Another pressure point on the gay issue

[eisely]

Scouting has enjoyed strong relations over the years with a variety of societies dedicated to various sports, commerical activities, etc., in developing its merit badge program. If you look in the credits in the merit badge pamphlets you will often find some other organization identified as assisting scouting in developing the requirements for the badge, and contributing to the pamphlet.

 

A close relative who is a ham radio operator was recently elected to the National Board of Directors of the American Radio Relay League, one of these cooperating organizations. He was immediately contacted by several gay ham radio operators insisting that the League should sever its relationship with the scouts and soliciting my relative's support for this view. He turned them down.

 

This issue is not going to go away.

[OldGreyEagle]

Mr Eisely,

 

You seem to be very informed on this issue, as you have stated you post these items to let others know what is going on, etc.

 

Does national have a response to all these items? I think I saw a reponse that while there were little "brush fires" nothing of concern was happening, yet week by week more and more fires break out.

 

Where do you think this is heading? What will be the resolution or at least long term effects, I would like to hear yout opinions.

[eisely]

If I thought I knew where this was going I would be very prescient indeed. There is no question that the society as a whole is more tolerant of homosexuals. That is a good thing. Just to be clear, I think that homosexuals have the same rights to live in peace and earn a livelihood as any other ciitizen. This does not mean that non profit value and faith based organizatins cannot, in my mind, fairly discriminate in employment and membership matters. Further I see so called hate crime legislation as unnecessary and possibly unconstitutional.

 

As far as BSA is concerned, I don't see the threat of loss of financial support as a big deal. In those areas where United Way has become an issue the scouts have often done better on their own. United Way probably needs BSA more than BSA needs United Way.

 

The two larger issues are loss of access to public facilities and attitudes of charter partners. Two reform Jewish synagogues in Broward County have recently severed their charter relationships and scouts have been kicked out of one Jewish community center. In Oak Park Illinois, the local Parent Teacher Organizations were charter partners for seven cub scout packs. The PTO decided they could not accept the scouts' policy and only one charter was apparently saved. Some other churches stepped in, but the program has been hurt. There is turmoil within the United Methodist church nationwide on this issue.

 

In the end I think few charter relationships will be lost, and where that happens alternatives will be found. Parents themselves can form their own 501c3 corporation and get a charter.

 

The biggest threat is access to public facilities.

 

Nevertheless it is troubling when significant religous organizations turn away from scouts on this narrow issue.

 

Last November one of the suburban papers here, Contra Costa Times, ran a forum on this issue. The letters from scouters supporting BSA policy overwhelmed the few letters critical of scouts. As I wrote at that time, I don't know if homosexuals are born or made, perhaps both. Lacking clear and convincing evidence that all homosexuals are born that way I continue to support the BSA policy.

 

It is a cultural issue, like many, that has divided and will continue to divide this country. We are fortunate to live in a country where we can disagree and speak our opinion. Nevertheless I see the attitude of the so called Human Rights Campaign to discredit scouts and bring pressure everywhere they can, as highly divisive and intolerant, where there is ample room for disagreement.

 

This has been a random rambling, but maybe readers will find it interesting.

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

I'm happy to read most of these posts. I agree with almost every point made. I do have two comments though... First, in regard to Mr. Eisely's comments "...I don't know if homosexuals are born or made, perhaps both. Lacking clear and convincing evidence that all homosexuals are born that way I continue to support the BSA policy". Genetics is no excuse for vice. If it were revealed that a particular gene made one predisposed to murder, rape, pedophilia, etc., certainly you would not want to legitimize those individuals behavior. Alcoholism is a perfect example. Many studies state that the alcoholic is predisposed genetically. Nevertheless, they are not excused from resolving their condition.

 

Second, while I agree we should not seek to put this issue in the forefront, we should not be shy about our reasons for excluding homosexuals from BSA membership. Simply put, the organization finds the behavior to be immoral. Furthermore, it's our right as a private organization to exclude people who do not meet the established membership criteria. I'm proud to be associated with an organization that refuses to change its values with the "changing times".

 

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

 

I didn't write the above.

[jmcquillan]

Well, whoever authored the message above, it is very well put and clearly stated.

 

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

Mr. LeRoy,

 

I apologize for posting a message with your account. It was a little experiment. Scouter.com sent me your account information by mistake. Currently I am receiving emails from Scouter.com for your postings. I have sent them an e-mail asking them to correct this situation. Sorry...It won't happen again. Mike

[Mike Long]

OK, LeRoy you have had your fun and it's time to move on. Some of us here actually use, write and impliment web technology everyday in our work. I am one of those people and I am very familiar with RiverportForums and web security in general. What you claim to have happened is not possible due to the structure of the code used in the forum application. Not only that, the app kicks back duplicate instances of the same email address or username.

 

Very childish, very rude and very ignorant of the web.

 

 

 

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

Okay, sorry again...I have to break my promise.

 

Mr. Long, I hate to burst your bubble, but somehow it did happen. I'm sure Scouter.com can and will back me up when they read their email and correct the problem. As for Mr. LeRoy, I think he fights a little too hard to prove a point that most people probably understand. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but I really don't want his posts to be confused with mine and I'm sure he feels the same way. In fact, I doubt if he agrees with my post, which is probably why he was so quick to point out, it was not his.

 

Mr. Long, you may want to reconsider your accusation... Perhaps, even apologize to Mr. LeRoy. Otherwise, I tend to believe this will be an embarrassment to you. Mike Not Merlyn

 

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

 

Mike, it would help if you posted from your own login. Is your email mtkohout@juno.com?

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

LAST TIME...I PROMISE!

 

Sorry, my account is not working. I'm waiting for Scouter.com to straighten things out. I'd rather not post my email address...But I see that Scouter.com has managed to provide you with it. If you know how to fix my account, I'd appreciate your help...But please remove my email address from the posting. Thanks. For the last time, Mike NOT Merlyn