From Scouts-L@tcu.edu Tue Sep 30 10:59:48 1997 Return-Path: Scouts-L@tcu.edu Received: from outbound.Princeton.EDU (outbound.Princeton.EDU [128.112.128.84]) by cap1.CapAccess.org (8.6.12/8.6.10) with ESMTP id KAA20132; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 10:59:48 -0400 Received: from lightpost by outbound.Princeton.EDU with SMTP id <543474-19146>; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 10:44:26 -0400 Received: from pucc.Princeton.EDU (pucc.Princeton.EDU [128.112.129.99]) by outbound.Princeton.EDU (8.8.0/8.6.12) with SMTP id IAA15117; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 08:27:12 -0400 (EDT) Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin MAILER@TCUBVM) by PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 0386; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 08:24:14 -0400 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 5590; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 07:27:18 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LISTSERV release 1.8b) with NJE id 8538 for SCOUTS-L@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 07:26:38 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM (NJE origin SMTP@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 8537; Mon, 29 Sep 1997 08:33:50 -0500 Received: from ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU by tcubvm.is.tcu.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Mon, 29 Sep 97 08:33:41 CDT Received: from smtp01.worldbank.org (smtp01.worldbank.org) by ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU (PMDF V5.0-5 #20456) id <01IO7IN4VBDS002RTF@ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU> for Scouts-L@ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU; Mon, 29 Sep 1997 08:31:55 -0500 (CDT) Received: from WBLN0014.worldbank.org ([138.220.29.7]) by worldbank.org (PMDF V5.1-8 #16195) with SMTP id <01IO7KNJR9DA8Y917W@worldbank.org> for Scouts-L@tcu.edu; Mon, 29 Sep 1997 09:29:30 -0400 (EDT) Received: by WBLN0014.worldbank.org(Lotus SMTP MTA Internal build - SMTP TEAM v1.1.03 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Message-ID: <85256521.004874FF.00@WBLN0014.worldbank.org> Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 09:23:42 -0400 Reply-To: "Kim B. Hannemann" Sender: Scouts-L Youth Group List Comments: RFC822 error: Invalid RFC822 field - "(436.3 7-23-1997)) id 85256521.004A8339 ; Mon, 29 Sep 1997 09: 33:52 -0400". Rest of header flushed. From: "Kim B. Hannemann" Subject: Re: Jewelry in Uniform X-To: Scouts-L@tcu.edu To: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Status: RO X-Status: D >if they're participating in a scout activity, they're representing >the Boy Scouts of America . . . Actually, "they" (the boys) ARE the Boys Scouts of America. If "they" (the boys) want to wear jewelry or have blue hair, who the heck are you to say "they" can't, merely because of some problem YOU have with YOUR picture of a Boy Scout? Let's keep the main thing the main thing. Kim Hannemann khannemann@worldbank.org From Scouts-L@tcu.edu Tue Sep 30 11:06:16 1997 Return-Path: Scouts-L@tcu.edu Received: from outbound.Princeton.EDU (outbound.Princeton.EDU [128.112.128.84]) by cap1.CapAccess.org (8.6.12/8.6.10) with ESMTP id LAA22166; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 11:06:16 -0400 Received: from lightpost by outbound.Princeton.EDU with SMTP id <543025-19146>; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 10:53:05 -0400 Received: from pucc.Princeton.EDU (pucc.Princeton.EDU [128.112.129.99]) by outbound.Princeton.EDU (8.8.0/8.6.12) with SMTP id IAA17343; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 08:48:48 -0400 (EDT) Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin MAILER@TCUBVM) by PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 1286; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 08:45:47 -0400 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 6033; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 07:46:31 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LISTSERV release 1.8b) with NJE id 0188 for SCOUTS-L@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 07:45:39 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM (NJE origin SMTP@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 0187; Fri, 26 Sep 1997 18:35:54 -0500 Received: from ns.why.net by tcubvm.is.tcu.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Fri, 26 Sep 97 18:35:45 CDT Received: from [209.60.112.141] ([209.60.112.134] (may be forged)) by ns.why.net (8.8.6/8.6.9) with SMTP id SAA16117 for ; Fri, 26 Sep 1997 18:33:48 -0500 (CDT) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Message-ID: Date: Fri, 26 Sep 1997 18:41:47 -0500 Reply-To: "H. Alan Schup" Sender: Scouts-L Youth Group List From: "H. Alan Schup" Subject: Re: The wearing of jewelry To: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Status: RO X-Status: At 9:58 AM 09/26/97, Pete Thornton wrote: >Doug- > I think you have missed the bubble somewhere in your training. >Image is not everything, It is only a small part. It seems Pete's training was lacking something as well. By wearing the BSA Uniform, you are legally representing the BSA. This is why the uniform is not worn during