A Scout is...

[SSScout 1615]

Logic is an important subject to study. The ability to present facts and to reason clearly can make a person trusted and widely known.

A "sylogism" is a way to prove something. For instance, I can say that "A Scout is Trustworthy" and that "some boys are Scouts". I can then reason that some boys are Trustworthy. But which boy? Can I therefore say that any boy who is Trustworthy IS a Scout? No, not necessarily.

Can I say that ALL Scouts are Trustworthy? Nope. I'd like to, but I can't even say that. So how can I talk about Scouts being Trustworthy? I have to know the Scout, know how he behaves, how he speaks, if he WANTS to be trusted.

Walter Cronkite recently died. He was a radio and TV newscaster for many, many years, told folks all about the things that went on in the world every night. You younger people may not have ever seen or heard him, but your mom and dad and grandmom and granddad did. Walter Cronkite became one of the most trusted people in our country. Why? It is said that he was a Scout when he was younger, maybe even an Eagle Scout. Did that make him Trusted by the folks that heard him on TV? Nope. How then, did he gain that reputation? He had to work at it. He had to be careful to seek the truth and when he made his report on the TV he had to know and believe what he told us was true. When he was wrong, rare tho that was, he admitted it, easily. He sought the truth regardless of what some others might think. And then he passed it on to us.

Being able to only deal with what is true and sticking to your agreements is what Scouting is about. It's no mistake that "A Scout is Trustworthy" is the first point.

So, ""A"" Scout is Trustworthy". Are you that Scout?

[Spiney Norman 10]

I like it!