The Boy Scouts, Victim of Bully Laws: Why Laws Similar to Sara Lampe’s Bill Go Too Far

I was elected to Order of the Arrow in 1984. My fellow Scouts from Troop 1, Springfield, Missouri, voted for my induction into the national scouting honor society. It would be a couple more months before I know the outcome of the vote. Order of the Arrow uses traditional American Indian symbolism and ceremonies throughout its hierarchy.

Order of the Arrow (OA) ceremony night was Wednesday at Camp Arrowhead, found in Marshfield, Missouri. We met behind the mess hall after dark. Troop by troop marched single file into the dark Camp Arrowhead woods to the sound of an Indian drumbeat. As we got closer to the OA ring, the drum became louder. We continued to march until we arrived at the ring. The large campfire gave our first light since we left the mess hall.

All the troops at camp that week formed a large circle around the campfire. Behind the circle marched three scouts, dressed as Indians, suddenly pulled a scout by both arms out of the circle and then forced him to run with the three scouts to the chief of the ceremony. Two of the scouts released the arms of the chosen scout and the chief instructed the scout and gave an OA sash to wear on his uniform. One of the instructions was not to talk. I completed the ordeal that year.

I loved the OA ceremony. It has a sense of mystery to it, mainly, how did they know which scout to pull out of the circle to begin their ‘ordeal’ into full membership into OA.

I returned to Camp Arrowhead this year. I asked about the ceremony in hopes that someone would tell me how they know which scout to pull. The answer saddened me. They no longer pull the Scouts out like that. It’s considered hazing (bullying).

Yesterday, I blogged about Missouri State Representative Sara Lampe’s bill to discourage bullying, which focuses on gay teenagers. While I am sure Lampe’s intentions are good, legislators often fail to realize the full effect of their good intentions. Political correctness kills great traditions, just like the OA tradition to begin a chosen Scout’s ordeal. The more I think about Lampe’s bill and other bills similar to it, the angrier I get thinking about the consequences of this legislation. Lampe’s bill is a freedom killer, and I doubt she considers this as she obviously believes her bill brings about positive change.

The OA still performs the tapout ceremony, but the part of the mystique of the ceremony has been removed.