...I'm okay with being REALITY-based.




Thursday, October 02, 2003
      ( 2:46 PM )
 
Boy Scouts Try on Visciousness and Hypocricy for Size

I have not been a supporter of the national Boy Scout organization since it enacted its very short-sighted and, in my view, faulty, decision to not allow gay men to be Scout leaders. The organization allowed itself to fall victim to the ridiculous and insulting assumption that gay men are pedophiles or that they would somehow wrongly influence or hurt the boys they lead. At any rate, the organization has now sunk to the lowest possible level of decision making skill - otherwise known as WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

The Boy Scouts of America’s American Freedom Rally was held as a fundraiser in Georgia on Saturday and the invited guest speakers included traitor, cheat and liar Oliver North and bile-mouthed ranting lunatic Ann Coulter. To a group of boys and their parents, these two paraded their cheap brand of pseudo-Americanism and the Boy Scouts of America condoned the entire event.

I can't understand for the life of me why North is a roll-model parents want their scouting boys to admire and emulate. The man undermined the US government, assisted in the killings of thousands of people in Nicaragua, lied to Congress, was caught lying to Congress, and wore his uniform while lying to Congress. This is NOT a man I would EVER exalt to my son. If my son ever wanted to be in the Boy Scouts, I would have to think twice about allowing him to go if this is the kind of person that that organization would want my son to admire. As for Coulter:

Conservative author and attorney Ann Coulter blasted
liberals during her speech, specifically with regards to
their positions regarding the war in Iraq.

“Let’s just say that this was a war just for oil,” Coulter
told the crowd of about 300. “Why not go to war for oil?
We need oil. What do Hollywood celebrities think fuels
their jets? How do they think their cocaine is delivered?"

This is not only disgusting, it is totally ridiculous! What does a woman like Coulter have to do with Boy Scouts and their ideals anyway? The last time I checked, the Boy Scouts swear an oath to be kind, courteous, trustworthy and brave. How are the likes of Coulter adding any sort of positive perspective on those character traits?

North is neither brave or trustworthy and Coulter is neither kind or courteous or helpful. Not to make too fine a point of it. But these character traits they insist their Scouts uphold in their personal lives didn't seem to matter to the BSA in the planning of this event:

“We thought it was a great idea to bring in people
who are patriotic,” said Cooper. “We had contacts
for Col. North, Ann Coulter and (radio personalities)
Rick (Burgess) and (Bill) Bubba (Bussey) and it kind of
snowballed. We wanted just a really patriotic night.”

If this is how the Boy Scouts of America define patriotic, then something has gone terribly wrong with that organization. It is definitely not a group I would ever encourage my son to be a part of at this point. I want my son to learn about and admire people who are truly brave and truly patriotic. Shame on the Boy Scouts.

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