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To Our Readers
SCOUTING was straightforward when I was one: Tuesday evening troop meetings in the town gym; weekend hikes hauling pup tents, sleeping bags and prehistoric knapsacks to piney campgrounds where it rained a lot; summer camp; water-balloon fights; canoe races; merit badges and knot boards. On my honor,
to do my bestThere are things you never forget: the tangy smell of canteen water, campfire songs, the Scout's Sign, the Law, the Pledge.
As a scout, I struggled memorizing Morse code, pitching a tent and mastering the crawl, breaststroke, backstroke, sidestroke and heat stroke. I learned how to fire a rifle, lash poles together, split firewood, eat reconstituted dehydrated food-like materials, tell ghost stories, row a boat, send obscene words by semaphore, stop the bleeding and treat for shock. Many of these skills have been useful in later life -- especially telling ghost stories.
Sex was not on Scouting's agenda. Now it's the buzz. Indignant Republicans say they are appalled by Democratic Convention delegates -- especially "34 openly homosexual delegates" -- who booed Eagle Scouts who were invited to the opening ceremonies.
Meanwhile, the Dems are baling political hay over Bill Clinton's signature being "quietly removed" from the certificates presented to Eagle Scouts. The nation's impeached chief executive is honorary president of the Boy Scouts.
One BSA HQ account is that the presidential John Henry was omitted in orderly anticipation of Oval Office turnover. Another is that Eagles have been returning their certificates for replacements, sans Monica's boyfriend's autograph.
In Congress, the nexus of political one-upmanship, a bill to strip the Boy Scouts of their 1916 national charter was introduced to counter the boneheaded official BSA policy against homosexuals.
Boy Scouts of America's misguided foray into sexual politics belies its motto, "Be prepared." If Scouts today are anything like those of 40 (or so) years ago, this minefield is, and should remain, terra incognita.
More than 100 million kids have profited from Boy Scouting's experiences, skills and values. When adults pick their fights, they also need to pick their battlefields. This one should be kapu.
John Flanagan is editor and publisher of the Star-Bulletin.
To reach him call 525-8612, fax to 523-8509, send
e-mail to publisher@starbulletin.com or write to
P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.