few months.

Oresta · 10-11-2002, 05:50 PM

crazyfingers,
I was never, nor could ever be, an Eagle; nor could my three daughters. Nonetheless, we all thank you for your articulate,informed letter. It is an issue that reaches far beyond prepubescent boys to all of us.

crazyfingers · 10-18-2002, 03:37 PM

Yes, I'm out to educate people about the Boy Scouts.

This story appeared in the <a href="http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/291/metro/On_boards_silence_on_gay_issues+.shtml" target="_blank">Boston Globe</a> today. Romney (GOP candidate) is running for Governor.

The story does not mention discrimination against nonbelievers, just gays.

So I'm sending this off as another leter to the editor.

Quote:

Your story about Mitt Romney, "On boards, silence on gay issues" Oct 18, page B1, missed an important point that is too often overlooked. The story discussed, among other things, Romney's failure to speak out against discrimination towards gays while he was on the board of the Boy Scouts of America. The story quoted the Boy Scout resolution saying that "Duty to God is not a mere ideal for those choosing to associate with the Boy Scouts of America. It's an obligation."

The story then went on to talk about the about how this means that gays may not participate. But the story failed to point out that this also means that the BSA discriminates against people on the basis of religion; or rather nonreligion. Agnostics, secular humanists, atheists, nontheist Buddhists, anyone who can not in good conscience sign the Boy Scout form that says that one believes in a supreme being, 14% of the US population, are also excluded from participating. The nonreligious are just as moral, caring, and patriotic people as are the rest of the population. This kind of discrimination on the part of the Boy Scouts is just as immoral as their discrimination against gays.

While some would say that the Boy Scouts have the right to discriminate, people of goodwill should still put pressure on the Boy Scouts to not just stop discriminating against gays, but also to stop discrimination against the nonreligious. Between the two groups, the Boy Scouts discriminate against at least 20% of the US population on dubious moral grounds. And in the meantime, Congress should rescind the Federal Charter that the Boy Scouts enjoys, which allows the BSA to receive government benefits at the expense of those against whom the Boy Scouts discriminate.

beejay · 10-18-2002, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crazyfingers:
<strong>Well, there was a response in my town paper today. Unfortunately they seem to have forgotten to post it to the website. They did post mine.

</strong>

Your letters are excellent. Can you post the link to the town paper so we can follow your letters and responses, when posted?

crazyfingers · 10-19-2002, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by beejay:
[QB]

Your letters are excellent.

Thanks

Quote:

Can you post the link to the town paper so we can follow your letters and responses, when posted?

The town paper did not post the reply to my letter on their website. The paper yesterday, it's a Friday only paper, had nothing in.

And, since my letter identified my real name and the town I live in, I'm not too inclined to post it here.

Regarding the Boston Globe, they never post letters to the editor on the web.

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10-11-2002, 03:59 PM	#21
atheist_in_foxhole Guest Posts: n/a	I was a Cub Scout back in the late 1980's and at virtually every meeting we were FORCED to sing a song about the "lord" before we got snacks. I quit after few months.

10-11-2002, 05:50 PM	#22
Oresta Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 1,107	crazyfingers, I was never, nor could ever be, an Eagle; nor could my three daughters. Nonetheless, we all thank you for your articulate,informed letter. It is an issue that reaches far beyond prepubescent boys to all of us.

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