TAHAWK

The OA Lodge I joined followed the Lakota tradition. Every other year we sent a group of 12-18 (2-3 station wagons) to the Res to be trained in Lakota dancing and ceremonies. They did not want us to perform the Ghost Dance for religious reasons, and we did not. I was trained as a drummer, not being graceful. Of course, they were very conservative. They routinely wore European clothing, ate European food, and drove motor vehicles. It never occurred to me that they were engaged in "Cultural Appropriation, " but this was back before PC. American Indians were one of the few cultures not represented in our troop - except for the OA members. The John Birch Society ( known to us as the "Birch John Society") regularly picketed Scout HQ in Santa Ana with three "beefs": 1) we trick-or-treated for UNICEF, which they claimed was a Commie front; 2) the World Brotherhood Merit Badge, which they saw as a scam to promote World Brotherhood; and 3) every troop in our Council was open to any youth who was the right age and would recite the Oath. (Our troop of mostly service brats was a rainbow of cultures and religions.) American Indians routinely name their sports teams in all-American Indian high schools, "Indians." I eat "Mexican" food regularly, because I like it. I got used to it growing up in Alta California. if this be "Cultural Appropriation, " make the most of it. My "Black" roomie for two years in grad school loved spaghetti with meat sauce. I was better at B-ball than he was, being merely poor at it. He could not dribble without looking at the ball. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Joe Biden asserts that he is the final arbiter of which persons are or "ain't" "Black." Thought police are anathema. That was once a revolutionary idea. Now the virtues of policing thought and expression are taught in "institutions of higher learning." Chicago set a new record for civilians shooting and killing civilians over the Labor Day weekend - 85 shot, 24 fatally. Cleveland west of us, is on the way to a record murder rate. I have not seen any uproar over this, just crying family. Apparently not newsworthy. CNN downgraded the Chicago Memorial Day weekend toll to 39 shot and ten killed, and I find no correction. Apparently, SBLM.

Well, they did pass another rule allowing SMs to veto a signed Blue card if they determine that the badge could not have been earned - as with a child "Merit Badge" counselor. The language of the rule discourages its use, but it's "Something" - or virtually so. Meaningless metrics give life virtual meaning.

BSA's much - or largely - unenforced rules require that anyone signing a Blue card must know that the MB candidate has individually completed all the requirements and must also be registered with the BSA as a Merit Badge Counselor (solely an adult position). Most "Merit Badge Counselors" I have met in the last twenty-five years, in council camps in five different states, are not adults and many MBs are given out with no individual testing whatsoever. BSA is well aware of this pattern and practice, and elects to do virtually nothing.

I tried the "report to council" path once, only to find that the "mill" was the council SE's idea - a tactic to increase faltering attendance at camp (and very successful in doing so). The Council Advancement Chair had resigned and was not replaced. Ask yourself why so many council camps expressly say on their website that they are "not a merit badge mil." And the "visitation program:" that supposedly insures that a registered Merit Badge Counselor, necessarily an adult, will direct each Merit Badge at camp, otherwise the MB cannot be offered? "Trustworthy "

Many Scoutmasters select council summer camps BECAUSE they are merit badge mills.

BSA expressions of its policy on "Reverent" and "Duty to God" are sometimes clear, sometimes opaque, and always inconsistent. Buddhism (to touch on only one of the expressly non-theistic religions allowed to have BSA units for nearly a century): "Religious Principles and Key Terms • Goal: Enlightenment through understanding of the reasons and causes of suffering. • Essential elements: Awareness of impermanence and of oneself and compassion toward others. • Fundamental doctrine of Buddhism is the Four Noble Truths, which are: o Noble Truth of Suffering o Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering o Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering o Noble Truth of the Path that leads to the Cessation of Suffering • The last of the[se] Four Noble Truths is also referred to as the Noble Eightfold Path, and includes the practice of: o Right Views o Right Thoughts o Right Speech o Right Conduct o Right Livelihood o Right Effort o Right Mindfulness o Right Meditation https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/210-012_WB.pdf "Declaration of Religious Principle. The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the member declares, "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law." The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of his favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members." The Handbook explains “reverent” as “A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.” All levels of advancement in the Scouting program have requirements recognizing “duty to God”: Boy Scouts of America believes that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. Accordingly, adult volunteer leaders of Boy Scouts of America obligate themselves to do their duty to God and be reverent as embodied in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, and the Declaration of Religious Principle. Because of its views concerning the duty to God, Boy Scouts of America believes that an atheist or agnostic is not an appropriate role model of the Scout Oath and Law for adolescent boys. Because of Scouting’s methods and beliefs, Scouting does not accept atheists and agnostics as adult volunteer leaders. The Aim of the Scouting Movement: ” Its aim is to produce healthy, happy, helpful citizens, of both sexes, to eradicate the prevailing narrow self-interest; personal, political, sectarian and national, and to substitute for it a broader spirit of self-sacrifice and service in the cause of humanity; and thus to develop mutual goodwill and cooperation not only within our own country but abroad, between all countries.” B-P. Wiccans have been allowed to charter a few units, but they believe is a God and a Goddess. They express thanks for Her blessings as, as well as His. Then we have the Higher power" interpretation - BSA as a Twelve Step organization. "'That was a cornerstone to growing developmentally as youth do, that they need to have a belief in a higher power,'said Brian Nastase, scout executive for the area Quivira Council. “And a belief in God means we are open to all faiths. We have Jewish scouts, we have Muslim scouts, Christian scouts, Buddhist scouts. It’s probably the most diverse organization in the city of Wichita, maybe even the country.” Then we have the snake devouring itself tail-first. "The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God and, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, [BUT] but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training." non·sec·tar·i·an nänsekˈterēən adjective not involving or relating to a specific religious sect or political group.

