from NPR this morning: “U.S. ready to cut support to Scouts, accusing them of attacking 'boy-friendly spaces'”
Pentagon Pete doesn’t seems to think Scouting teaches “masculine values” any more, and lost its way when it became coed a few years ago, and the way it values DEI. So he will no longer allow the military to support the National Jamboree, among other things. To avoid congressionally mandated support, he is calling SA and the Jamboree a threat to national security. Never mind that the military uses the event for training and recruitment as well as public service.
“Hegseth was never a Boy Scout, and has said he grew up in a church-based youth group that focuses on memorizing Bible verses.”
Of course he doesn’t understand Scouting. I grew up in scouts and am an Eagle Scout. My son also, and my daughter informally participated in our summer trips from the age of 13 (shh, don’t tell anyone). She joined a coed Venture crew as soon as she was old enough. I was an adult leader / advisor to both his scout troop and her Venture crew.
So what does Scouting teach? Here are the required merit badges to earn Eagle:
- Four Citizenship badges — Community, Nation, Society and World
- Basic personal skills — First Aid, Cooking, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Communication
- Family Life
- Camping
- Either Lifesaving or Emergency Preparedness
- Either Environmental Science or Sustainability
- Either Swimming, Hiking or Cycling
Another 11 optional badges of the Scout’s choice need to be completed, from a list of probably over 100. Leadership in the troop and community service are required.
Compare that list to Pentagon Pete’s memorized bible verses. Which one prepares young men, and now young women, to be independent, productive, successful adults? Which one is really a threat to national security?
I know Scouting isn’t perfect and has a history of child abuse, among other things (as do “church-based youth groups”). I don’t excuse or condone that. But on the whole, Scouting has done a lot of good for a lot of people, and I’d rather entrust my children to a scout leader more than to a church organization. If nothing else, I doubt that a scout camp would have the poor preparedness or poor response to a disaster like Camp Mystic in Texas this year.
“On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” Where’s the threat to national security?
