# I'm sick and tired of Boy Scout bashing. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 3, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780 "2001-08-03T14:54:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/61 "2001-08-04T02:16:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dr. Lao \* > \*\*I haven’t seen anyone bring this up yet, so here it goes. Roughly one sixth of all scouts are Mormon. The Mormons are very anti-homosexual, to the point of threatening to leave the BSA is anything other than a hard-line anti-homosexual stance is taken. The BSA’s leadership is afraid that the Mormons going AWOL will devastate scouting. Nobody is too interested in making the decision that will end scouting, so they continue their discriminatory stance. \*\* That makes a lot of sense; somebody’s probably going to ask you for a cite, so I may as well do it: cite, please. One other thing that hasn’t been mentioned is that the president of our country is the honorary leader of the BSA (as cited in [this press release](http://www.house.gov/woolsey/press417.htm)). A few people object to this, saying that the president is giving tacit approval to the discriminatory policies in question. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/62 "2001-08-04T02:33:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*OKay, never mind, it was answered. > > You know, when I was in school, I was a Girl Scout for five years-two years as a Brownie, and three as a Junior. I have to say I’m proud that Girl Scouts are more tolerant and open, and find the BSA position rather narrow minded and ignorant. > > Do they offer Badges in ignorance? \*\* I listed all the badges in an above post. ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/63 "2001-08-04T02:36:16Z")
Former Eagle Scout sadly checking in…We are told that when the rank of Eagle Scout is attained that we are an Eagle forever. I was proud of and worked hard for the achievement. Nearly all of my family was involved in scouting. Upon Nationals decision to exclude gays, I felt compelled to return my Eagle Scout Medal along with my regretful resignation. I’m straight, but intolerance was not taught when I was a member. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/64 "2001-08-04T02:41:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Dr. Lao \* > > \*\*I haven’t seen anyone bring this up yet, so here it goes. Roughly one sixth of all scouts are Mormon. The Mormons are very anti-homosexual, to the point of threatening to leave the BSA is anything other than a hard-line anti-homosexual stance is taken. The BSA’s leadership is afraid that the Mormons going AWOL will devastate scouting. Nobody is too interested in making the decision that will end scouting, so they continue their discriminatory stance. \*\* > > That makes a lot of sense; somebody’s probably going to ask you for a cite, so I may as well do it: cite, please. > > One other thing that hasn’t been mentioned is that the president of our country is the honorary leader of the BSA (as cited in [this press release](http://www.house.gov/woolsey/press417.htm)). A few people object to this, saying that the president is giving tacit approval to the discriminatory policies in question. \*\* That makes a lot of SENSE??? CITE yourself, please, you narrowminded bigoted speck of shit. Good lord. " Yes, it makes sense to paint an entire religion with the brush of bigotry, and not back it up at all. Sure does make sense to me !" Obviously you lack sense. You say, a FEW people object to the President being the honorary leader?? Man, am I glad I don’t hang out with your klan…er…circle of friends. OOps, did I just paint you with a broad brush? Golly. Sorry about that. Hurts, huh? Go troll your hateful crap somewhere else, you chose the wrong forum to spew to. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/65 "2001-08-04T02:43:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > **That makes a lot of sense; somebody’s probably going to ask you for a cite, so I may as well do it: cite, please.** From the August 6, 2001 issue of _Newsweek_, pages 48 and 49: > [@](#): > > Some religious institution were openly relieved by the [United States Supreme Court ruling allowing the BSA to continue excluding homosexuals], especially the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which has adopted scouts as its official youth program. More than 400,000 Mormon boys participate in church-sponsored troops, 13 percent of scouting’s total. As a result, observers say Mormons exercise unparalleled clout over the national board, which for years was sprinkled with top executives from Eastern firms and now attracts mostly conservative civic leaders tied to the churches that sponsor troops. Before the Supreme Court ruling the Salt Lake City-based church threatened to break away from the fold if forced to tolerate homosexuals. Such a move would devastate scouting, a ranking leader says. “There is unadulterated fear that they’re going to bail out, that they’re going to start their own program,” says the Scout leader, who requested anonymity. “The Mormons have all the cards.” (Shields, the Scouts’ spokesperson, says that is not the case.) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/66 "2001-08-04T02:47:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AbbySthrnAccent \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > > \*\*OKay, never mind, it was answered. > > > > You know, when I was in school, I was a Girl Scout for five years-two years as a Brownie, and three as a Junior. I have to say I’m proud that Girl Scouts are more tolerant and open, and find the BSA position rather narrow minded and ignorant. > > > > Do they offer Badges in ignorance? \*\* > > I listed all the badges in an above post. \*\* It’s called sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/67 "2001-08-04T02:49:41Z")
