I think with the scouts, they are correct in that there have been societal issues that have affected the organization. However, that doesn't excuse hiding all the cases that have happened. Image has always been all too important to the scouts. Also, their approach in preventing abuse (if there aren't any gays or atheists, there aren't any pedophiles), is clearly ineffective and logically flawed.

When I was a young kid, I had seen an ad in a comic book for cub scouts, and wanted to join so bad. Once I was old enough, I joined, and my parents were involved as well. I must say that it was a very positive experience for the most part, learning some good skills. Once I had my Arrow of Light, I didn't get involved in the regular Boy Scouts, mostly because of scheduling, location, etc. As I got older, I realized that I had an issue with how the organization treats atheists and gays. While I would like for my boys to be exposed to some of skills scouts teach, I just can't let them be systematically taught to discriminate and be told that it's okay.

Now, when those dang girl scouts go out and sell those cookies, I buy too many boxes of them, spending too much money, and consuming too many calories. When I am asked to buy something, donate, whatever, in support of the Boy Scouts, I politely decline. Often, I think that I would prefer to say, "I'm sorry, but I can't support an organization that actively promotes discrimination." But I don't know if the kids would bother learning from it, when "Loyalty" is such an important thing to Scouts.

On another note, I often wonder how many organizations are out there for socialization and families that aren't driven by religion, politics, or alcohol, especially on the Harbor.

Does the pedophile ice-cream man rank up their anywhere? If you dig deep enough there a quite a few stories of local businessmen and other pillars of the community who can be filed away under the peder-ass category!

Keeping pedophiles away from children makes sense. Keeping athiests and homosexuals out of the Boy Scouts does not.

Yes, it's their choice but the Girl Scouts were faced with the same choice and evolved.

Can you earn a Boy Scout badge for lying?

On my honor I will do my best
to do my duty to God and my country...

Then there's that "morally straight" verse in the oath.

Awkward.

I wrote that the Boy Scouts have a right to discriminate if they choose. Until they end their discrimination as the Girl Scouts have done, I don't support them. I urge the United Way to quit giving to them. I urge public schools to quit giving them access to our children in greater form than other entities, etc.

I can start a club of tall fat men and not let anyone else in. It's ok.

Hmmmm...maybe you could urge our government to stop giving paychecks and perks to the members of the Congressional Black Caucus until they end their discrimination.

Did the name change to the "Heterosexual Boy Scouts"? I don't recall that.

FWIW, there was also a time when black congresspeople or Senators were excluded or very rare. Getting together as a group to help others get in or to help one another through the legislative maze makes or made sense.

So, I would probably support a discriminatory group of "homos kicked out of the boy scouts" or "gays refused entry to the boy scouts" or "atheists kicked...." etc.

***on edit***

I intended to add another post, but inadvertently edit the other post to this one instead. While I can't remember the previous post verbatum, it was basically explaining my lack of support for groups like "Miss Black America" and/or the NAACP.

Sorry for the screw up.

They get paychecks and perks because they are elected members of Congress. They shouldn't get any special access not given to other caucuses. If donors want to give more because they are in that caucus, they can, but don't have to. Just like Stash and I don't have to support the Boy Scouts. I would discourage that kind of discrimination as well, FWIW.

Thanks to Democrats.