packsaddle

Back when I was young and after my terrible luck with women dumping me, I got used to it. Now my wife keep me sharp. Let them vent for their own good. Holding it in..they could go blind or something. No...that's the result of something else....use jblake47's response after they vent. OGE, You ARE a liberal AND the reason Western Civilization is going to rot and collapse. And I love you for it. Have a nice day. As for Kudu, "Penn sounds like a "leadership skills" expert!" Thanks. I nearly fell out of my chair laughing...good one!

"Just as some would rather destroy the entire Catholic charity hospital system rather than let them refuse to perform abortions or other reproductive services contrary to their religion." Beavah, my daughter can do 'drama queen' far better than you. Why don't you leave the hyperbole to her and instead try to make a reasoned argument?

Yep. It seems that way to me too.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

"I did not see if when state legalized interracial marriages, religious views exempted the church from having to preform the marriage" No church is ever forced to perform a marriage. I had to ask permission, get marriage counseling by a celibate man (who, in reality was actually cuckolding a parishioner with an adulterous woman - one up on Newt) and pay a hefty fee to be married by the church for my marriage. That church was free to decline for any reason or no reason at all. It might have been awkward if they declined but that's life. Laws are unnecessary for this situation. However, if a Justice of the Peace is disinclined on religious grounds to perform a marriage, say, of an interracial couple, that is a different matter. His argument is essentially that his personal religious view takes priority over his occupational responsibilities. In essence he thinks he can use the power given him as part of the government to apply his religious views to the public. I was once treated in this manner. Because I declined to submit my religious faith to examination by a public official, that official attempted to deny my voter registration. She quoted her version of the law, "In North Carolina, you can't vote if you don't believe in God." ...or, evidently in my case, if you decline to participate in such an examination by a public official. The real question is for us as individuals: should our religious views trump everything else? And if not everything, then where do we draw the line? A baker or florist or a photographer can make this decision as an individual. If they don't want to work for an interracial couple, they can make an excuse that their schedule is full (or some other variation of a LIE that so-called scouters have advocated here). No law is necessary for them to weasel their way out with that lie. I'm sympathetic to the market approach to businesses and clients. In a competitive market, for a business to turn away profit because of prejudice, and for that profit to go to a competitor, will mean the eventual death of prejudice in business. There should be no need for a law of any kind unless to protect the free market. But as a public official, that is a different matter. They serve the public...not JUST those who believe as they do.

Substitute the word 'interracial' for the words 'same sex'. Now please explain that problem again?(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

Yes, Sherminator505, THREAT!!! You must understand the code being used here...the threat is from 'those fill-in-the-blank people', don't you know? They are going to infect our 'NOT fill-in-the-blank-people society'. 'Those people' could TAKE OVER!! I've heard this code used often here in the South. Most recently it was during a voter registration effort and the man wanted to register so 'those people' won't be able to take over. There's nothing more dangerous to 'us' than 'those people'.

They can be trained NOT to use claws when playing with people. Papadaddy, I relate to that canopener thing. I discovered this with our cats years ago. It was so much fun that I'd go through the trash to find any cans to open on the bottoms just to see the cats go crazy with anticipation. I mean I could just 'click' a hand-operated can opener on the front porch and they'd come running. Once they were there, a box of old oil cans could provide a hellish display of cat-food-anticipation-agony. It's the simple things that give the most pleasure....

Neal, It is evident that someone accepts these added requirements as legitimate. I'm not saying they're correct or fair. I'm saying that it doesn't matter. This IS what it is and fact is, if the boy doesn't finish the requirements by age 18, he's done. It is clear to me that the adults who are screwing this up so badly are going to need to see the equivalent of dead bodies before they change. Or maybe not even then. But this is the world that the boy lives in. It IS what it is. Here's the thing: the boy is going to sign a contract, agree to do something, pledge to complete a project... someday and there will be people depending on a product the way he agreed. The boy will encounter these same difficulties in any real-life task and in the future he will not be able to go to those people whose livelihoods depend on him and 'weasel' out of the consequences on their behalf. It doesn't matter that other people lied, betrayed him, or just let him down. His failure is going to be failure and it won't matter what the circumstances are. This is a perfect chance to learn that hard lesson while it doesn't cause real harm in his life. The line is age 18, with completed requirements by that date.

