Mr. Boyce

Call me a "nativist" but I'd pay an extra ten bucks for a US-made uniform.

I'd like to also see the Cub rank patches made so they can actually be stitched onto the uniform shirt, the way the sheet says they should be. But they're too large to do so. The neckerchief is such a distinctive, worldwide scouting thing, that I'd keep it and try to promote its use.

I'll get jumped on, and knifed, for suggesting this, but I really HAVE to: one of the best benefits of scouting for me as a youth was getting away from my parents for a weekend. Nice to just be on your own two feet.

I've got a nice laserprinter, and lately sheets coming out of it are darker. I mean by this that areas that should be white are kind of grayish tone. What might be going on here?

Hey Cambridge guy: for me, US elections are an unpleasant thing. BOTH parties tend to favor extremists (I think it's fair to say Obama is a Democrat extremist) in the nomination process. BOTH have tended to want to use the "outsider" theme to promote their man: i.e., "My boy's not part of this mess, but he knows how to clean it up." I would like to see more moderates, more guys who have earned their gray hair by doing practical politics. . . rather than just be ideologues of the left or right. We need some breathing space from all the ideological tripe and hatred.

It's probably bad to put too much focus on this subject. Most young people, young adults, will go through a period of doubt as they learn that it's probably best NOT to conceptualize God as an old, gray-bearded man sitting on a big gold throne high in a cloud. And it takes a while, too, to shake off the purely "materialistic" view.

Drop the shoulder loops. They're goofy. What you really want is a uniform that boys and men feel okay about wearing in a walk down the street, or, say, shopping at Wal-Mart.

I iron my shirts and the plastic buttons on them do not melt. There are all kinds of plastic; some are inappropriate for buttons. And ya iron a shirt when it's wrinkled.

My kid's cub scout uniform needed ironing. I was very surprised to see that touching the buttons with an iron (set on "cotton") was causing the buttons to melt! What's with that? I feel like calling up national and asking for real buttons.

re: Girl Scouts and vest There's a part of me that likes what the Europeans/world scouts seem to do: just wear a neckerchief.

Some thoughts: (1) It's interesting how quickly white European culture was also taken in by native tribes; consider all the European-derived stuff in what's typically considered native regalia; cultural intercourse takes place in two directions. (2) The BSA has a Native American advisory committee; they know about the OA. (3) In my personal experience, the OA has taught me REAL native American history, far more and far more intensive (the bad as well as the good) than I was taught in school. Is this not a good thing? If I were a native American Indian, I'd be glad to get the story out. (4) It all varies. Some tribes and some organizations and some individuals can get touchy; others are glad for genuine interest and support. (5) There ARE aspects of native American life worthy of anyone's respect and admiration. Just as there are admirable aspects of African, Asian, European culture.

BOTH parties have better leaders than the ones running for president, and I have to include the Democrat's "Mr. Change-It" in the mix. Part of me, for some reason, longs for a guy like Bob Dole. I just want someone relatively moderate who doesn't blow in the wind, who isn't driven by ideological supporters, and doesn't feel some overriding impetus to "leave his mark" on the country (cf., Current Occupant). The BEST candidates have sat out this one.

Anyone familiar with the microfiber uniform shirt. Is it a good thing or a disaster?

The uniform puts you all on the same plane, makes you equal, equal parts of an organization you all choose to participate in. That said, I'm okay with schluffing it a bit. I get tense around the uniform Nazis and my motto is "less is more."

I've got too much caffeine going right now; sorry to sound **** y.

I've read into the whole digitize everything notion. But THAT media changes and disintegrates even faster than photo paper. I still have a couple of old floppies I can't use. Good film in a cool, dark place will last 100 years, while the DVD is already on the road to replacement as a format. So that's out. Besides, I got the prints already and they're VERY accessible and easy to use; no computer jockeying required.

I'm trying to figure out how you do it and I'm desperate for tips and suggestions. I figure getting a few archival quality boxes for snapshots, organizing them chronologically. I don't know a good model or make of box. . . I think albums for each family member makes sense, too. So I'll cull these from the overall pot of photos. Of course, I have to buck up and be willing to throw out the junk photos or find someone to give them to. If you can recommend any supplies, let me know. There seems to be a lot of stuff out there. . . but I don't want to be "scrapbooking" stuff and all that, just holding it in good shape.

Interesting topic. This one's popped up a couple of times in talking with people this past week. There are a lot of people disappointed with the low-quality stuff from China, and also have the cash to spend a tad more for US made stuff: it has finally sunk in that we'll sink unless we buy US. I'm good for $5-7 more on a scout shirt. . .

I'm with all those who strongly object to "playing Indian." It's worth noting: (a) many OA lodges develop good relationships; (b) Native Americans are individuals, too, and differ in how they individually, and as a tribe, can perceive things. And their views can change over time as well. © The OA can strongly contribute toward raising sympathy and knowledge about American Indian culture: prior to the OA, my schooling taught me next to nothing about the culture: the OA can be an exceptionally helpful educational structure. . . so boys can know the real history. (d) I recently attended a Pow Wow and found little tribal variations, everyone from various tribes doing the same dances and dressed in modern fashion. Do Native Americans themselves know their tribal cultures?

I was an enthusiastic OA member as a boy, tapped out and all, was a ceremony principal with face paint and so forth. That OA was killed by the lawyers and our Soft Society. Damn anyone who eventuates discomfort! The old OA is dead. The new one simply generates less member dedication, and why should it, when Ordeal rules are flauted flagrantly and then flagrantly flauted!

I've read a lot of the recent books about our economic situation. The best seems to be Don Peck's book, Pinched. His analysis suggests that Americans now have to face up to the fact that we need to work more, work smarter, spend less (and have a lower standard of living) and study harder. This seems the basic economic equation we are dealing with.

Agreed. Trevorum's on the mark.

The dimensions of the Game have changed a lot in the past 15-29 years, to wit: (a) the general expectation is that parents should blow a lot of money on their kids' activities. (This is for many reasons: people having fewer kids, a few psychological notions, the self-esteem BS, the romanticization of youth, our own narcissism and vicarious use of kids, etc.) In my day, no one in my troop had any money for something as grand and glorious as Philmont. (b) The hyper-commercialization of kids activities (first, sports, then other things) changes parents' standards for evaluating kids activities. I believe parents NOW believe an activity is second-rate, and immediately suspect and lousy, IF IT DOES NOT COST an arm and a leg!

I would point out that developmentally boys at a certain age start picking out social hypocrises---read Catcher in the Rye for an extreme case! This is because high ideals really do inspire youth. They want to make a positive difference. No small part of the appeal of scouting IS in such things as patriotism, service to others, etc. It's a mistake to overlook this values component.

It's interesting to me the number of pro-homosexual people who have simply wadded cotton in their ears and refuse to listen to people who disagree with them. So, my friend, be another to jump on the "bandwagon" and go along with this nonsense!