ParkMan

I'm sorry to hear about the impact of this badge on LEO. In prior discussions on this, I had not recognized that law enforcement officers were feeling offended by the badge itself. Yes, I can understand that. I would think the challenge to us all now is that we have to find ways to instruct on this merit badge that are productive and thoughtful. This merit badge needs to not be a platform for the politics of the instructor, but instead a way for youth to think through the underlying issues here. Perhaps the BSA national professionals who read this will find some way to incorporate stronger guidance for instructors into the merit badge itself. Make this about being a leader in a multicultural world.

Growing up as a kid in the 80's, I understand exactly what you are saying. Where I lived in the 80s (metro Atlanta), the kids I grew up with did a pretty good job of respecting each other based on race. It wasn't until I got to college in New England that I saw my first real examples of people age being racist - something I will never forget. In that same time as a kid in the 80s and even in the 90s it was pretty well accepted to make fun of someone for their sexual preference. Being gay was a slur that got tossed around even if you were not. Being transgendered wasn't even really a discussed concept back then beyond the occasional talk of a sex change. I do fully agree that back then people did earn our respect for who they were and what they accomplished. Yet, at the same time it was very difficult growing up in many of these groups we talk about today. People hid their sexual preference lest they be labeled or worse yet, snickered at. So much of what has happened in the 40 years since then has been to stop making people feel bad or ashamed for who they are. A person shouldn't feel that these characteristics are something that negatively impacts them. I too wish that we could stop having labels define us. I suspect it's something natural that if a person has for a long time felt that some label is a sense of shame, once that shame goes away people want to be proud of what they once felt they needed to hide. If someone, for example, felt their whole life ashamed that they were gay, once that shame goes away they feel a sense of relief and want to embrace it. I suspect same is true for most any group we list - race, gender, religion, ethnicity, preference. I long for a day these labels no longer matter. Someday, perhaps when there is a generation or two that never felt marginalized because of a label - I suspect this will go away.

Maybe it's a regional thing. We know to "prepare" those scouts who might struggle with this question. Of course prepare is a funny word because it's not a test - but still, we want it to be a positive experience and so we've always worked under the assumption that a Scout who has not religious affiliation ought to have some way to answering the question "How do you demonstrate your Duty to God?"

Which is probably an important evolutionary point for a kid to recognize. So, as they are conducting themselves in their lives they cannot presume that everyone acts or thinks like they do. If you look at so much of what is discussed nationally, it is really about people saying that they do not feel that people recognize the challenges in their lives or that they get treated differently because of some group that they are a member of. It's a good skill for all of us to be self-aware enough to recognize how what we say and do impacts others. This seems to be one of the main learning points in this MB. I would think this is where the instructor focuses - not that you have to have any particular belief set, but that you have to be intentionally aware of how others perceive your actions and the world around them.

Sure - make the list: ethnicity, faith, financial background, races, genders, sexual preferences, and gender identities. Doesn't really change anything though. This MB is about getting kids to think about how they relate to others that are different from them. What is the harm in getting kids to want to think about how they relate to those who are different from them? That is where the instructor needs to be focusing their skills and abilities. How to conduct a conversation that gets kids thinking about how they relate to others in the world around them.

A Scout has say in who the merit badge counselor is. It's no different. They could work with their parents to choose a MBC that they want. There's no difference here at all. Pick a MBC that is of a like pursuasion. It's not tough. No one is telling the Scout what they have to believe - just that they need to think trough how they relate to someone. In fact it's a very good skill for someone to have to learn how to relate to someone that has a lifestyle the disagree with religiously. There's no wedge here at all.

I am being serious. This is the crux of my point. A lot of people seems worried about political indoctrination here but are missing the clear parallel with the religious aspect of the program. In both places, the BSA wants to get kids thinking and talking about how they conduct themselves. In the religious setting, they want kids to think about how the demonstrate their duty to god. In the area of diversity, equality, and inclusion the BSA wants to get kids thinking about how they conduct themselves and in act in a country where different races, genders, sexual preferences, and gender identities are the norm. It's not about pushing an answer - it's about getting the kids to think about these topics.

