Thread: Eagle Scouts?

Scouting is indeed what the individual troops make of it.

One of my best friends and a fellow eagle/OA vigil honor member is a full blooded native american who was never teased by anyone in scouts. We had good leaders. Any true scout would have left a program that was not living up to the scout oath and law. I did too. Rather than quit scouting altogether, I did find a troop that was meeting the standards it should have been and continued on.

I just read a neat book that I have passed on to another scouter:
Amazon.com: Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts (9780312366537): Alvin Townley: Books


-Rob

I'm a little disappointed with some of the people who bash scouting here. This is not the only thread which does it. I was hoping we could have one thread where Eagle Scouts could come to look for each other in a bond of brotherhood.

Many people say they had a bad experience back when they were 11 or 12 and would never recommend scouting for others or even their sons. Don't you think you're blaming the wrong thing here?

Scouting doesn't promote discrimination or child abuse. It's like blaming a gun for shooting someone. Yes, we were teenagers. We made mistakes. But blaming an organization like the Boy Scouts for something you didn't like when you were a teenager hardly seems right. I got picked on in high school but you can guarantee my kids will be going to high school. Just like anything else you send your kids to, I would think you would want to do a little research and find the best troop for your son before you send him to be a part of it.

Scouting's ideals are rooted in respect, honor and duty. You have to remember that you go into scouting a boy and come out a man. It isn't instantaneous. You learn life lessons and you get to go camping and hiking too. Some of my closest friends were made in scouting and while I might not be perfect, I would take a bullet for each of them and I know I could count on them to do the same.

Truly, we need to remember that people can not, in fact, bash scouting because of their experience with one, or even two troops. Nor can they support the whole enterprise based on such a sample size.

The fact remains that scouting does a lot of good for young people (Venturing is co-ed and is the fastest growing segment of scouting), and moreover, the ideals of scouting which are contained in the oath and law are what need to be preserved in my opinion.

I urge anyone who is involved or thinking of becoming involved to choose a troop wisely and with open eyes. If you need to, seek the guidance or counsel of your local scout office. Particularly with regards to any complaints you may have.

Scouting, like SRP, is its members.


I started this thread to inquire if there are other eagles among us and what the award means to them.

I am happy to let the discussion continue in that spirit and I recognize there is a variety of stories out there.

-Rob