Let’s wipe away some hearsay bullshit. Two VERY fact based questions: 1. How many members are there right now on the National Board of the BSA? 2. Of them, how many are LDS? Facts. Gimme facts. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/68 "2001-08-04T02:52:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by AbbySthrnAccent \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > > > \*\*OKay, never mind, it was answered. > > > > > > You know, when I was in school, I was a Girl Scout for five years-two years as a Brownie, and three as a Junior. I have to say I’m proud that Girl Scouts are more tolerant and open, and find the BSA position rather narrow minded and ignorant. > > > > > > Do they offer Badges in ignorance? \*\* > > > > I listed all the badges in an above post. \*\* > > It’s called sarcasm. \*\* Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/69 "2001-08-04T02:55:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cartooniverse \* > **That makes a lot of SENSE??? CITE yourself, please, you narrowminded bigoted speck of shit. Good lord. " Yes, it makes sense to paint an entire religion with the brush of bigotry, and not back it up at all. Sure does make sense to me !" Obviously you lack sense.** I was not painting an entire religion with a broad brush of bigotry, I was only speaking of the church’s official position which is anti-homosexual. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/70 "2001-08-04T03:02:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cartooniverse \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by Dr. Lao \* > > > \*\*I haven’t seen anyone bring this up yet, so here it goes. Roughly one sixth of all scouts are Mormon. The Mormons are very anti-homosexual, to the point of threatening to leave the BSA is anything other than a hard-line anti-homosexual stance is taken. The BSA’s leadership is afraid that the Mormons going AWOL will devastate scouting. Nobody is too interested in making the decision that will end scouting, so they continue their discriminatory stance. \*\* > > > > That makes a lot of sense; somebody’s probably going to ask you for a cite, so I may as well do it: cite, please. > > > > One other thing that hasn’t been mentioned is that the president of our country is the honorary leader of the BSA (as cited in [this press release](http://www.house.gov/woolsey/press417.htm)). A few people object to this, saying that the president is giving tacit approval to the discriminatory policies in question. \*\* > > That makes a lot of SENSE??? CITE yourself, please, you narrowminded bigoted speck of shit. Good lord. " Yes, it makes sense to paint an entire religion with the brush of bigotry, and not back it up at all. Sure does make sense to me !" Obviously you lack sense.\*\* Please, calm down; you’ve misinterpreted me. I meant no disrespect to individual Mormons or their chucrh. What made sense to me was the reasoning that, given the BSA feared it would lose one-sixth of its membership if it took a particular stance, that it would not take that stance. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/71 "2001-08-04T03:08:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cartooniverse \* > **You say, a FEW people object to the President being the honorary leader??** Yes, for the very simple reason that I don’t have a cite proving that a lot of people do, but I did find a cite saying that a few people do. If you have a cite saying that a lot of people do, I would love to hear about it; it would do a lot for my faith in the American people. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/72 "2001-08-04T03:27:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > \*\* Please, calm down; you’ve misinterpreted me. I meant no disrespect to individual Mormons or their chucrh. What made sense to me was the reasoning that, given the BSA feared it would lose one-sixth of its membership if it took a particular stance, that it would not take that stance. \*\* Oh, stop already. Don’t tell me to calm down. I read your posting at least twice, I can interpret context and innuendo as well as the next Doper. Your answer I’ve just quoted REALLY smacks of " Hey, some of my BEST friends are Jews, honest!! I wasn’t slamming THEM, man ! I was just slamming the UAHC\*\*\*\*\*\* and all that it stands for, that’s all! " As I’ve asked already, we can only truly understand the ALLEDGED connection once we find out with total factual basis how many Members of the BSA Board are LDS, percentage-wise. THEN this will all really start to come together. Cartooniverse \*\*\*\*\*\* Union of American Hebrew Congregations. A body of Reformed Jewish congregations in America ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/73 "2001-08-04T03:39:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cartooniverse \* > \*\*Oh, stop already. Don’t tell me to calm down. I read your posting at least twice, I can interpret context and innuendo as well as the next Doper. > > Your answer I’ve just quoted REALLY smacks of " Hey, some of my BEST friends are Jews, honest!! I wasn’t slamming THEM, man ! I was just slamming the UAHC\*\*\*\*\*\* and all that it stands for, that’s all! "\*\* There’s nothing much I can say here…My post did not convey my thought process at all; I never meant to say or imply that all Mormons are against gay rights. In fact, this is an appropriate place to say that **stereotyping on the basis of religion, church membership, or philosophy is always wrong**. This is my whole defense from here on out; take it as you will. For my part, I will be more careful in the future to spell out what I’m thinking and relate it to the context of the discussion at hand. ---