How does this MB change the ideal of Scouting? The Scout Law includes: Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Cheerful, and Brave. The Oath contains: "help other people at all times" These all have some bearing how on we should approach the topic of diversity, equality, and inclusion. I see nothing in this MB that does anything other than get kids to think about the world they live in with using the framework of the Scout Oath & Law.

And to someone who doesn't want their kid discussing religion it's no different. The DE&I requirements don't state what the answer is, it states the questions to asks and topics to consider. A Scout can define the answers however they want to. How is that any different?

What I believe I keep reading is lots of concern that someone might have a discussion with kids that has a political aspect to it. I'm fine to agree to disagree in the ability of people to not get too political in a Scouting context. But, even if someone were to get political with your kids - what is the primary concern?

But there is: In the Webelos level there is a Duty to God adventure. At the Bear level there is a Fellowship and Duty to God adventure At the Wolf level there is a Duty to God Footsteps adventure At the Tiger level there is Tiger Circles: Duty to Good At the Arrow of Light level there is Arrow of Light Adventure: Duty to God in Action It's well known that at Eagle Boards candidates often are asked how they demonstrate their Duty to God. Further, they are required to submit a letter of recommendation from a faith leader or parent that supports that.

Thank you for the very well thought out reply. This is useful. I'm following you here. From what I read here, you are more concerned with kids hearing about the politics surrounding diversity, equality, and inclusion. Two honest questions: 1. Is it fair for me to infer that you are not concerned with discussions about inclusion and equality itself? 2. Why does your child engaging in a 2-4 hour discussion about these issues concern you? If we frame the merit badge correctly, then it should not be a session to teach political ideologies. It should, instead, be a vehicle for kids to learn more about the world and explore their own thoughts. There are other examples of this in Scouting such as the religious components. In Scouting we have requirements and award relating to religion. Scouting is very clear to not push a particular religion, but instead to advocate for the idea that youth should be thinking of their own beliefs in God. This seems to have a parallel. This seems to me to be the best reason not to do it. It also seems to be why it doesn't deserve the level of angst it is getting. If kids are hearing about this everywhere else, why not have a discussion in a Scouting context too? Is something said with few sessions with a MB counselor really going to have a bigger impact than what they hear in school, in church, on YouTube, etc...?

It does make we wonder though - what are the sensitive issues that people fear in the space of diversity, equality, and inclusion?

Thank you for the thoughts on this. My primary complaint with this merit badge is that it is simply scope creep. I simply don't agree with the continued movement that thinks Scouting needs to be all things to all people. But, that's a discussion for another topic. In this recent round of national debate on the topic, my kids who came to me and asked why I was not more concerned about discrimination. Based on that, I took a step back and listened more intently. I was struck not by listening to the fiery speeches, but I was struck by the quiet stories of people who still felt discriminated against today. Those quiet stories impacted me. I don't know the right answer politically either. Yet, regardless of my politics I don't see a harm in letting kids listen to the stories out there and forming their own opinions. Whether it's race, gender, orientation, preferenance, or something else I am ready for my teens to listen and form their own opinions. I still think this MB can help. In my mind every conversation helps a youth to enrich their own views of the world. To me the challenge is what we see represented in this topic. Our already polarized country leads people to have a need to be involved in this discussion. I fear that people will simply not be able to let youth explore this on their own. It's like the political version of "adult led". This topic is simply one that adults think that they need to protect, guide, shelter youth on this subject. Here I simply disagree.

I could not agree more that this is where Scouting should focus with the youth. Very well said!

Sorry - that's not what I meant. This is a great place for working through our thoughts and I really did appreciate all your thoughts and energy on this. I just don't know that I have much more to add to this topic. To me, this is a merit badge that while not perfect and certainly boring, can have some redeeming value if we let it. Yet, I don't feel so strongly on it that it's right of me to advocate too much for a particular approach here beyond what I mentioned before.

