Boy Scouts Identity Crisis: 100 Years of Tradition Vs. The New American Progressivism

So the Boy Scouts have an identity crisis. This identity crisis further stands to alienate puzzled Eagle Scouts scratching their heads wondering if the Scouting values they lived up to to earn Scouting's top honor even matter anymore. Is there value in the the Eagle Scout award?

Yesterday was the big day for Scouting. They were going to open up the ranks to gays but in the last minute they decided to put it on hold. The statement coming from the Scouting's top leadership ranks was interesting to say the least.

They noted over 100 years of tradition and values claiming this was a harder decision to make than first thought when they leaked to the press last week they were going to allow gay Scoutmasters into the ranks.


For 103 years, the Boy Scouts of America has been a part of the fabric of this nation, providing it’s youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. In the past two weeks, Scouting has received an outpouring of feedback from the American public. It reinforces how deeply people care about Scouting and how passionate they are about the organization.

After careful consideration and extensive dialogue within the Scouting family, along with comments from those outside the organization, the volunteer officers of the Boy Scouts of America’s National Executive Board concluded that due to the complexity of this issue, the organization needs time for a more deliberate review of its membership policy.

To that end, the executive board directed its committees to further engage representatives of Scouting’s membership and listen to their perspectives and concerns. This will assist the officers’ work on a resolution on membership standards. The approximately 1,400 voting members of the national council will take action on the resolution at the national meeting in May 2013.


This Eagle Scout was a bit perplexed by their press release. If those 100 years of traditions and values mean something to the Scouts, and supposedly they have for over 100 years based on the progression of ranks to Eagle, then why compromise those values to begin with?

Oh money does make good men into wicked beings doesn't it?

If mobocracy will be the overall determining value of what a Scout is, then what really is the core values of the Boy Scouts? Isn't that what this statement is saying.

We have 103 years of values based on Biblical morality which is easily seen in the history of Baden Powell in founding the Scouts, but none of that is going to matter. In the end, it appears the Boy Scouts doubt their own identity and values. In May, they more than likely will lift the ban due to funding and the black eye the mainstream media placed upon Scouting as it enforced the ban.

Since the values I learned in Scouting, 103 years of values, seem no longer important to Scouting, I have no doubt my Eagle Scout award will be returned to the Boy Scout National Headquarters in Texas. Core values of a private organization should never be sacrificed because of funding and mobocracy.

What we are witnessing here is 103 years of Boy Scout values being ripped apart by the new American progressivism. When the Boy Scouts take the easy road rather than stand up for their 103 years of values and maintain those values, then I wish no longer to be a part of the Boy Scout organization. There are laws in Scouting, and laws shape the boy into the image of Scouting. When the own governing body says those laws are no loner important, than the Boy Scouts have a real identity problem and Scouting is no longer important as a means in shaping young men into tomorrow's leaders.

Reading the Boy Scouts press release, I am led to believe the Boy Scouts don't even know who they really are anymore. They just want to be liked by the left.