**Author:** ![MaceMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@MaceMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaceMan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/74 "2001-08-04T04:53:51Z")
I’d seriously like to know what other things, according to the administration of the BSA, violate their “morally straight” rule. Do they ban scouts and leaders who engage in premarital sex? Do they allow scouts or scoutmasters who smoke, drink alcohol, or curse? If it was found out that a scout was arrested once for a minor offense, would he be kicked out of his troop? Other than being gay, what other things would immediately disqualify someone from being a good “role model” or “morally straight,” as defined by the BSA? It seems clear to me that their policy selectively discriminates against gays, pure and simple. As a former scout, I am appalled. ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/75 "2001-08-04T15:11:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Oh, stop already. Don’t tell me to calm down. I read your posting at least twice, I can interpret context and innuendo as well as the next Doper. Now, when somebody says “Catholics oppose birth control”, most people who aren’t trying to pick a fight understand that to mean “I know that not every Catholic opposes birth control, but it is the official position of the church, and many of its followers do, in fact, adhere to that position.” Now, I don’t pretend to know the “official” Mormon position on homosexuality, but here’s a few things I picked up: [Number one](http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,105-1-11-1,00.html) > [@](#): > > The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. From [This one](http://library.lds.org/Library/lpext.dll/ArchMagazines/Ensign/1998.htm/ensign%20november%201998.htm/what%20are%20people%20asking%20about%20us.htm?f=hitlist&q=%5BRank%20500%5D%5BField%20general%20conference%3Ahomosexuality%5D&x=Advanced&opt=&skc=80000009402A85D77536EB4600000EE6&c=curr&gh=1&2.0#LPHit1) > [@](#): > > We want to help these people, to strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties. But we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity, if they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same-sex marriage situation. To permit such would be to make light of the very serious and sacred foundation of God-sanctioned marriage and its very purpose, the rearing of families. From [Here](http://mormon-truth.net/sex.htm) > [@](#): > > Mormons are in principle very strict in sexual matters. Chastity before marriage and fidelity after are stressed. Homosexual behavior is strongly condemned. [This](http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/scotts/bulgarians/church.html) seems as close to an “official” position as I’m going to find for the moment. What I took from it was that there’s some divide on the issue, but the official position remains anti-gay. And so on. While I even found affirmation.org–I believe it’s called–a group for gay Mormons, it seems pretty clear that the Church LDS has its share of anti-homosexual rhetoric. Make of that what you will, but it does make sense that the Boy Scout leaders would choose not to piss off an influential group. It’s still the wrong thing to do, but at least it gives some insight into the decision-making thought process. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/76 "2001-08-04T16:55:27Z")
**Cartooniverse** , are you being deliberately ingenuous? YES, the official LDS position is that homosexuality is sinful. Obviously, there are individual Mormons who don’t go along with this, but that doesn’t alter the church’s stance, anymore than individual Catholics on the Pill make the official RC anti-birth control doctrine irrelevant. Of course, that has no bearing on whether the LDS anti-gay position has anything to do with the BSA. Oh, and **Space Ghost of Whatever** , fuck you. I’m not going to bother debating with you because it’s obvious that your anti-gay position is based on irrational prejudice, and thus is not amenable to logical analysis. You’re a straight-up bigot, and you can go straight to hell. NOBODY gets to tell me that my instinct to love is less worthy than others because I love my own gender. And, yes, in at least one, admittedly anecdotal, instance the BSA has discriminated against minorities. In 1973, I quit the Scouts when the scoutmaster said I couldn’t let my best friend, Thomas, join the troop because his presence would make the other Scouts uncomfortable. Thomas was black. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/77 "2001-08-04T18:48:54Z")
I remember several years ago (1994) when W. Mitt Romney was running for the Senate against Ted Kennedy, watching a debate between the two. Romney, who is a Mormon, was questioned about his involvement on the Boy Scouts’ national board, and he replied that he was opposed to their policy of discriminating against homosexuals. He is the only Mormon I know of being on the board, but I have no idea of who else is on it. According to [this article](http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2000/12/15/214301.shtml), Romney is now in charge of the Salt Lake City Olympic Organizing Committee, which is not allowing the Boy Scouts to volunteer at the Olympics, as they had in Atlanta. Apparently, they aren’t really giving any information on why, and Romney isn’t returning phone calls to the Boy Scouts. Oh, and **otto** , as a Boy Scout leader in the Boston Minuteman Council (not the Minuteman Council, as the article stated, which merged with the Greater Boston Council several years ago) and someone who is concerned with gay rights, thanks for the info. I hadn’t heard that before. Unlike **SuaSponte** , I have no problem supporting the organization, which has been part of my life for 12 years now, despite my feelings on the wrongness of their stance on gays. And on this point, I encourage people to express their disgust with the organization. If “Boy Scout bashing” is the way to get it to change its stance, I fully support it. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/78 "2001-08-04T21:01:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SuaSponte \* > Quite frankly, I’ve never heard of anyone who is opposed to BSA’s policy on homosexuality ever, in print, on TV, on the radio, or in person, attack the Scouts themselves for their leaders’ policies. If your child has been attacked on these grounds, I apologize and condemn the idiot who did it. > \*\* I’ve not seen anything in print, on TV, or on the radio regarding attacks on the boys themselves. I was referring to two experiences, neither of which were on the news and both which happened to my son, one I witnessed. The first was an extremely busy school day, a football game right after school so I took his scout shirt with me to watch the game because he needed to leave directly from the game to get to a scout service project. In my ‘perfection’ as a mother I brought his shirt but no pants. So he did the service project activity in his scout shirt and dirty football pants. Then we had to run to school to get his backpack and school clothes, leave his football gear in the locker room and pick up his horn so he could do his school work before time to leave for a mid-week youth activity night. While in the locker room the coach asked about his progress and was generally complimentary to discover he is a scout. As he trotted out of the school still in his scout shirt carrying his horn, he passed his band leader. When he got in the car he told me thought the bandleader had just called him a “homo”. I said surely not, he’s a teacher. The next day the man kept him after class and pointed out that it was inappropriate for him to have worn a scout shirt to school (after school at about 6:30pm) because Boy Scouts are “homophobes”. Another time I took a group of three Boy Scouts to NASA’s Space Center Houston in uniform. Long story short, several young men who were apparently homosexual couples appeared to be following us around. They were calling the boys names, using profanities and making obscene gestures and tossing cigarette butts our direction as we waited in line for IMAX and tram tours. When a cigarette butt landed in my hair, I took it to security. He agreed to watch and follow us around and suggested I have the boys remove their scout shirts and spend the rest the day in their undershirts. The harassment stopped. I don’t know if the young men dishing out the harassment were homosexual for sure. But because of the nature of the remarks, gestures and profanities, the boys concluded their harassers where homosexuals. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by waterj2 \* > \ And on this point, I encourage people to express their disgust with the organization. If “Boy Scout bashing” is the way to get it to change its stance, I fully support it. \*\* Please express disgust towards the policy and the National Board of directors if you must. Treating individual scouts or troops as above when they are in public, does not teach them respect and tolerance towards homosexuals. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/79 "2001-08-04T21:14:44Z")
I do not condone, nor did I intend to imply that I did, any disrespect for the many wonderful people involved in the Boy Scouts, including myself. I meant “Boy Scout bashing” to refer only to harsh criticism of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. I have many friends to this day that I have met through the Boy Scouts, including the new Scoutmaster of my troop, whose birthday party I am going to later today as a matter of fact. ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780/80 "2001-08-04T22:41:31Z")
Sorry you felt the way you did, **bare** , but I respect your decision. I’m still proud to say that I’m an Eagle Scout and support the BSA. Abby has a good point, as pointed out in a Washington Times news article about the DNC convention last year (and not reported on by the Wash. Post, or NY Times), the six Scout’s in an honor guard to open one of the days events were resoundedly booed by an extremely vocal section of the delegates. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sick-and-tired-of-boy-scout-bashing/74780.md?page=5)