Democratic party should not attack Boy Scouts of America


Published on Wednesday, August 6, 2008 9:17 AM MST

Dear Editor:

I read with great appreciation Phil McBride’s article on the Mountain Man Rendezvous recently held by the Boy Scouts of America at Snow Flat on Mount Graham. The article evoked fond memories of the many times I attended what was then the 3G Council’s annual summer camp at Snow Flat.

Lessons then learned from the Boy Scouts remain with me today, as do the many friends I made in Scouting. In those days and for many years thereafter, no one believed that the BSA could become the focal point of controversy.

But that was then, and this is now. And now means that hardly a day goes by without some group attacking the Boy Scouts, its membership rules, its use of public facilities and even its national charter. Most people are not surprised that many of these attacks come from the ACLU. But the Democratic Party? Well, that’s another story. Most Arizona Democrats, especially those who call themselves “conservative Democrats,” would disavow and protest attacks by their state party upon the BSA.

They would certainly disavow the attacks frequently made by the Democratic Party of the Peoples’ Republic of California such as when, in 1995 on the 85th anniversary of the BSA, a resolution was introduced in the California Assembly acknowledging the contributions of the Scouts as follows: “Scouting makes a direct and positive impact on our communities by teaching the principles of the American social, economic and governmental systems.” The resolution mentioned some famous Americans who were Boy Scouts – John F. Kennedy, Hank Aaron and Bill Bradley among them – and concluded by congratulating the Scouts “for training our young people for citizenship, service and leadership.” But liberal Democrats killed it, with 17 voting against the resolution and another 26 abstaining.

However, it’s still a dirty, little subject that’s swept under the rug when it comes to the National Democratic Party, which, of course, is the party people join when they register as Democrats. The National Democratic Party has been no friend of the Boy Scouts. At the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles in 2000, delegates booed a group of young Scouts as they led the Pledge of Allegiance. And in 2001, a group of Democrats in Congress led a failed effort to repeal the Boy Scouts’ federal charter.

Recent history is replete with further examples of the animosity of the National Democratic Party toward the BSA. And did I mention that the membership of the ACLU, which has filed hundreds of lawsuits against the BSA and its use of public facilities, is comprised mostly of Democrats, with a sprinkling of nonaligned liberals thrown in?

The Democratic Party – the party of Jefferson and the oldest political party in America – has, it seems, abandoned the principles upon which it was founded. There is no doubt in my mind that Jeffersonian Democrats would not stand for attacks upon the Boy Scouts but would instead support the efforts of the BSA to teach and sustain a strong moral code among its boys and young men.

So when you are urged to join the Democratic Party because someone thinks it’s a better place for you, ask that someone about the Democratic Party and the Boy Scouts of America. If enough Americans did that, the Democratic Party might alter its view of the Boy Scouts of America.

Sincerely,

Brent F. Moody

Phoenix

Copyright © 2008 Eastern Arizona Courier

Comments

26 comment(s)

    Alan wrote on Aug 31, 2008 4:52 PM:

    " There is no doubt in my mind that Jeffersonian Democrats would not stand for attacks upon the Boy Scouts but would instead support the efforts of the BSA to teach and sustain a strong moral code among its boys and young men.

    I am not sure if it is the Dems or just the media which is generally referenced and geared towards liberal reporting as seen even by the Orange County Register that is actually attacking the Boy Scouts of America.

    http://ocregisterbsa.blogspot.com/ "

    joe wrote on Aug 26, 2008 1:15 PM:

    " Funny how the left will try to rip on the Boy Scouts, Marriage the Military, hunting/guns and GOD. But yet they support Jane Fonda, NAMBLA, gays and illegals just to name a few. No wonder our country is where it is today. "

    Dirk Diggler wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:35 PM:

    " If your kids were in scouts, then they will probably grow up with some patrionism, serve their country and be a Republican. "

    democrat wrote on Aug 20, 2008 10:18 PM:

    " I am a democrat and my boys were in the scout program - "

    he made an independent of me wrote on Aug 19, 2008 10:22 AM:

    " Lets see, Democrat values...

    Scouting is racist,
    NAMBLA,
    GLBT rights,
    God in civic affairs should be banned,
    abortion on demand,
    energy dependence,
    forests not people,
    schools raising children not parents,
    taxing the most productive to give to the least productive,

    what a record! Did we miss anything Hal? Don't gloat Republicans your record isn't much better. "

    Hey Larry Craig wrote on Aug 17, 2008 5:25 PM:

    " Just reading these blogs and saw your comment, noticed no one else picked up on the name pun. But remember like a tee shirt I used to have ..said.. Welcome to Safford, Arizona...Set your clock back 200 years.
    Says it all. "

    jodis wrote on Aug 15, 2008 3:38 PM:

    " This is why our children have gone to pot. People blaming the democrats/republicans/gays/cowboys/indians, etc. Get off it and support your local boy and girl scout troops. "

    Hiro Nakamura wrote on Aug 14, 2008 1:27 PM:

    " Why is everyone so mean to the Democrats? In my country we have supported your President Clinton by giving lots of money to him and his party. We even got with our other friends, the North Koreans, the Afghanies and Cuba. And his close friends Hogo Chavez and former president Fox always has nice things to say about the democrats. You people should just leave them alone! "

    David Hancox wrote on Aug 12, 2008 4:37 PM:

    " I was never a Boy Scout but through my son's interest I am now a proud assistant Scout Master for his troop. To see these young men mature within the structure of Scouting makes me sure that Scouting is shaping yet another generation of great leaders and good American citizens representing every part of American society. Everyone should take a close look at the Scout Oath and Law and see that they serve as a very good guide to shape the young men of this country. "

    Registered Independent wrote on Aug 11, 2008 7:37 PM:

    " Huh? political party morals?

    in this corner for the democrats in blushing blue and a smart GLBT athletic supporter, is Hal (the heck r u) Herbert...

    and in this corner in gay republican red, again sporting his best John McCain knee pads is Duane (the Storyteller) Rhodes!

