Summer Camp - Lack of Disciplinary Action

[EagleInKY]

Cmon, I think it's pretty obvious that this jacket wasn't of a religious nature. ASM59 said "out of respect for all, I will not post what was written on the jacket". I'm assuming it was something pretty foul, or he would have been more specific.

[Eamonn]

OGE,

I of course would hope that the Lad and myself would meet on friendly terms?

I see people wearing, talking and saying things that offend others as not in keeping with a Scout is friendly.

However if we were unable to have a meeting of the minds, then of course the next step would be his SPL or SM.

As for the WWJD shirt, I don't see many people having a problem with it.

At one OA weekend there was a Lad wearing a cap with a marijuana plant on it, the caption read "This Bud is for you." I did explain that this wasn't acceptable at a BSA camp and we had a long talk about Bob Marley and the Rastafarian religion.

I love reggae music and back home in London had a few friends that were really into the Rastafari. By the time we were done, the Lad seen that I wasn't trying to pick a fight with him.

Eamonn

[scoutldr]

We use the word "hump" at camp, too. It's in a song called "Alice the Camel".

[mmhardy]

IMHO I'm not so sure...I get the sense that there are some folks that would get pretty corked over a WWJD?...pass the wine, T-Shirt running around at Scout camp. Pardon the pun.

 

 

[Hunt]

"Then politely tell him he is no longer welcome at camp and remind him which part of the Scout Law he is out of tune with."

 

But Ed, what if he reminds you that as an American he has the right to free speech? You'd have to tell him that BSA is a private organization and that....well, you see.

 

As far as the WWJD shirt mentioned, or any similar shirt, the part of the Scout Law that's being violated is Friendly and Courteous. Wearing a shirt that you know will offend other people of good will is neither friendly nor courteous. (Note that there is a line between "offend" and "spark disagreement." I would say for example, that "WWJD" by itself would be on the OK side of the line, while "WWJD--be an Orthodox Jew" would be on the other. Similarly, "Kerry for President" should be OK, while "Bush Stinks" is not. I also added the phrase "of good will" because some people will be offended by anything. Your mileage may vary, of course.)

[Lynda J]

At summer camp this year I saw a couple of boys all but exchanging blows. I stepped in and one of them told me to mind my own business. At that point I found their SM and got little response. I then went to the Camp Director, who I attended National Camp School with. He went to the SM and informed him that any further fighting with any boy in his troop the entire troop would be told to leave camp. Seems I wasn't the first one that went to him. Guess what, I found out the troop is from a very wealthy area. I find it astounding how in many cases the higher the income level or the boys the ruder and less respectful they are.

[GopherJudy]

ASM59

 

EEK about the Mom! No wonder the boy thought it was ok to wear that jacket! I guess the parents don't have any brains! I hope that someone mentioned to her that she shouldn't be walking around in her underwear!

 

Scoutldr,

 

My son knows that camels have humps, he watched "Barney" as a baby & toddler & knows the song "Sally the Camel"! I wasn't too happy of him learning another definition of Hump as this scout was talking about "humping his girlfriend". My son didn't need to hear this at the age of 10.5, I know he'll hear & learn it one day but I would prefer it be when he's quite a bit older!

 

mmhardy,

 

You posted "For example...if I came to camp wearing a shirt that said "WWJD...be an orthodox Jew" I'm certain that there are some who's head would spin while others see it as point of absolute truth." To be honest with you, I have no idea what "WWJD" means? If you could clue me in so I'd understand your post better I'd appreciate it! thanks!

 

 

Judy

 

[mmhardy]

WWJD? = What Would Jesus Do?

[evmori]

If the jacket had "WWJD...be an orthodox Jew", he wouldn't be violating any Scout law. That is a fact.

 

Sure he has the right to free speech. So do I. So does everyone else. By asking him to remove the jacket that is not needed that has questionable language on it isn't stepping on his right of free speech. For all we know, it could be considered pornographic!

 

Ed Mori

Troop 1

1 Peter 4:10

[Hunt]

"If the jacket had "WWJD...be an orthodox Jew", he wouldn't be violating any Scout law. That is a fact."

 

I don't agree. I think such a shirt would be mocking people who wear WWJD shirts, and as such would be unfriendly and discourteous. Perhaps there is more than one interpretation of what such a shirt would mean, but that's what I think it means.

 

Ed, on free speech...printing on a jacket IS speech. He doesn't have a right to free speech when he's on somebody else's property--or rather, the property owner has the right to kick him out if the owner doesn't like the speech. That's one of the limitations on free speech in our society.

[GopherJudy]

mmhardy,

 

thanks for the explanation of "WWJD", as I said, I never heard of it before.

 

Judy