One way to level the field is to just scrap the Eagle Project altogether. Do away with the workbook, the project, the adults interpreting/adding requirements/appealing, etc. What was the reason for these projects in the first place? They are obviously a source of divisiveness and little more than an obstacle to be overcome - perhaps a test of endurance or pain tolerance.

He didn't finish the requirements before he was 18. It doesn't matter that adults screwed up. He didn't finish. There's nothing dishonorable in ending as Life Scout. In some ways, this will be an even-more-powerful life lesson the way it is. On the other hand, the lesson he will learn if he's given another x-months to do the project, etc. is that he CAN be excused because of the shortcomings of other people - and that is an error in thinking. Real life doesn't work that way. Sorry but that's the way I see it.

Merlyn, 90%. I completely forgot that Wonder Woman plot.

Lisa, I think it's the first time I have laughed and laughed after seeing the results of an election. Incredible. Why are you surprised? Newt is a natural! Don't you WANT him to BE the candidate?!!! Think of how much fun this is all going to be! I'm not trying to be mean to you when I say this but you really don't 'get' the South, do you? It seems so 'genteel' and polite. I guess yankees may view southerners with a little prejudice but you must understand the subliminal and cleverly-nuanced malevolence that permeates the South of southerners rather than the South of transplants from other regions. I guess you have to 'live' it to understand. The only thing that surprises me is how clearly and decisively SC repudiated and 'put the lie' to Republican claims over the years to high moral principles or family values. You should be on your knees in prayers of thanks for their having removed the cloak of that deception. They can never get that 'high ground' back again. Ever. What a great show! Play on!

As long as the boys are aware of the merit badges and are free to pursue them at their own pace, I see no need to encourage it beyond that. It should be on their individual initiative, really, all the way through. What they need from the program is freedom and opportunity to take that initiative and pursue their individual goals.

Basementdweller, college, freshman level mostly. I won't depress you further with how much else they don't know. ....Or what they think they know - that is completely incorrect.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

In a course on environment and energy which lots of students take as an elective, and claim interest in the topic, more than half of them this morning had no idea what 'Deepwater Horizon' referred to. In this time of economic, political, and social crisis, the vast majority don't plan to vote, either in a primary or in the main election.

Dean, The Buddhists I know do not worship any 'god'. I have read a few places that some Buddhists refer to Buddha in terms of deity, though, but a Buddhist would have to provide more details about that. I actually asked why one of the Buddhist parents used the term "hostile" and it was clear in his response. I felt badly that I hadn't spotted it myself. When children of Buddhists are taunted by others and told they are "going to hell" (this also happens to Unitarians and sometimes even Jews around here), the parent explained that it makes them afraid to admit what their beliefs are, even sometimes to people they are around in day-to-day life. Seems hostile to me too, under those circumstances.

Buddhists around here are already aware that they're in 'hostile' territory so they do in scouts what they do everywhere else: they shrug it off and live with it. At least that's what a few Buddhists have explained to me.

What am I doing wrong? I have never had one of those 'Bad Idea' ads and now I am missing vampire attacks? I demand vampires! Bring on the vampires!

This pack had(has) a really old wooden track which was(is) absolutely beautiful in design. But it took great care in setting it up to avoid lane bias. So I was always glad to have ONE other person there to help out and no more. We could focus on getting it right and then proving it with a series of trials. It's interesting to note that not even one time was there any request by an adult to make or race an 'adult-league' racer. So we didn't. The focus was totally and exclusively on the cubs and the families all had a great time. We did relax things a bit after all the heats were over and let the little brothers and sisters play with the track using spare cars from previous years that were always available. I think it was good to focus exclusively on the children for this.

I've read about this stuff for a long time, as has already been mentioned. The way I get past it is to remember that BSA is not really Scouting. It is a corporation with a large administrative structure. Moreover, it is a monopoly. What the heck do any of us really expect to happen with a business like that? It's fraud. It's deceit. It's lies for personal gain. It's contemptible. But why are we surprised? OK, that's the reality check. The way I get past this is to remember that true Scouting is what happens with the boys in the structure and program of a unit. And this is facilitated by a real, supportive community of people who actually live together and know each other. I focus on that level and like my coffee cups says, I try not to let the turkeys get me down.