fund raiser sales... wearing the uniform consitutes endorcement of the product being sold, and the BSA does not want to share liability of the fund raiser product. The BSA has an image to maintain. Now, should any jewelry detract from the scout uniform as to be seen as demeaning to the BSA by any of the public (and it seems it does by the objections so far), then the jewelry has gone too far as to be outside the BSA contract of the code of conduct. The code of conduct requires that the uniform be neatly and properly worn, insignia according to the guidelines, and the person be clean and well-groomed. Misrepresentation of the BSA is a serious offense to the BSA. The BSA has an image to maintain. IMAGE HAPPENS TO BE EVERYTHING. This includes pride in uniform and squeekly-clean behavior when in front of the public. If a everyday nobody "Joe" commits a felony, the media does not report anything unless that person is related in some way to the Boy Scouts. No other youth group is under the media microscope as much as the BSA. Scandels sells and media will hype any dirt to make money. (EX: Scoutmaster arrested for rape... Eagle Scout DWI,...) If there was no BSA relationship, then there would be no story. Uniform means consistancy and the wearing of the BSA Uniform legally binds a person to maintaining a proper image. Again, what is being perceived by the public by scouts and/or leaders displaying big gaudy dangling ear rings, painted finger nails, and pony tails/braids? The BSA has an image to maintain. A small stud ear ring does not detract from the Scout Uniform. A few of my scouts wear them, and I counsel many others from other troops who also change into small studs when donning a scout uniform. Profanity, vulgarity, body piercing and other gang signs/colors do not belong with the scout uniform, and would incur the wrath of the BSA attorneys should it be condoned by the troop. The BSA has an image to maintain. -Alan Schup _\\///_ (' o-o ') ___________________________ooOo_( )_OOoo____________________________________ H. Alan Schup (aschup@why.net) Scoutmaster...Associate Post Advisor Longhorn Council (Ft Worth TX) COPE facilitator...Rifle/Shotgun Instructor Arrow of Light; Eagle Scout '78 Climbing Tower Instructor...Rock Climbing |<--=90--<<<| "Nishkin" (#489) Radio MB (N5IJH)...Electricity MB Woodbadge SC-173 (Eagle) Electronics MB...Safety MB...Computers MB NESA Life member, Alpha Phi Omega Life Member (Theta Tau), NRA Life Member Jambo 81 TP "C" / Jambo 85 K2BSA / Jambo 89 TP "C" / Jambo 97 Action A Rifle ___________________________________Oooo_____________________________________ oooO ( ) Have patches, will trade ( ) ) / \ ( (_/ \_) From Scouts-L@tcu.edu Tue Sep 30 11:08:18 1997 Return-Path: Scouts-L@tcu.edu Received: from outbound.Princeton.EDU (outbound.Princeton.EDU [128.112.128.84]) by cap1.CapAccess.org (8.6.12/8.6.10) with ESMTP id LAA22697; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 11:08:18 -0400 Received: from lightpost by outbound.Princeton.EDU with SMTP id <541915-19154>; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 10:55:12 -0400 Received: from pucc.Princeton.EDU (pucc.Princeton.EDU [128.112.129.99]) by outbound.Princeton.EDU (8.8.0/8.6.12) with SMTP id IAA13004; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 08:01:50 -0400 (EDT) Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin MAILER@TCUBVM) by PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 9587; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 07:58:52 -0400 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 5042; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 07:01:23 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LISTSERV release 1.8b) with NJE id 4370 for SCOUTS-L@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 07:00:39 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM (NJE origin SMTP@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 4368; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 01:31:14 -0500 Received: from ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU by tcubvm.is.tcu.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Tue, 30 Sep 97 01:30:48 CDT Received: from tthsc4.lubb.ttuhsc.edu by ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU (PMDF V5.0-5 #20456) id <01IO8I4QSAY8002SJ7@ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU> for SCOUTS-L@ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 01:27:52 -0500 (CDT) Received: from default ([198.213.97.195]) by tthsc3.lubb.ttuhsc.edu with SMTP; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 01:27:48 -0500 X-Sender: CSRTJ@TTUHSC.EDU MIME-version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Pro Version 2.2 (32) Content-type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Message-ID: <2.2.32.19970930062649.00a0bc48@TTUHSC.EDU> Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 01:26:49 -0500 Reply-To: Russ Jones Sender: Scouts-L Youth Group List From: Russ Jones Subject: Re: Jewelry in uniform X-To: SCOUTS-L@TCU.EDU To: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Status: RO X-Status: A few points in rebuttal to some of the arguments made in favor of allowing the boys to wear earrings, etc., if they want to: The principle of