First, let me lay this out there...if you were unaware, I am a Christian, and as such, I do believe that the issue of sexual orientation is an intrinsically moral issue. I also realize that I, personally, am guilty of a plethora of other things that are intrinsically moral issues. Because of that, I put forth every possible effort to not cast judgement on others because I am no better than anyone on the face of the earth... and I mean that in a "neither Bin Laden, Hitler, Ted Bundy, nor Adam Lanza should be considered any worse a person than me" sort of sense.
I realize that my little boy will very likely grow up having friends and acquaintances, co-workers and family members who ascribe themselves to the LGBT community. This strikes no fear in me. I do not shudder in the depths of my soul because of it. The same things are either true of me now, or have been in recent years.
From a human rights/equal rights standpoint, I see the LGBT agenda (if I'm allowed to call it that) as legit. No one should be treated with any less value than anyone else, for any reason, anywhere, at any time. All people are made of the same stuff. We breathe the same air. We all seek significance. We all need love to live. I think it would be great for BSA to publicly ascribe themselves to all of the above.
However...
At this point in time, I come down on the "nay" side of things for BSA changing their policies about openly gay members and leaders.
"What!? Why!? What about all that you just said about equality and all that jazz!?"
In short, BSA has all those same rights. Camping, pinewood derby, hiking, and knot-tying are not what makes Boy Scouts. In fact, no organization is made based on its actions. Organizations are made based on the values that drive their actions.
I will always have more respect for someone who is thoroughly convicted in their beliefs and disagrees with me wholeheartedly than someone who wavers and flip flops and happens to agree with me for the moment.
If BSA wants to remain a respectable organization I believe they should stick to what they claim as core values, whether you or I or anyone else disagrees. Surely we can all agree that they have the right to do so. After all, isn't that what tolerance is all about?
BSA did actually put there foot down on this last year: (http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/17/12790471-boy-scouts-were-keeping-policy-banning-gays?lite) The fact that it is up for a VOTE should be no surprise to anyone: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2013/0129/Would-change-on-gays-allow-Boy-Scouts-to-recapture-role-in-society-video
ReplyDeleteIf parents would stop relinquishing there given responsibilities to teaching there children morals and values this would be a no issue. I teach my son what morals are important, and other parents teach their children what morals are important. Families come together with BSA to participate in events and activities as a community with similar interests, not because of a given policy.
Where this is most prevalent is in church communities: "Lets find a church where the children love, and can be taught Jesus at their level," is something I have heard way too often. Ironically, I can't find anywhere in the bible where Jesus said, "and teach your children through bible schools, and keep them out of the sermon because they can not sit through it...." (another topic for another day)
We are responsible for our children. BSA and other organizations are great, as long as we do not rely on them. When we rely on an organization to tell us what to do (public school, church, NRA, girl scouts, media, etc.) we give it more power than it deserves.
Use what they have to offer, but use your brain even more.