    Let the moral challenge begin! "

    Straight wrote on Aug 11, 2008 5:50 PM:

    " It's sad that if someone is against gays & lesbians they are looked down on from society. Gays & lesbians cry for acceptance, but THEY can't accept my beliefs. "

    Concerned wrote on Aug 11, 2008 1:23 PM:

    " The democrats have no lock on moral leadership that is true but to say the republicans have the lock on it is well...laughable at best. By the way I am a democrat but I am voting republican this general election. "

    John Edwards for President wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:32 AM:

    " Wow, another mark for the democratic party. This is why they attack groups the the Boy Scouts, because they are low lifes like Edwards. And to think he could have been our President. He is a snake. "

    proud democrat wrote on Aug 8, 2008 9:08 PM:

    " The "Proud Democrat" who quoted some goofy Democratic Platform proclamation is an IMPOSTOR and must be a very peculiar sort of wonk. Whoever they are, it is bad form to try to imitate someone else's comments by cloning their online name.

    That said here's the point: being a different skin colour is something you are born with; liking the same sex for lustful purposes is an acquired taste or so I've been told. Skin colour is obvious while sexual orientation is not an exterior dimension of diversity.

    Thus civil rights laws for GBLT's doesn't apply. "

    Proud Democrat wrote on Aug 8, 2008 4:45 PM:

    " No I am not the NAMBLA spokesperson. That is unfortunate that you think I would be a spokesperson for that group on the basis that I beleive we all should have equal rights. Lesbian and Gay Couples are not the same as a Man/Boy love association group. So shame on you for thinking such thoughts. "

    Larry Craig wrote on Aug 8, 2008 2:14 PM:

    " I agree, I was a boy scout growing up and it taught me the family values I promote in congress. "

    go boy scouts wrote on Aug 8, 2008 12:49 PM:

    " A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.... And STRAIGHT...and a Republican..oh yeah...and Christian..and definently not an illegal alien. How can we make this change official? in fact... if we just change the Scout law to read "A scout is a Republican" we could cut out all the other adjectives since republican pretty much covers all the others. Plus it's easier to memorize. "

    Thatcherite wrote on Aug 8, 2008 9:22 AM:

    " After reading "proud Dems" post I think I want to be gay. "

    Fred wrote on Aug 7, 2008 9:20 PM:

    " Hey "proud Democrat", Are you the NAMBLA spokeperson? "

    Proud Democrat wrote on Aug 7, 2008 3:01 PM:

    " Today, on behalf of Democrats across America, we join together in celebrating the contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans and their families make to our society and reaffirm our Party's commitment to promoting full equality under the law for every American.
    Democrats Issue 2008 PRIDE Proclamation



    Democrats beleive in every person, gay or not are created equal, and deserve the same opportunities as everyone else.
    It's the Scout leaders that are being discrimatory and deserve what they get. They are doing the same thing to gays/lesbians that they did to black persons years ago. "

    deadeye wrote on Aug 6, 2008 3:35 PM:

    " Most of the democrats stands on moral issues are simply indefensible.
    I could go along with SOME of the domestic, and financial ideas that they have...but they have alienated me so much with thier Pro gay/lesbian marriage, Anti gun, pro abortion (including partial birth), soft on crime, extreme feminist agenda that I will never be able to vote the democrat party line.
    And Obama will toe that line to the tee.
    Regardless of his head fake to the center. "

    Fred wrote on Aug 6, 2008 2:41 PM:

    " Hey "To democrat", how come no one is fighting for the democratic cause and speaking out against your post? I guess thay must be either at a NAMBLA convention or pickiting at the Border Patrol demanding they free those poor law breakers getting free meals and medical. "

    proud democrat wrote on Aug 6, 2008 1:08 PM:

    " The Boy Scouts was a proud and moral organization that helped shape many upstanding American men over the years. I agree with the author of this letter! More work should be put into restoration of our great institutions and less into tearing down our country.

    What can the GLBT community point to with pride and accomplishment? Nothing. "

    To democrat wrote on Aug 6, 2008 1:05 PM:

    " if you remember such an incident, did you report it to the authorities and is it documented? Please post the archived article citing the case you slander the Boy Scouts with.

    its too bad the democratic party today has devolved into an Open-Borders supporting, NAMBLA loving, gun grabbing, American hating, bunch of pinko commies starting with Hal Herbert and his gay caballeros.

    Remember their last candidate for Congress? A leader in the Ohio ACLU who wanted to represent us in Washington! "

    democrat wrote on Aug 6, 2008 10:25 AM:

    " This democrat remembers when the Boys Scouts threw gay people under bus Those boy scout decision makers were not democrats - they were in fact republicans.

    So give me a break letter writer. You never mention that. "

    Fred wrote on Aug 6, 2008 9:50 AM:

    " Them Dems. If only they could put as much passion into moral standards as they do for fighting for NAMBLA and illeagles. "

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