Sweden Speaks

[eisely]

I have been wondering where other scouting organizations were coming out (pardon the play on words) on the gay issue. Now we know. Of course the Europeans are not the rest of scouting worldwide. The issue of gay rights is creating quite a ruckus at the United Nations as well, because a lot of countries with other dominant cultures, notably Islamic countries, have an even more restrictive view. These countries also have scouting movements.

 

Finally, since when did Steven Cozza become an expert on American Culture? I don't presume to speak for him, and he should not presume to speak for the entire United States.

 

 

European Scouts Demand Intervention on US Homosexual Issue

By Patrick Goodenough

CNSNews.com London Bureau Chief

August 03, 2001

 

London (CNSNews.com) - A U.S. group campaigning for the Boy Scouts of America to change its policy of excluding homosexuals is participating in a Scout jamboree in Sweden this week.

 

Their European hosts would like to see the movement's world body change its non-interventionist stance on the issue and insist that the BSA back down.

 

Swedish Scouting Association spokesman Mats Pettersson said Friday that the Swedes felt there was no place in the Scouts for discrimination against homosexuals.

 

"On this particular issue, of course, we are much more liberal than the Americans, and we want to see a change in the position that the BSA has," he said by phone from Kristianstad.

 

The town in southern Sweden is the venue for the Scout 2001 jamboree, attended by 27,000 youths from 54 countries, although most of the scouts are Swedes.

 

Alongside the jamboree, 55 non-governmental organizations are participating in a "Global Development Village," which Pettersson said was aimed at opening the delegates' eyes to what the NGOs do on a range of issues.

 

Scouting for All, a California-based group formed by former Eagle Scout Steven Cozza and others to oppose BSA policy on homosexuals, had been invited as one of these NGOs, he added.

 

Scouting for All said in an earlier media release it would hold workshops to educate the thousands of children about the issue it is campaigning on.

 

"These presentations will educate over 25,000 youth and their leaders as to the harm discrimination in Scouting can cause and how to initiate change to end the prejudices that face the youth of the world today," the release said.

 

"This question of discriminating for homosexuality is a question that interests us because in Sweden, of course, Scout groups can't discriminate because of homosexuality," Pettersson said.

 

If a Swedish Scout group kicked out someone for this reason, it would itself be expelled from the national Scout organization.

 

Pettersson would not be drawn on whether Swedish Scouts felt the BSA should be expelled from the World Organization of the Scouting Movement (WOSM) because of its stance. "I wouldn't like to make a statement on that."

 

Swedish Scouts had written to the BSA two years ago, he said, "asking how they could expel someone if they claim they are open to all without distinction." No answer had been received.

 

They had then written, together with Finnish Scouts, to the WOSM, asking the world body about the criteria on which members could be excluded.

 

The WOSM had replied that it was up to national associations, he said.

 

"In Sweden, we would not normally interfere with what a national organization does, but since there's democracy within the world Scout movement, we feel that it's our obligation being Swedish and also Scandinavian, that we should work on this issue and try to make the [WOSM] change their position in this matter."

 

The WOSM secretary-general, Jacques Moreillon, would be attending the Scout 2001 jamboree Saturday, Pettersson said. "Unofficially, we will have a discussion with him about this. We have also made him aware that Scouting for All is invited here and that he should expect to see them here."

 

Pettersson said the jamboree itself, which ends late Saturday, had not discussed the homosexuality issue; it was being discussed on the sidelines.

 

Two weeks ago, however, at a European Scouting conference in Prague, a resolution had been passed unanimously asking European Scout groups to work towards prohibiting "any discrimination whatsoever due to homosexuality of Scouts or leaders."

 

Although the resolution hadn't referred to the U.S., he said, "I think it was very strongly [aimed] against the BSA in America."

 

The WOSM oversees 151 national Scout organizations. Its spokesman, Mark Clayton, confirmed the body's position on Friday..

 

"The requirements for membership, as for many other things like uniforms, badges, training schemes, are established by each national association," he said from Geneva. The WOSM would not be drawn into such issues.

 

The U.S. Supreme Court last year upheld the BSA's constitutional right of association, saying it had the right to dismiss an openly homosexual Scout leader.

 

Scouting for All's Cozza said in the group's statement that the BSA was clearly violating the WOSM's position that national associations should reflect the culture of the country in which they are located.

 

"Currently in America the Boy Scout's of America are not being culturally driven," he charged. "The BSA is following a religious fundamentalist doctrine which excludes all other ideologies, and persons who don't adhere to that doctrine."

 

[jmcquillan]

Well, it's just great the the Swedes and Mr. Cozza share a common opinion. I trust they'll have a nice life together.

 

 

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..........

[Rooster7]

"Currently in America the Boy Scout's of America are not being culturally driven," he charged.

 

This is a bad thing?! More than most churches, BSA has stayed true to its original values. This fact makes me proud to be a member of BSA...It also makes me very sad for so many churches.

[frankj]

It sounds like Cozza wants to dumb down the Scouts in this country. If we were culturally driven, there would be merit badges for body piercing and hangin' at the Mall. The attraction of the organization is rooted in its traditions. This is the same as some religions as alluded to by a previous posting here. If the Scout organization shifts its beliefs in order to stay in step with the current culture (as defined by whom?) then what do they have to offer that sets it apart?

[slontwovvy]

Just pulled this out of the archives. I can't help but laugh at some people. Steven Cozza is one of them. Go on his website if you ever want to read something bizarre and funny. And this person has the nerve to declare himself an Eagle Scout.....

[yaworski]

What I don't understand is why all these furriners want to tell us how to run things in our country. If the US ever says anything about how another country does something, we're called "Damned Yankees" and told to mind our own business.

 

Hell, all of Yurrip loves us when the **** s the fan but can't stand us any other time. Their decandent cultures can't produce a military to save their asses.

 

[k9gold-scout]

Yes, this from a country goes into churches and puts priests and ministers in jail for preaching out against homosexuality, and they laugh at boy scouts wearing their uniform in public. Is any type of sex or drugs OK in Sweeden? How do they treat people of either Christian or Jewish faith?

[evmori]

Is there something wrong with not being culturally driven? I don't think so. The BSA is sticking to the principles it was founded on. There is nothing wrong with that.

 

Ed Mori

Scoutmaster

Troop 1

[sctmom]

What would the ramifications to BSA be if BSA said "Fine, we don't want to belong to WOSM anymore"?

 

[yaworski]

" 'What would the ramifications to BSA be if BSA said "Fine, we don't want to belong to WOSM anymore'? "

 

Hmmmm. . . .lessee . . . you wouldn't have to wear that silly purple patch on your left breast anymore. That's about it.

 

 

[littlebillie]

I'm grateful I live in a country where folks have the right to speak their minds, where kids like Cozza (regardless of what you think of Scouting For All) have the courage to speak up for what they believe is right, and where there are forums like this to KEEP discussing it, whatever side of the fence you're on.

 

 

[slontwovvy]

Watching "Scout's Honor", I wonder if Steven is speaking up or if his father is speaking up through Steven.

[evmori]

slontwovy,

Excellent point. Many times a youth will spout off about something in an organization he/she is involved in and they are being nothing more than a mouthpiece for mom and/or dad.

 

Ed Mori

Scoutmaster

Troop 1