Reply to Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns.

Forum Index » Tweens and Teens

Reply to "Is Boy Scouts a thing now? DS wants to get into it, but I have some concerns. "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My issue with BSA is not that it's a religious organization or even that religious underpinnings were the basis for overt discrimination against homosexuals for over a century (since that is currently being addressed - finally).  My objection is that it specifically discriminates against one specific belief system while accepting all others in a manner which is capricious and has, as many people have pointed out, pretty much nothing to do with their core activities or the values of good citizenship that they promote.

As the poster who suggested that atheists believe that they are the "be-all and end-all of the universe" has demonstrated, this promotes the pernicious, widespread, and demonstrably false belief that atheism is antithetical to strong personal morals and good citizenship.  I cannot support that message.

Think about how you might feel about the BSA if, instead of excluding atheists, they specifically excluded Hindus, or Buddhists.  What if the rule was "no polytheists allowed" or "no Wiccans" or "no Scientologists?"  Discrimination against atheists is still accepted in this country in a way that discrimination against other belief systems is not.  It shouldn't be.[/quote]

I just do not think it is possible for one private organization to be everything to everybody.  An atheist on this thread has already said that they allowed their kid to participate in scouting because their kid really enjoyed the activities.  Maybe that poster didn't agree with the wording in every ceremony but they were respectful enough of the organization and the other members to adapt.

[b]So I disagree that BSA discriminates against atheists.[/b]  No one is going to demand proof that you have religious beliefs. You are free to attend the meeting and simply go through the motions if that is all it is to you.  But you shouldn't expect flag ceremonies or anything with a religious component to be done away with just because you don't have religious beliefs.[/quote]

Of course the BSA discriminates against atheists.  The fact that children have to hide their beliefs or lie about their beliefs to belong is a pretty good indication of discrimination.  The fact that it's discrimination that you and others are comfortable with does not change that objective fact.  Moreover, I have a really hard time wrapping my head around the hypocrisy of parents who allow or even encourage their sons to lie to stay in the Boy Scouts.  Being truthful is supposed to be a fundamental, cornerstone principle for the BSA and yet, people are willing to encourage their child to ignore it when it becomes inconvenient so that he can participate in all of the fun BSA activities.  I think that I could understand (but not condone) compromising fundamental values better if we were in a small town in middle America where you joined religious organizations or faced social ostracism and stigma, but here?

Like I said, it's just discrimination that many (most?) people are ok with.  It doesn't make it right.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics