Hans Zeiger

I would not trade my experience in the Boy Scouts for the world. However, reading of Zeiger's book reminds me that I may want to question whether or not I'd want to encourage any potential boys I have of the same.

This was written a number of years ago, before the controversial ruling of the National Council to allow each unit's sponsoring organization to set their own policy on homosexuality. I think it’s an obvious decision for some groups, any unit sponsored by say the LDS Church or the Knights of Columbus would be closed to gays, and any sponsored by organizations like the Unitarian Universalists, or the PTA would allow it, but it worries me when organizations like the my unit that was sponsored by the American Legion, or ours in Berkley sponsored by the VFW, it’s really political nonsense that they shouldn't have to bring themself in.

Zeigelr misses one important point in the wussifying of the Boy Scouts of America, and that’s the allotment of Female scoutmasters. I'm Okay with female den leaders, and co-ed venture Crews, but boy scout troops are only useful if they turn boys into men and that is lost at least as much, if not more so, by female scoutmasters as by homosexual scoutmasters.

He reminds me of a question I have often had. Why do atheists want to be the Boy Scouts? Are they really trying to destroy America as the author claims? I doubt it, but I really don't understand their desire. I do see throughout that the scouts, much like little league baseball, is being used as a "preverbal football" by adults, instead of as the youth organization it’s supposed to be. Are there really Cub scouts who are devout atheists or open homosexuals? I doubt it.

Perhaps the scouts is to "yay America" but letting the boys run their own program, as the program is sold as doing though rarely is the case, really can fix a lot of the problems all around.

The book is probably worth a read, its quick, it’s incredibly one sided, and somewhat out of date, keep that in mind and it will helpful in finding your own opinion.… (meer)