Karkaghne

After a couple of years of hearing pro-gay and anti-gay Scouting issues, and observing well-meaning Scouters endlessly ranting about the evil Gays and their "sexual orientation" in front of the boys, I come to this conclusion: Up-tight anti-gay Scouters are obsessed with sex! Yes, I said that. What aspect of the Scouting program can you name that promotes heterosexual activity, and points out the evils of homosexuality? None! Why? Boy Scouts don't have a sexual orientation. We don't preach sexual orientation. Heterosexual public displays of affection are inappropriate and discouraged among leaders, and sexual affection among boys is practically unthinkable - that is, if you are doing your job and presenting a program to keep them focused on learning Scouting and life skills. What the heck is wrong with providing a non-sexual safe place for young men to learn valuable skills? Sadly, all of the BSA spokespersons I have heard focus on Homo vs. Hetero when fending off the gay attacks on BSA policy. Why doesn't anyone simply say, "Hey, sex is not a part of the BSA program, it is inappropriate, and pushing sexuality on boys is sick!"? I used to react negatively to the term "homophobe." What? Me afraid of a gay? Now I understand what real mortal terror looks like. It's all about being afraid of being wrong, and being basically insecure with your self. Instead of indulging yourself in your own delusional sexual superiority and letting your boys overhear this pathetic crap, why don't you just work hard to provide a good program and say "no" to sex discussions? You'll set a good example of how a heterosexual actively helps youth without stooping to name calling. You'll win hands-down. Those activist Gays aren't providing a program, they are attacking a perceived injustice. Your boys just want, and deserve, a sex-free fun and rewarding youth.

We as Scouts hold ourselves to a higher level of integrity - not just trust. Setting your own moral standards to achieve your business or political aims is far more deleterious in Scouting because it establishes the premise that morality and ethics are only for followers - not leaders. So, what again are the Aims of Scouting? We tell our boys with the deepest of sincerity that as they become Eagles, they will be held to a higher standard - and will be expected to behave better than those who didn't experience Scouting. Yet we continue to live our lives in a culture of greed and one-on-one, me-first behavior. When this kind of activity shows up in our own back yard we're defenseless. SE's are "executives" and in America today that implies privilege, power and exemption from ethical behavior. We propagate this pattern by our very silence. It simply cannot be tolerated in BSA as long as we present real values to young men. Do you honestly think a 16-year-old young man can't see these moral inconsistencies? How did YOU feel about "do as I say, not as I do" when you were growing up? Ask yourself: did you justify your role model's contradictory behavior because they were somehow elevated above the masses? Or did it leave you confused? David Larkin, executive director of the Atlanta-area council, was quoted by the news as saying he was disappointed personally and professionally and took full responsibility for the false records. In my opinion his resignation was far more honorable than the shifty way Bill Clinton and Ken Lay refused any responsibility (to name just two - the list gets bigger every day). But he did not single-handedly cook the books, and everyone in the council who knowingly assisted should either resign publicly or be dumped overboard. To answer Marcheck's question of what can be done to root out the problem: Be vocal. Be open with your unit and district leaders. Challenge the numbers, and challenge your Scout Execs (they are the hired help after all). Make them stand up for Scout values. Don't accept the bogus line that "he's been the CEO of the XYZ Company so he can really make our organization wealthy and successful." Any paid Scouters who can't control their poor ethics to support Scouting the right way do not deserve to clean our latrines.