Thanks for all the appends and responses.

Hey @InquisitiveScouter - Sorry I missed this earlier. Didn't mean to offend. It just felt to me like you an @CynicalScouter were getting pretty worked up over having this merit badge and the political implications of it. i.e. - discussions of opting out of the MB because of laws the prevent sex education. Sounds like I mis-read it. My mistake. I just think that we should look at this merit badge as an opportunity for youth to consider how they relate to each other. We live in a country today that's becoming increasingly polarized - often because of political beliefs. This MB can be a very small way to help break down some of those barriers during the Scouting years. That doesn't seem to awful to me. Again - didn't mean to offend here. My regrets for doing so.

@Jameson76 Thanks for the thoughts. Perhaps I live in a Pollyanna world, but I just think this merit badge would work better if we just let the Scouts think through these questions without the implicit or explicit sharing of personal politics of the adult leaders. Kids of today, especially those in their mid teens are very aware of current events. With the explosion of social media, kids today are living these issues in their daily lives. I have every confidence that if we adults step back and let these kids discuss these issues without adults interjecting our politics they'll do a great job. They may or may not arrive at the same conclusions I have personally and that's OK. But, I have no doubt that they will do an outstanding job discussing them without me interjecting my own beliefs. To me it's sort of like "youth led" in Scouting. We try to let the youth have their own space to make their own leadership decisions. I just think we ought to do the same here.

I choose to look at things like this and ask "what's the best way for youth to take advantage of this?" Given how polarized our country is today, I think a merit badge focused on getting kids to think about how they relate to others isn't such an awful idea. It's fine for us to agree to disagree. I do think folks get where I'm coming from here. I don't see that I have anything else constructive to add.

@CynicalScouter & @InquisitiveScouter - I think you two need ratchet down the angst a few orders of magnitude here. When I read these requirements, this sounds to like two pretty commonly accepted principles: Don't judge someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes Love Thy Neighbour as Thyself If the adults can keep their hands off this merit badge and let a youth do as the merit badge says, it's allows the youth to go through a thought exercise in how they relate to others. Are they welcoming of others, how do they treat others, do they unknowingly act in a discriminatory way, are they doing what they can to treat their fellow citizens with respect? It doesn't matter if your white, brown, black, or purple. It doesn't matter who you love or are attracted to. It doesn't matter what you think of your own gender and sexuality. It's about how you treat each other. It's about how you react to situations where discrimination happens around you. It's about how you react when someone you know tells you they feel discriminated against. I have every bit of confidence that youth, when put these sorts of questions - can reason them out in a way that is pretty consistent with the Scout oath and law. This all starts to get messy when the adults show up and start pushing agendas. This is why the adults should leave this in the real of how youth relate to each other just as the requirements describe.

Yes - because the minute a Scoutmaster announces the merit badge as: Then it prejudices the content. I am fine discussing that this is a topic that involves some politics, but let's leave our own personal politics out of this. We do not need a Scoutmaster in that 10-30% who doesn't believe that discrimination exists injecting their own personal beliefs. Let's make this about listening to others. Let the Scouts recognize that whether they think discrimination exists of only part of the conversation. Equally important is whether people perceive that they are being discriminated against. Let the kids get the maximum benefit from the learning experience without adding in our own personal beliefs on the topic.

I would encourage us to not put this merit badge in terms of politics. Let's focus on the goals and the content and use it to broaden the horizons of kids in the program.

This seems like a trivial merit badge to earn. Basically you do: talk about some stuff around DEI - can probably be done in 30 minutes create and give a presentation - an hour maybe attend a local event - an hour or two depending on the event. In the grand scheme of things, this seems pretty simple.

Thank you. I've had lots of good Scouters who I have worked with that encouraged me to stay positive as much as possible. As a long time district volunteer, I think you can have a far bigger impact locally than you may realize. My .02 - find yourself a commissioner role. That's a great way to share your passion for building a better program for kids. It's a great way to serve as a coach, mentor, and role model to other Scouters.