Posted on 02/28/2008 9:53:57 AM PST by fgoodwin
Q: Let’s talk about your new book, “On My Honor,” which draws on your experience as an Eagle Scout and champions the values of the Boy Scouts of America, to whom you are donating your royalties.
A: Yes, to their legal-defense fund.
Q: Which has been fighting the A.C.L.U., to keep gays out of the scouts. Why do you see that as a worthy cause?
A: I am pretty clear about this one. Scouting ought to be about building character, not about sex. Period. Precious few parents enroll their boys in the Scouts to get a crash course in sexual orientation.
Q: It’s a shame the Scouts are alienating so many American kids when they could be a force for equality and civic unity. What about the Boy Scout merit badges? Do they ever update them?
A: Oh, yes, absolutely. I was looking at a young man’s sash the other day, and he had merit badges on there I didn’t know.
Q: I was just looking at the hundred-plus merit badges online and was surprised that the Boy Scouts haven’t introduced more relevant projects than coin collecting.
A: They’ve done that. They’ve reached out and included things like the environmental-science badge.
Q: I know they have a dog-care merit badge, but why not a child-care badge?
A: Why not teach scouts how to change a baby’s diaper and help out moms? I don’t have a problem with that.
Q: How about a merit badge in vegetarianism?
A: It’s out there. It’s your choice. We raise a lot of vegetables down here in Texas. We like for people to eat vegetables.
Q; And instead of a shotgun-shooting merit badge, how about a gun-control badge?
A: Now you’ve stepped across the line. Remember, you are talking to a Texan.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
On what basis do you think that the BSA is alienating American kids?
What about the Boy Scout merit badges? Do they ever update them?
The requirements for every merit badge have been reviewed and revised over the last 5 years. Proposals for new merit badges are constantly being received and reviewed. Note that most new ones like Cinematography come from people or groups that propose them and support them. If you have a suggestion for a new MB, by all means send it to the BSA's National Council office in Irving, Texas and it'll be considered.
Q: I was just looking at the hundred-plus merit badges online and was surprised that the Boy Scouts haven’t introduced more relevant projects than coin collecting.
Relevant to what? Your political agenda? Your own personal interests?
There are merit badges for a wide variety of interests; athletics, arts, sciences, etc. Lots of people like to collect things, so there are a couple of merit badges for that. Coin Collecting is relevant to people who would like to know more about coin collecting. Cinematography is relevant to people who would like to know more about making films. Climbing is relevant to people who would like to find out what rock climbing is all about. Small Boat Sailing is relevant to people who would like to learn to sail a boat.
Q: I know they have a dog-care merit badge, but why not a child-care badge?
All Scouts who wish to earn the Eagle rank must earn Family Life, where such topics are covered.
Q: How about a merit badge in vegetarianism?
Perhaps no one has proposed one. The BSA does have Cooking merit badge, which is very popular. Perhaps a vegetarian advocacy group would like to propose a vegetarian option for it.
Q; And instead of a shotgun-shooting merit badge, how about a gun-control badge?
Here I cannot improve on the up-thread comment, "That IS a gun control merit badge." It is not the intent of merit badges to promote a political viewpoint or to get involved in political controversies.
First; why a gun-control badge instead of Shotgun Shooting? Why would you make a substitution?
Second, Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting are skills that are useful for recreation, obtaining food and for defending one's self and one's family. Such skills are very useful and are enjoyed by millions of Americans. The badge stresses safety very heavily. A gun-control merit badge would teach no skills and would promote a particular political agenda that is highly unpopular with a large number of Americans. What would be the point of that?
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