Boy Scouts Discrimination (beliefs, homosexuals, attending, America, atheist)

[Ryan2065]

Originally Posted by Terrywoodenpic

The Boy scout movement is international, Founded By Baden Powel in England.
It is not permitted to ban anyone by its own laws.
How the American branch can start banning Gays and atheists and stay in the international brotherhood I can't fathom.
Even communist Russians and Chinese were allowed in to international Jamborees.

Perhaps the Americans did not go.

They continue to go to the international jamborees... Perhaps each "Boy scouts of xxx" are allowed to set their own rules?

Well I dropped out of scouting in 2002 and I remember many fundraisers for the international jamborees back then... I don't imagine much has changed since the Boy Scouts of America have held this policy since the early 90's

[hartlandcat]

What amuses about all this is the number of stories I've heard about individual boy-scouts leaving their tents at arranged times in the middle of the night to snog each-other (and probably do some other things as well). But then again, most of these stories would not have been from Americans, do I don't know. I've certainly never heard about the scouts in Britain banning atheists or gay people — they probably wouldn't get enough members if they did (refer to the atheists, of course! )

[standing_on_one_foot]

They can do whatever they want...they shouldn't get stuff from the gov't, I think, if they have standards like that, no free access to gov't owned areas when other people would have to pay, etc. Other than that, heck. It's too bad, but what can you do that wouldn't, say, jeopardize civil liberties and such?

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Ryan2065

Alright so I didn't see an active thread on this yet in 2006 so I decided I would start this one up... My question is what do you all think of the Boy Scouts refusal to allow homosexuals and atheists in?

Not much. My husband was a den father and cub master when our son was in Scouting early on, and frankly, was delighted when our son decided to leave Scouting.

Do you think they should be allowed to keep this policy being a private organization?

Yes.

Do you believe they should be allowed to use public property to hold meetings?

Public property like what? Around here, they mostly meet in churches.

Do you believe they should be allowed to hold their National Jamboree every 4 years that ends up costing the government 5 million dollars but also gives the armed forces a training session on having to set up emergency camps for many people due to some random disaster?

What other opportunity would the armed forces have for such a training session? Do they have better options?

[Booko]

Originally Posted by nutshell

The Boy Scouts of America is not a religious organization. You deemed it Christian, but there are also Muslim, Budhist, and other religious beliefs among it's members.

Very true. My son earned his Unity of Mankind award, which is a religious award for Baha'is.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Maize

There are other organizations that do similar activites that do not discriminate. I would explain to him why the Boy Scouts do not represent what we value and belief in and he would understand.

Girl Scouts don't discriminate. They haven't fallen apart on account of their inclusive policies.

[Ryan2065]

Originally Posted by Booko

What other opportunity would the armed forces have for such a training session? Do they have better options?

Not many chances to find 40,000 citizens that have 10 days for the training session...

[uu_sage]

I third this motion. Ex-Boy Scout myself.

Originally Posted by Maize

It is my understanding that they are a private organization, so I have no comment on who they exclude from membership other than to say that my son will never participate in that anti-gay organization.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Ryan2065

Not many chances to find 40,000 citizens that have 10 days for the training session...

Thanks Ryan...that's kinda what I thought, which is why I wasn't having a difficulty with the expense of a training exercise. The gov't would have an expense no matter who the volunteers were.