I just took the YP course for the umpteenth time. It is required that I repeat this exercise so I do. My having taken that course did absolutely nothing to add to the safety of the boys. I could take that course another dozen times and it will add nothing to the safety of the boys. I know what you're thinking...I'm stupid and forgetful so I need to be reminded...or else I'm careless and need to be reminded...or perhaps convinced...again and again and again. However, each time I comply with the BSA self-protection/promotion strategy and allow them to check off the fact that I did take it (for the umpteenth time), BSA derived benefit by being able to demonstrate that I have been duly trained. It evidently means something to someone, somewhere. Right? Someone in Irving must be convinced that they will achieve some small increment of protection or else some small increment of being able to CLAIM they are protected...by my taking that online course. Again and again and again. And knowing that, I sleep just so much better at night.

I was unaware of them until this thread got started. I see two sides. On one hand I recognize that on the internet, the concept of 'privacy' is a mercurial concept. Real privacy (meaning secure privacy) is almost impossible (I mean if someone wants REAL privacy, why put that stuff on the internet?). On the other hand, if by 'private' you mean proprietary, then that is clearer. BSA has no control whatsoever over someone's private web content. BSA does, however, have the ability to revoke membership for any reason at any time, even without having to explain the reason for that matter. If anyone is that worried about BSA 'looking over their shoulder' with the thought police, then they should be advised I supposed. But if BSA is as ham-handed with this as it is with keeping a good database, I wouldn't worry too much. Beavah's internet porn site will probably get confused with Martha Stewart's ill-fated attempt to take over General Motors and the resulting search engine crash will take the entire system down in Irving. Overall this whole topic seems like a tempest in a teapot.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

All the stars go to the parents and leaders who did the real heavy lifting, and to the boys who make it so much fun. I'm content just to see those bright smiling faces.

First, I made sure the CO got our 'news' into their weekly program of services. Prior to that, a lot of the church members didn't even know there WAS a pack, much less theirs. This meant a short paragraph about which dens were doing what things, etc. And a prominent announcement about the pack meeting each month. I coordinated the pack calendar with the church calendar so that the office staff would be able to answer phone questions from anyone who called. Then, we took every opportunity to do things with fire departments, police departments, etc. and took photos when a den did one of these activities. The tigers went to the zoo or the science museum, etc. and we made sure that a good photo of the boys and a short description of the outing went to the local papers. The webelos would do an overnight at a local discovery place, same thing. The papers would use these kinds of things to fill out pages once in a while so while we couldn't depend on them being in print right away, they always eventually made it. We supported the summer day camps, had two really nice family campouts each year, one of which coincided with the scout troop campout. We had fishing events, pinewood derby took over a month of activity, kite flying events, a pack olympics event, went canoeing on a local lake (yeah, I know), and did service projects like raking leaves for elderly persons, picking up trash around the lake, and the infamous scouting for food. There were so many things to do I can barely remember a fraction of them but when we did something, we followed through and told people about it. The boys took even more pride in doing it and so did the community. The publicity person always had announcements on the local radio stations about the pack meetings or about special events we were doing (like roundup). The FCC requires them to do community service announcements so we contributed to them. We made every parade and every community ceremony that we could, in uniform. There were always moms with babies or still pregnant and you could practically see the desire in their eyes...can't wait to get their little boys into something like this. Of course at all these things, there is a limit to the amount of 'order' one can bestow on a pack of cubs so for the most part, we let them be cubs - safely. And it is sooooo endearing to watch them play and cut up and eat. It is a contagious feeling that I was counting on in the rest of the community. Fairly quickly the community knew about the pack and became interested. The enrollment naturally followed and with it came some really good adult leaders. I felt good when I eventually left for the scouts. It was just getting 'out there' for all of us, part of the fun, and the cubs were able to do this without that awkward self-consciousness of the scout-age boys. Yes there were some rough spots and I developed a healthy contempt for the DE and council but, looking back, I'd take the cubs again in a heartbeat.