Finally, some sanity is returning to Scouting.
But is it too little, too late?
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| On My Honor, Norman Rockwell |
It has made this vow to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has previously raised concerns about the "woke" tilt that Scouting has made in recent years.
This is a massive win for Scouting traditionalists, who have been against many of the changes that the organization has made over the past decade and a half or so. The worst, in my belief as an Eagle Scout, was allowing homosexuals into the ranks. Scouting's ideals are incompatible with any sexual behavior other than monogamous heterosexuality. A Scout takes an oath to "Keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight": virtues that homosexuality cannot adhere to.
Neither have I been impressed by allowing Boy Scouts to allow girls into the ranks. Look, boys and girls are complementary, but different. They each have their own particular needs that their respective organizations are meant to address. Unfortunately I think it started with Girl Scouts of America long ago turning "progressive" and failing in its mission to bring up young women of faith and virtue. Girl Scouts began allowing homosexuals into its own ranks and from there it was only a matter of time before the organization deteriorate to the point where it's barely clinging to life. No wonder that many young women wanted to belong to something with values and virtue. They found it in the Boy Scouts of all places. But they should have their own organization all the same. Ideally Scouting America would separate young men from young women and indeed, this is what is making competing organizations thrive. Scouting America has seen a significant decline while groups like Trail Life are growing substantially. One must wonder why that is...
Still, today is a great victory for Scouting. The organization has been given six months to get its act together before the United States military - long a partner in Scouting's mission of bringing up young people of sound mind and body - judges whether the changes are significant enough to warrant continuing their relationship.
Scouts have done far more than that with less time. Look at it this way Scouts: just as what happened in 1985, the hurricane has blown through the jamboree. You have half an hour to set all the tents back up. You can do it!!
(Eagle Scout 1992)
