tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33855769.post5856287033851786627..comments2024-03-28T08:03:32.297-07:00Comments on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: I don't care about the Boy ScoutsBlackTsunamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02349560427762283170noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33855769.post-40709722779503829452012-07-18T16:04:20.551-07:002012-07-18T16:04:20.551-07:00Being a boy scout and particularly and eagle scout...Being a boy scout and particularly and eagle scout still carries a lot of valuable cachet. The military even offers an instant promotion to eagle scout enlistees. It may be a private organization on paper but its ubiquity and close relationship with the government makes it more public than private in reality.lorimakesquiltsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33855769.post-91446384441866520182012-07-18T11:21:49.086-07:002012-07-18T11:21:49.086-07:00I tend to agree with boy wonder. The BSA may not g...I tend to agree with boy wonder. The BSA may not get direct tax dollars, but it still gets indirect government help. Also, the Girl Scouts have never discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation. If non-discrimination is good enough for the girls, why not for the boys?Linneanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33855769.post-76340691619706270682012-07-18T07:04:18.920-07:002012-07-18T07:04:18.920-07:00I agree Alvin. Perhaps this is just my experience,...I agree Alvin. Perhaps this is just my experience, but the one good thing that did come out of the 2000 suppreme court case against the BSA is that they are forever linked to bigotry and discrimination. Much in the same way the Salvation Army and "the Christian Church" have become synonymous with prejudice. <br /><br />But yes, I've never quite understood the sense in going after a private organization. The fact that they get so much "free" stuff from our government just means we need to point that out. They're a private organization that excludes people from membership based on arbitrary standards ---and that's totally okay--- just not on my dime.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08232668595582349800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33855769.post-58792831525512933712012-07-17T17:35:28.187-07:002012-07-17T17:35:28.187-07:00Alvin,
The problem with a group like the BSA is ...Alvin, <br /><br />The problem with a group like the BSA is that they are ubiquitous in our public life. <br /><br />It is in the same perception of "too big to fail" with banks. meaning that EVERYBODY knows the scouts and they are the largest SOCIAL group for children. Without the scouts, millions of children would not learn some pretty important social skills. <br /><br />Unfortunately one of those is discrimination. <br /><br />Additionally they get tax dollars and some of that goes directly into Church Coffers. <br /><br />I frankly believe that Churches should not get Federal or State money for anything. <br /><br />I will grudgingly concede that the building they use for worship might be eligible for a property tax exemption, but NO other property, business, or organization, sub-organization should be allowed any tax exemptions. but then I don't like organized religions.mikenolanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33855769.post-11181550395572745792012-07-17T17:25:56.966-07:002012-07-17T17:25:56.966-07:00I just want to say that, I was personally negative...I just want to say that, I was personally negatively affected by the BSA's policies in a very significant way. It's not something I want to go into detail about but consider the impact this has on LGBTQ youth. As an adult, I really don't feel I'm missing out an anything, but considering the BSA's influence, particularly rural areas where positive LGBTQ groups are few and far between, the negative consequences of this policy on LGBTQ youth is huge in terms of encouraging bullying and ostracization.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470325503788056122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33855769.post-86760267362129668212012-07-17T16:36:43.729-07:002012-07-17T16:36:43.729-07:00Keeping the tax dollars out is the rub Alvin. The...Keeping the tax dollars out is the rub Alvin. The BSA gets millions of dollars in government benefits in the form of reduced rent or free use of public buildings. Additionally, the BSA recruits through our public school systems and the president of the united states is the honarary president of the BSA. The relationship between the BSA and the government is very complex and the notion that the BSA is a private organization is flawed in my opinion.boy wonderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01093125012817293823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33855769.post-19116315100093210382012-07-17T16:04:10.915-07:002012-07-17T16:04:10.915-07:00Still, it is part of the bigger picture of bigotry...Still, it is part of the bigger picture of bigotry. I say this as a former scout (Troop 42, Pawtucket, RI and Troop 13, Providence). <br /><br />But eventually it will change. You have two prominent board members from at&t and EY saying it should change. And as time goes on it will change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com