evmori

Would the ACLU sue a school because a kid wasn't allowed to join the band because he couldn't play an instrument? If not, why not? Religious freedom - I can worship any god I want without the government stopping me. Yeah I understand. How is a public school chartering a BSA unit infringing upon religious freedom? Answer the question, Merlyn. Don't dance around it with an answer like "I would say the main reason these sorts of things happen are due to so many people having absolutely no idea what religious freedom really means. Yes, that includes you, Ed" because that isn't an answer. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

No one has said anything about approving or not approving MB counselors! And Bob, I would do the exact same thing! But until the sub-standard counselor is removed, I would not suggest any of my Scouts go to him/her. What would you do, Bob? We will have to agree to disagree, Eamonn. Both the BS Handbook & SM Handbook state "obtain a MB card and name of a MB counselor from your SM". Not exact wording but close enough. I interpret that as the SM giving the Scout the name of a MB counselor from the MB counselor list. You interpret it differently. We are both correct. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

I understand, Barry! There is no place for opinion in the BSA! You opinion of me as a MB counselor could be you think I just "let 'em slide" while you opinion of Bob as a MB counselor could be "he is a really good teacher of the MB". So you would suggest Bob over me. But that's just your opinion! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

A public school chartering a BSA unit is not discrimination! That is the biggest stretch of the truth I have ever heard! Not chartering a BSA unit would be discrimination! Those who don't believe in a god can't join the school chartered BSA. Those who can't play an instrument can't join the school band. What's the difference? Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

And public schools & government entities chartering BSA units in no way constitutes establishing a religion. Now if these public schools & government entities stated "You must be a Muslim to be a BSA member in the unit we charter" then you have a case. Since they don't your point is moot. Have a nice day! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Eamonn, Nice story. What you are not seeing is reality. You story while good is Utopian. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Once again, Merlyn can't read. The Constitution states the the government can't establish a religion. Now Merlyn thinks by public schools & government entities chartering BSA units that is establishing a religion. He also thinks that this is tantamount to endorsing discrimination. Wrong on both counts. By not allowing public schools & government entities to charter BSA units IS discrimination & is in violation of the Constitution. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Get a new line Merlyn! Your drivel is getting old!

Oops! Missed that! Thanks dan. Yeah stupid. Best word to describe the situation. Would not intelligent be nicer? Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

No, you are wrong. Public schools can't force anyone to join the BSA but there is no law in the land that prohibits a public school from chartering a BSA unit. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Sometimes helping Scouts make ethical decisions is making them do what you want. They can be the same thing and are not necessarily exclusive. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Prairie, Conservative Christians are a special interest group. But they represent the majority more than the atheists do. Atheists want you to believe the Constitution say there should be no religion in government when actually there should be no government in religion. They have it backwards! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

dan, Sorry to disappoint you but I am in no way a PC person. Zero tolerance is stupid. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

The SM handbook & BS handbook are worded identically regarding this subject. It is open for interpretation - the Scout picks from a list his SM has or his SM gives him the name of a MB counselor. Either is a correct interpretation. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Bob, I think you might mean the Scouters Key not the Scoutmaster Key. To earn the SM Key one needs to serve as a SM. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

OGE, When did George Carlin start trying to destroy the BSA? Musta missed that one! Unless Merlyn is George Carlin in disguise! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

OGE, Yes I do. I think there are times you are funny, too!

Another reason my zero tolerance doesn't work.

Actually, Bob, you spin things to fit your interpretations. You are very knowledgeable and a great resource. But, not everything in Scouting is as black & white as you would like it to be. There is a lot of grey areas & I would bet the BSA wanted it that way so units could tailor the BSA program to fit their specific makeup. What works for one unit might not work for another. What works for one Scout, might not work for another. I have no personal conflicts with the methods & aims of Scouting. My conflict comes from your "I'm right & you're wrong" mentality because I don't do things the way you do. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

So we let the special interest groups determine what is OK because they scream the loudest? I don't think so! The 1st Amendment has nothing to do with the separation of church & state & nowhere in the Constitution does it state church & state must be separate! What the Constitution states is we are free to practice whatever religion we want without the government tossing us in jail because it isn't the religion of the government! The United States has no government religion! By allowing a public school to charter a BSA unit or a KKK clan or anything else isn't establishing ANY religion! I use to think Firesign Theater was funny. Knowing who is employed by Firesign Theater I have changed my opinion & I encourage any Scouters who feel the same as I do to no longer listen, attend, purchase or in any other way support Firesign Theater. And tell your friends, too. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Bob, I am not approving MB counselors. There you go assuming again! If I know a MB counselor "rubber stamps" merit badges, I am not sending Scouts to him/her. How do I know a MB counselor "rubber stamps" merit badges? Other SM's and Scouts have told me so. And a Scout is trustworthy. Once again, you seem to think your interpretation is the only way. It isn't. And just because it isn't your way doesn't mean it isn't Scouting. You want to interpret things literally when they fit your definitions and not when they don't. You can't do that! There is no consistency that way. And a literal interpretation would be the SM gives the Scout the name of ONE qualified MB counselor. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

The Scout decides which merit badge(s) he wants to take. Then obtains the name of a qualified counselor for those MB's from his SM. Now if we want to really get picky, the wording says "name of a qualified counselor" not "names of qualified counselors". That means the SM picks one counselor for the Scout. Why would a SM want to do this? Could it be possible the SM know counselor A "rubber stamps" merit badges while counselor B actually teaches the merit badge? Could be! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

pack, I bait no one! All I try to do is point out that Merlyn has an agenda that is critically flawed and the only purpose of his agenda is to destroy the BSA. Call it what you like! You are entitled to your opinion! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

And the Boy Scout Handbook says "obtains the name of a qualified merit badge counselor from his SM". Interpret anyway you want! The SM is the one who determines which merit badge counselor the Scout will use! Now if the Scout has a counselor in mind, the SM can agree or not agree with that counselor! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

The Bible? How does the Bible fit?