Monday, February 8 marks the 100th birthday of the Boy Scouts of America.

I've been a member of this organization since I joined as a boy myself when I was 8 years old. Like most of our recruiting, it was a friend that convinced me to join, and I've been at it ever since. My friend went on to make Eagle, but I did not...something I regret more and more each year. You all know I never left the organization except for a brief period when I was at college; once I graduated I returned to my 'home unit' and became Unit Commissioner, and ever since then I've filled a variety of roles at both the Boy Scout and Cub Scout level.

Now my own son and his friends are following the scouting trail; I'm his den leader (Bears) and Cubmaster, and we're all going along happily.


But what does it mean to be a scout? Most of you are at least familiar with our guiding principles, as outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. It's pretty straightforward and easy for kids to understand, since this is primarily a youth organization.

Or is it?

For years and years now, it seems that the only time Scouting is in the news is when we kick out an atheist or a gay and they go crying to the media about it. Nevermind the ocassional child predator that's out there. (And I'll note that the incidences in Scouting are statistically no different than any other youth organization or sport...but because it's the Boy Scouts, we get all the headlines.)

Did you know that there's actually a reason behind the vehement, conservative, right-wing direction that Scouting is headed? Many churches have a youth organization. Many scout troops are indeed chartered by churches. But there's one group that has declared scouting to be their "official" youth organization, and they do not run anything else.



It's the Mormons.

Every Mormon church out there has a scout troop. By extension, the volunteer and professional leadership at the national level is heavy with Mormons. As a result, they get to direct the policy direction of the BSA, and for many of us around the country, it shows.

More than a hundred years ago in England, Robert Baden-Powell returned from the Boer War a hero. He was a highly placed and well-regarded member of the Royal Army, and he was heavily involved in training the next generation of soldiers. When B-P discovered that his military handbook, "Aids to Scouting" was being read and practiced by the youth of England, he thought they deserved better.

In 1907, he took a group of youths to Brownsea Island of the coast of England, and developed his handbook "Scouting for Boys", which was published to wild acclaim in 1908. Among the things taught were service to God and Country, and service to others. B-P was a good, God-Fearing Edwardian, so duty and honor were among the most important things described in the new handbook.

After scouting came to America in 1910 (which is a good story in itself), we modified the original oath and law to suit American boys. None of this God save the Queen stuff on our side of the pond!

Over the years, scouting has prepared many men for leadership roles in politics, business, and war. Being an Eagle Scout is practically a pre-requisite for the service academies these days, and even an enlisted man goes in at a higher pay grade than the average joe if he's an Eagle.

But where did Scouting get hijacked? In the Oath, there's a single passage where a boy promises on his honor to keep himself "morally straight".

For years now, conservatives have seized upon those two words in our oath as proof that scouting can legally exclude homosexuals. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has agreed with the BSA, stating that as a private organization, they can limit their membership to whoever they want.

But that doesn't quite wash. My current Cub Scout Pack is chartered by a public school. We meet in their building, and as an outside organization, we need to meet all their standards for youth protection and non-discrimination.

Nationally, the United States Congress issues a "national charter" every year allowing the BSA to operate as a tax-exempt entity. Does Congress have any business approving a discriminatory organization to operate for the betterment of American youth?

There is something that can be done. I strongly urge everyone to check out Scouting for All. This is a national group run by an Eagle Scout from California; his sole mission in life is to overturn Scouting's policies concerning gays and atheists. I've been a member of this organization for over a decade now. I can also proudly claim that Boston Minuteman Council is one of just four regional districts in the BSA to have openly defied national policy and written our own non-discrimination policy. Alas, it's a variation of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"....but it's a start.

Scouting has done many great things for America in it's first century. Like everything else, it shouldn't be stagnant; I believe that in order to remain relevant and valued, scouting needs to keep up with the times as well. We've got a good program, and millions of Scouters across America dedicated to training the next generation of America's youth in service to God, Country, and their fellow man.

BSA's second century begins Tuesday...let's see where it goes next!