>> True, but I think using "Gay" in derogatory sense can be quite a bit more hurtful than those colorful words.

Hurtful?

There was a libel case here in Australia a few years back that centred on that very issue. Someone accused someone else of being "Gay". The accused sued the accuser for libel and sought damages for loss of reputation.

The case was dismissed. The judge ruled that calling someone Gay was hardly an insult in modern Australian society so there was no case to answer.

Seems a fair call by the judge. You're Gay. I'm Gay. She's a Lesbian. And your point is.....?

As someone who has been an active scouting member for 27 years, I am saddened by what the BSA hold as policies. It is really unfortunate that an organization founded by such a forward thinking man has been twisted in such a way. It is not the same in the rest of the world.

I'm Canadian, Scouts Canada has allowed girls in for 20 years, and in the past 10 no group has been allowed to deny them membership. Homosexuals are also allowed, and I know several openly homosexual scouting members. Atheists have unofficially been allowed in Scouting here for a long time, but as of this year Atheists are now officially allowed to join. I have never heard of any of those 3 policies causing any problems (except among a few 70+ year old group committee members with the attitude that nothing should ever change, and that if it wasn't like that when they were a scout it shouldn't be that way now)

A friend of mine (former Eagle Scout) says the Mormons are big contributors to scouting and that is why there is a ban on homosexuals. Anyone know if this is true?

(Please forgive me if I posted this before. I thought I did but I can't find it.)

Too bad we just have the BSA here. They need some open minded competition. If I was a parent I would not allow my child to join an exclusionary association.

Andrew,

My point is that using Gay in a derogatory sense can be upsetting for those who are indeed Gay. Example: I'm not Gay, my brother is not Gay. But, if I called my brother "Gay" as an intended insult, my sister(who is Gay) will certainly not appreciate my choice of words. Which is why I hypothesized that the forum software filters it. Could be wrong of course.

Ryan

Edited by ViolentGreen on 10/29/2011 11:56:55 MDT.

I agree with Ken. The Boy Scouts need some competition. So then all of the parents that agree with their policies can continue to send our kids there and have them continue to be a great organization, and then all of the open minded, all accepting, parents can send their kids to the alternative 'new' organization and leave the Boys Scouts alone! That was a point I had made to the OP awhile back. If your views and lifestyle choice don't line up with the Boy Scouts, start your own and good luck with it.

Edited by rp3957 on 10/29/2011 18:31:43 MDT.

Daryl: I have heard this same thing before, it really does sound like the religious zealots have run away with the BSA.

For an interesting view of the BSA you can see Penn & Teller's episode on the BSA... not exactly flattering...

The problem is the "open minded" people will not start their own organization because that defeats the whole mindset that the BSA must conform to their will or be destroyed. There is no "peaceful" coexistence with the left.

I'm also amused at how the 'open-minded', all-tolerant, all-accepting crowd is good with opinions UNTIL it is a christian or jewish opinion, then it is fine to label and throw expressions like "religous zealots" out there, and all is well in their minds. Christians are still 'fair-game' to degrade to the left.

Yes, why is it that The Left always wants to try to eliminate homophobia?! It's like they have an obsession with civil rights and fair treatment for all, or something. We had a good thing going with our little Down with Gays and Atheists thing... ya know, shaping the next generation of closed-minded young non-thinkers... and then The Left had to come along and try to screw it up.

Why can't I keep my little "private" organization that practices discrimination yet accepts Government funding, special treatment, and access? It's like they hate the separation of Church and State... oh wait... oh... whatever.

The "left", "progressive", "socialist", "communist", "anarchist" mindset, whatever, has no new thinking. There is "nothing new under the sun". All compassion, love, kindness, tolerance, peace, gentleness, joy, self control, patience, goodness, & faithfulness comes from the Almighty & not from the mind of man. So called agnostics or atheists who live in a society built upon Judeo-Christian principles acquiesce to the reality of God by their willingness to live in such a society. I am continually amazed by the willingness by many to accept the benefits of this grace without acknowledging its source. In the 27 years I have practiced medicine, not once have I encountered a death bed atheist. Freedom as western society understands the concept is a relatively new concept in world history & is a direct result of Judeo-Christianity, not as a result of "religion" but as a result of minds transformed by the Spirit of God within. God reaches out to & wishes a relationship with all people (regardless of sex, race, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation), but ultimately it must be on His terms. Therein lies the crux of the matter. Truth confronts, convicts, & makes us uncomfortable. This is why 7 pages of posts have been devoted to this thread as the BSA is a faith based organization

As long as the BSA is exclusionary and not inclusive, there is going to be conflict. Tolerance of other beliefs and all...

