BOY SCOUTS - NOUN TO VERB
By Andy Weddington
Wednesday, 08 May 2024
Success in training the boy depends largely on the scoutmaster's own personal example. - Robert Baden-Powell
I was a Boy Scout.
Cub Scout and Webelos, too.
Though years more than half century ago, I remember without pause.
A Boy Scout is ...
trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
I cannot remember any weapon serial number assigned to me during nearly 27 years as a Marine but those 12 words, traits, etched into brain cells.
Memorizing and being able to explain each trait, along with other core scout knowledge, was required for earning Tenderfoot.
And those traits, complemented with the 10 Commandments and three U.S. Marine Corps core values (Honor. Courage. Commitment.), steered life.
When uncertain embrace core.
I did not earn Eagle Scout.
But lessons learned during several years of being a Boy Scout endured.
My original Boy Scout Handbook still has place on a library shelf. There's also Bible and Guidebook for Marines.
Any question that cannot be answered - directly or implied - within those binderies is hardly worth entertaining.
Scoutmasters - Mr. Gabriel and Mr. Davis - were superb!
They led boys - by example in thought, word, deed - turning them into young gentleman.
To this day clearly remember them.
And though different, they shared a confident, calm, steady way with their charges.
"Scouting rounds a boy out," went the slogan.
Sure did.
It was dumb when the Boy Scouts welcomed girls.
Stupid.
Why?
To what benefit of boys? To what benefit of girls?
If not enough common sense to understand why, prayers (reverent) for you.
Yesterday, I read the Boy Scouts of America changed the organization's name to "Scouting America."
That is, from noun to verb.
To me, Scouting America, considering these wayward times, aligns with the ongoing and escalating predation upon innocence.
Words matter. Because words influence and shape behavior.
Surely, not innocent oversight.
Where oh where, amidst attack and destruction, is American bravery?
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2 comments:
Is the Eagle now a Do-do; mired in doo-doo?
I could have sworn they changed their name years ago to "Scouts, USA" but I stopped keeping up with them when they got out of control. There's no rush of boys to join the Girl Scouts so the claims of youngsters wanting to change genders is really a load of garbage. But I'm curious - when will the adults in charge going to join the Boy and Girl Scouts under the new Boy Scouts banner of Scouting USA, or the more proper "Scouts, USA" with activities for either or both genders, proper supervision, and education as to how to coexist with the opposite sex, other races, religions, etc. Kind of like the Young Marines turned down a notch for those who would be a better fit for the Air Force, Army, etc.
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