"either or" - Beware the bane of a false dichotomy. Very few things are "either or.." I recall that the Greater NY Council publicly rejected the BSA rule on Gay Scouts months before BSA changed that rule. Our local council rejected the early YPT rule that "incidents" be reported solely to the Council's SE. (BSA petty promptly changed that "rule" in the on-line training.) Plaintiffs' lawyers are in abundant supply. There is a lawyer for every claim, however sketchy.

The future is written on water, with a pitchfork.

"Since 1995 the statue [, bought as scrap after the Czech revolution of 1989,] has been held in trust waiting for a buyer, standing on temporary display for the last 25 years on a prominent street corner in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. It has become a Fremont landmark, and frequently has been decorated, or vandalized. The statue has sparked political controversy, including criticisms for communist chic and not taking the historic meaning of Lenin and communism seriously, or for taking it all too seriously, or by comparing the purported acceptance of such a charged political symbol to the removal of Confederate monuments and memorials. The monument is situated on private property, complicating efforts to remove it." WIKI

If one is going to repeat revisionist opinions about B-P, one might put them in the context of the remarks of the chief revisionist, Mr. Jeal: "It was all to do with the outward bound life - it was only these references to character-training that he found appealing, not Hitler's hatred of Jews." "Baden-Powell condemned Hitler for being a megalomaniac and for mounting what he called 'huge pageants for hypnotising his people.'" "He hated totalitarianism, twice hoped that he would be able to marry Jewish women and chose a Jewish doctor." Historian Dr Andrew Norman pointed out that the Nazis vowed to execute Baden-Powell [and other Scouting leaders] in the event of a successful invasion of Britain. "He [B-P] wanted to introduce the Scout movement into Germany to foster friendship between the two countries." "His efforts were in vain, and for his pains he was put on a Nazi death list because the Germans suspected he was using scouts as spies." "In January 1933, before the takeover by the Nazi [National Socialist German Workers'] Party, the Hitler Youth had expressed its hostility to Scouting, claiming that it alone could represent the youth of Germany. On the 17th of June, 1933, the Großdeutche Bund, a federation of many youth movements including a dozen Scout Movements was prohibited. On the 26th of May, 1934, a decree forbade the Reichschaft deutscher Pfadfinder, another federation of Scout Movements. The decree stated that the federation 'had become a place of refuge for the young enemies of the new state.'"

"UK council stops plan to remove statue of scout founder Baden-Powell" ???

Perhaps the most important "unit," the patrols, might meet - out-of-doors if practicable.

Philmont: So the right of possession goes to the judgment creditors, subject to the mortgage. Summit: "Ownership" is a number of rights, possession being one of them, legal title being another. A mortgage lien is a right in the property as well. How that right works out depends. Sea Base: ocean-front property is disproportionately valuable.

What species of pine? Scots Pine (alien species) in NE Ohio are being slaughtered by Pine Bark Beetle. Millions have been planted in vast monoculture tracts courtesy of the Government. We have six acres, and half was all Scot's Pines. We lose 9-12 a year. I have gone through five chain saws in 2 years, and I'm getting old for the work. Wood is useless for fireplace. Seems only good for rabbit piles. White Pines and more resistant, as are Spruce species. We also have diseases killing all ash, all oaks, Sugar Maples, and hemlocks. 😐 Nature's way.