The Golden Rule, still the only rule needed.

James,

"All compassion, love, kindness, tolerance, peace, gentleness, joy, self control, patience, goodness, & faithfulness comes from the Almighty & not from the mind of man."

So where does the homosexual person turn for love, kindness, tolerance, peace, gentleness, joy, self control, patience, goodness and faithfulness if the Almighty has forsaken him/her?

Daryl

Edited by lyrad1 on 10/30/2011 01:57:17 MDT.

Dave, With both of your snide posts on this thread you have proven my point on how Christians are 'fair game' to throw any label or smart-a@# comments you want to make and they are cool! You are making very large assumptions that all Cristians are racist, bigots, homophobes, and religious zealots when there have been no derogatory remarks made against any of those groups by me or anyone else defending the BSA policy on this site. You can continue to unravel America's Judeo/Christian values with all of the ACLU-style and vocal minority attacks and wrap yourself up in the cloak of civil liberties, but the fact remains that there are still a majority of people that want to follow those 'narrow-minded' values, (your words), and become very successful, articulate, and valuable members to American society as many past Boy Scouts have become. I will reiterate my position, in reference to the OP's original question, (does anyone know or care what it was anymore), I still say start your own organization and do well with it by making it everything you want it to be, don't try and change a successful organization you don't agree with.

Edited by rp3957 on 10/30/2011 21:34:46 MDT.

"you have proven my point on how Christians are 'fair game' to throw any label or smart-a@# comments you want to make and they are cool! You are making very large assumptions that all Cristians are racist, bigots, homophobes, and religious zealots"

Robert, your comments seem to reflect the view that all people on the left who support the ACLU and other organizations are not christians. Nothing could be further from the truth, christians are a wide ranging lot. It's just that some christians take a very different lesson from the teachings of jesus than others.

"don't try and change a successful organization you don't agree with."

I'd say there are many who are rather glad that jesus didn't think the same way.....

Merle Haggard said it best: "If you don't love it, leave it".

Douglas, Both good points. I didn't say that Christians couldn't support the ACLU, I just meant to say overall I do not support them or agree with many of their positions. I think that that they are slowly trying to erode what our founding fathers based our country on the guidance and wisdom of Judeo/Christian values with frivolous lawsuits.

We do agree on the second point though. Jesus did excactly what I am telling the OP to do, ( without the crusificition and resurrection part ). Jesus did not agree with the established Jewish religious establishment of the time and He did start his own movement...Christianity! Now both exsist, and a person knows up-front, what they are committing to when they come into either faith.

I think many folks interpret what they want to out of my comments, but I think all of the lawsuits and talk of the Boy Scouts is just a 'smokescreen' until it is completely 'infiltrated' , ( again, using an earlier posters words ), and completely changed until it fits some 'politically correct' mold and it will cease to be The Boy Scouts Of America.

As far as the commandment to love one another goes. I have many friends that are lesbi@n that I go to church with, play softball with and work with that I love as sisters, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with their lifestyle. I think sexuality of ANY kind isn't talked about, nor should be talked about as a Boy Scout. I would feel the same if anyone had that discussion in Scouts with my son. Like I mentioned earlier, I think once the 'firewall' of BSA's ethics are breached, it becomes like any other generic organization.

I have a suggestion for the name for the new organization, All-Accepting Scouts of America. No drop the America part, too restrictive, make it the All-Accepting Scouts of the Universe or something equivelant.

Edited by rp3957 on 10/31/2011 20:15:36 MDT.

This is an old thread but its become relevant again.

boy scouts is seeking the opinions of the general public on whether they should continue their ban on homosexual scouts and leaders.

they have set up a hotline to find out if people are FOR the policy change to include all scouts and leaders, or AGAINST the change and want to keep homosexual scouters and leaders out.

the hotline number is 972 580 2330 if you would like to share your opinion.

thanks,
tyler

I called and they said to email nationalsupportcenter at scouting dot org so I did

I am an Eagle scout but have dropped any support of the organization because of anti-gAy policy.

Also ant-aetheism policy - they should allow any religions or non-religions, in my opinion

Thanks for posting that

profanity filter detected gAy so you have to capitalize one of the letters

Curious why you're an Eagle then, Jerry, if you had an issue with the policy? It's always been this way (maybe not spelled out specifically as it is now since it was a much smaller issue when you were a Scout).