BSA - What about THIS!

[lrd]

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editor...l?id=110005946

Bashing the Boy Scouts
One group whose First Amendment rights the ACLU opposes.

Friday, November 26, 2004 12:01 a.m. EST

Legal historians may someday explain how the once-great American Civil Liberties Union came to see the Boy Scouts as public enemy number one. In the meantime, the ACLU keeps on bringing its absurd First Amendment challenges against the Scouts. The Defense Department is the latest defendant to throw in the towel.

The issue this time is the status of Scout troops on military bases. Most troops have institutional sponsors, and the military has traditionally performed this function for troops on bases, especially overseas where other options aren't readily available. The ACLU claims this is religious discrimination because the Boy Scouts require members to believe in God.

That argument received a boost last week when the Defense Department agreed to issue an all-points reminder that official sponsorship of Boy Scout troops is against departmental rules. The edict is unlikely to have much practical effect, since most troops can continue under private sponsorship. But the PR effect is immense. Defense admitted no guilt--a subtlety that went mostly unnoticed in the media rush to report the ACLU's "victory."

If all this weren't silly enough, another part of the ACLU lawsuit uses the same church-state argument to object to the famous Boy Scout Jamboree, held since 1981 at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. This time the military is willing to fight the charges, which eventually will be decided by a federal court in Illinois. The Scouts receive no direct financial support from the Army for the Jamboree--though the ACLU contends there are indirect costs involved.

But so what? The military earns a lot of public goodwill and A.P. Hill's soldiers learn a thing or two in helping to put up a temporary city and police 35,000 energetic teenage males. The Army even comes out ahead financially. The Scouts expect to spend $29 million on next year's Jamboree--and that's on top of the $12 million or more that they've already put into the base's permanent infrastructure. The military and other civilian groups make use of those facilities when the Scouts aren't there, which is all but nine days every four years....

What do you think the fallout from this will be? When we were overseas, BSA was the one sure way for all the boys on base to have some male contact/interaction/supervision during deployment.

[Maas]

Thought you guys would like this:

From: Senator Bill Frist [mailto:Senator.Bill.Frist@publicaster.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 3:42 PM
Subject: Thanks!Giving


On Saturday I introduced a bill S. 3026 (“Save Our Scouts”) that I ask you to spread the word about. It reflects good ole commonsense. Last week the Pentagon directed American military bases worldwide to forego officially sponsoring the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). This was in part a response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, which accuses the U.S. government of improperly supporting the BSA because “God” is mentioned in the oath.

This is merely the first salvo by the ACLU to end all federal support for the Boy Scouts of America. In their view, where there is government there cannot be faith.

I was a Boy Scout. Harrison, Jonathon, and Bryan were Scouts. The BSA is congressionally chartered. It serves a patriotic, charitable, and educational purpose, and the federal government’s support to the Boy Scouts is embodied in law. The Save Our Scouts bill reaffirms our longstanding commitment to the tradition of scouting by stating that no federal law, rule, regulation, or order shall limit any Federal agency from providing support to the Boy Scouts of America (or the Girl Scouts of America) -- including meetings, jamborees, camporees, or other scouting activities on federal property.

I encourage each and every one of you that believes in Scouting or takes offense at the actions of the ACLU, to write your Senator or Representative urging them to support S. 3026, the Frist “Save Our Scouts” bill.

I leave you with the wise words of George Washington in the first Thanksgiving Proclamation, October 3, 1789.

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested me to commend to the people of United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness, now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, Who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or will be."

Karyn and I and our three boys wish you and your family a joyful Thanksgiving.

Bill Frist

Maybe it will be enough.

[JPH]

The Scout Law: A scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

The Scout Oath: On my honor I will do my best, To do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

The Scout Motto: Be Prepared

The Scout Slogan: Do a Good Turn Daily

I am a Eagle Scout of the Boy Scouts of America. I have continued my membership with the Boy Scouts as an adult leader.

I will never understand how someone could stand up against organizations that try to guide young men to follow the above guidelines to life. They have served me well, and I am very proud to call three fellow Eagle Scouts close friend, and very few things top the feeling of standing next to them in uniform welcoming another young man across as he completes the requirement along the trail to Eagle by living the scout oath and law.

Others (other scouts) may have other stories, however in my 17 years of scouting I have NEVER had anyone try to force any religious customs or beliefs on to me. I have had the honor and privilege to be exposed to many different religions other than my own, including atheist. This has made it much easier to be helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, and cheerful to other regardless if I agree with them or not.

Just my $0.02, I just had to voice my opinion on this, and this seemed like the right place to put it. I understand that this is just my opinion, but I also what to say that I am very proud of the rank of Eagle that I have worked for and the uniform I wear, just as many of you on this forum are proud of the rank and uniform you wear wile defending my right to peaceably assemble every Monday night at 7pm for a Boy Scout Meeting!!!!

Thank-you,
JPH