Organization that was once
noble and just, but has become
petty and exclusive, not to mention far too conservative for modern
society. Rejects
people based on
religion and sexual orientation, and has fought the court system in order to be able to do so. Ultimately, they are NOT a private group: They recieve federal funds, and camp often times on federal lands. The Courts were wrong and biased by allowing them to exclude homosexuals and nontheists, and it's important that that is recognized.
Encourages boys to waste their childhood worrying about Eagle
Projects and their '
Rank' in relation to their peers. No real way around it, since if you don't make Eagle then the time (not to mention hundred of dollars in dues, camp fees, etc.,) is especially wasted. After achieving Eagle, many realize that the 'Looks good on resumes' argument was basically false, unless you're going for the 'camp counselor' career. That it's really basically only worthwile if you're military bound (in which case you would have been better off (by benefits and starting
rank) by working for JROTC merits instead of BSA) or are able to make it into the even more exclusive Order of the Arrow. I'm neither, I'll admit.
90% of Boys praticipating are being forced by
parents to do so. 90% of badges are earned fron Scoutmaster (and parental) pity. Many merit badges are archaic and unneccessary in modern times. Some are just rediculous, period (the coin collecting badge, for example). It has become an outlet for
parents who have their child's life planned out from birth to 25. As such, they cannot afford to have a scout stuck in the Life
Rank. I have seen entire Eagle Projects faked, and approved. The District Leadership really has no control over the individual troops, and the National leadership is just a funnel for the
mormon church.
There are plenty of organizations where, youths, teens, and adults can camp, learn, and have fun together. The BSA, however, claims to attempt to teach leadership and citizenship as
well, and that is wherein lies the problem.
It is not the BSA's perogative to judge the morals of individuals. Morally
straight doesn't neccessarily mean sexually
straight. And you don't have to be "Reverent" to maintain the values of Leadership, which is what the whole system claims to try and produce. A good
Boy Scout need only be 1) A good kid. 2) Willing to meet all kinds of kids. 3) Not taught to condemn other kinds of kids.