Until the shut down, my old troop continued for the 27th consecutive year to have best attendance at backpackers. (The May backpacker was cancelled.) It mainly draws from an inner-ring suburb adjoining Cleveland, Ohio. The attendees are as culturally diverse as the troop itself. Not surprising, as the program is selected and planned by the customers themselves, through their representatives at the Patrol Leaders' Council. At the annual Program Planning Weekend, they schedule the backpackers first, then Summer Camp, then other feature campouts, and then the meetings that lead to the feature campouts. Most of those who tell me "traditional Scouting" no longer sells, including our SE, cannot nearly explain what "traditional Scouting" is, much less what the Patrol Method is. "2019 Visitation Highlights In 2019, the National Park Service received over 327.5 million recreation visits; up 9 million visits (2.9%) from 2018. 2019 edged out 2018 as the third highest year for recreation visits (behind 2016 and 2017)."

Membership in Marc's council has continued to fall, as it doubled its territory. The outdoor program has been deemphasized. Megatreds. This loss of camping "customers" reduces the need for camp property. Plus, more campsites have been created at the largest site, Beaumont Scout Reservation. Marc is good at recalling one's name. He said he favored less training for volunteer adults as the solution to badly-run training, but left the same regime in charge of training. Districts were eliminated. Fund-raising has fallen significantly our the recent years, except as to the capital fund, which hit new highs before the professional in charge of capital fund-raising was laid-off. Capital funds do not meet payroll.

Words of wisdom.

This has all been discussed here at length. One might distinguish between why youth join Scouting and what Scouting aims to accomplish. Those aims (or goals) have varied slightly over the years and from Scouting organization to Scouting organization. One expression is that the goals of Scouting are developing persons of good character, who are good citizens and who are fit in mind and body. BSA has made "leadership," once understood to be part of "citizenship," a separately-stated goal of its program. That B-P person said, "Let us, therefore, in training our Scouts, keep the higher aims in the forefront, not let ourselves get to absorbed in the steps. Don't let the technical outweigh the moral. Field efficiency, back woodsmanship, camping, hiking, good turns, jamboree comradeship are all means, not the end. The end is CHARACTER with a purpose. And that purpose, that the next generation may be sane in an insane world, and develop the higher realization of service, active service of love, and duty to God and neighbor." In India, the largest Scouting association (The Bharat Scouts and Guides) says, " The mission of Scouting is to contribute to the education of young people, theough a value system based on the Scout Promise and Law to help build a better world where people and self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society." "Gerakan Pramuka Indonesia or called Indonesian Scout movement is a name of non-formal education organization that performs scouting education in Indonesia. Its founded in 1961 by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, and in 2011 Gerakan Pramuka Indonesia became the world’s largest scout association in the world with members [today] of about 17 million. ... Every activity is performed according to the Scouting Basic Principal (Prinsip Dasar Kepramukaan) and Scouting Method (Metode Kepramukaan). The final goal of these activities is the formation of character, morals, and noble character of young people in Indonesia. To find the aims and goals of Scouting, one need not"cherry-pick" scattered statements. instead, to assert that Scouting in the U.S. is not about building character, citizenship and fitness, one must ignore everything said on the topic by not only the "founder," B-P, but by all that those who built Scouting here, primarily Bill Hillcourt, "Scoutmaster to the World. The founders were wise enough to know that promoting an "educational movement" might attract adults. To attract boys you needed, as B-P said, "good bait." Fun and adventure are the essential "bait," but not the goals. The means by which these aims are to be accomplished vary over time and from Scouting organization to Scouting organization. But calling them "methods" means they are, necessarily, not "aims" or goals" unless one assumes that the authors of the statements lack a basic command of the language in which they have been expressed for over a century.

Deep Creek - my first Scout campout. SoCal high dessert. Fall. Terrific thunder storm. All but one tent blew away. Now you're talkin'!

Mrjeff is, I believe, addressing program, not goals. BF warned against asking youths to join an educational program to make them better citizen of the Empire. "So with Boys"

"proprietaries"

Fox ran the headline for days, as it is want to do for lack of actual journalism. And it was misleading every day. The offensive federal order applied only to federal proprietaries not to placing flags on vet's graves in general.

For many of these claims no one around back then is alive except the plaintiff. This makes it hard to mount a defense. That is a reason for statues of limitation of a couple of years - it is inherently unfair to allow the bringing of claims decades after the alleged individual wrongdoer and all other potential witnesses are dead. So politics. Legislatures arbitrarily extending periods of limitation by decades for political reasons. BSA might have done better by preserving its "base" instead of trying to placate its enemies.

That would require paid Scouters who actually know "the way it is supposed to be."