a "boy-run program" is not an unlimited license for the boys to do any- and everything they want. Ownership of the unit does not rest with the Scouts; ownership rests with the chartered organization, which operates the unit through a committee that serves at the pleasure of the chartered organization. That committee is obligated to insure that the unit operates not only in accordance with the rules and regulations of the BSA, but also in accordance with the preferences of the chartered organization. The issue of whether or not Scouts should be permitted to wear earrings and/or other jewelry in uniform has absolutely nothing to do with program; but even if it did, it is well within the purview of the committee to place limits on the boys' latitude. The fact that a Scout's parents may permit him to wear such jewelry is moot, as well; the chartered organization owns the unit, not the Scout's parents, and in the absence of any BSA policy stating that Scouts may wear earrings with the uniform, the committee is well within its jurisdiction in banning them. The argument that if one bans earrings on boys, then one should also ban wristwatches, wedding rings, eyeglasses, and the like ignores one very basic distinction: wristwatches, eyeglasses, neckerchief slides, tie tacks, cuff links, etc. exist primarily to serve a utilitarian function and only incidently serve a decorative purpose, whereas earrings and other body-piercing jewelry have no discernible function except as decoration. Wedding rings and religious medallions exist primarily to provide evidence of spiritual relationships; Wood Badge beads, Den Chief cords, and other Scouting-related "add-ons" symbolize achievements in Scouting. No such qualities can be attributed to the jewelry in question. The wearing by females of earrings and other articles of purely decorative jewelry, as well as lipstick and other forms of make-up, is an expression of femininity with a long history of cultural acceptance, even expectation. Although increasingly pervasive in some parts of the country and among the people in certain circles, the wearing of what are traditionally feminine accoutrements by males is still a very long way from being anything more than the fad of the moment. Like it or not, tattoos and body-piercing are generally regarded by a majority of our society as cheap, tawdry, and trashy, the practices of thugs, hoodlums, harlots, and gang members. What they connote is antithetical to the traditional, hard-earned image of Boy Scouts as clean-cut, upright, respectful, all-American, boy-next-door, the-kind-you'd-want-your-daughter-to-marry young men. As someone has pointed out, part of the reason youth adopt what the older generation considers extremes in dress and behavior is to demand attention and obtain reactions from adults. It is at once both an expression of rebellion and independence as well as an attempt to "fit in," a very telling symptom of all the confusion that is adolescence. Many who study the behavior of children will tell you that kids of all ages actively seek to learn what their limits are; they constantly "push the envelope" as a means of defining their world and their place in it. If one behavior fails to elicit the desired response--if adults do not "draw the line" over earrings, for example--it should not be unexpected if the kids resort to more drastic measures to obtain the reaction they seek. If earrings don't make the old man go ballistic, then maybe purple hair and green nail polish and a stud through the tongue will. There are exceptions, to be sure; but by-and-large the backwards ball cap, the earring, the baggy clothes, and the untied Nikes usually seem to be accompanied by a generally disrespectful attitude toward adults in general and parents, teachers, and other authority figures in particular; a disdain for productive pursuits; and an unwarranted admiration for those of their peers whose parents allow them to cruise the mall unaccompanied whenever and for however long they want to. Kids will adopt the current fads and emulate those who they view as "cool" as much as they are allowed to. Perhaps the best that we can hope to do as parents and Scouters is to use discussions of these behaviors as a framework within which to teach that what is popular is not always what is right or good; that the approval of the "in" crowd is, at best, fleeting; that being a nonconformist is, in reality, conforming to a different and usually less respectable standard; that what one covets says less about the worth of what is coveted than it does about the person who covets it; and that the values of trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, courtesy, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, thriftiness, bravery, cleanliness, and reverence, unlike fads, never go out of style. Yours in Scouting, Russ Jones Scoutmaster, Troop 575 South Plains Council, Lubbock, Texas Eagle Scout, class of 1965 "I used to be a fox..." SC-295 "I used to be a staffer..." SC-430, SR-110, SR-206 From Scouts-L@tcu.edu Wed Oct 1 10:07:13 1997 Return-Path: Scouts-L@tcu.edu Received: from outbound.Princeton.EDU (outbound.Princeton.EDU [128.112.128.84]) by cap1.CapAccess.org (8.6.12/8.6.10) with ESMTP id KAA03471 for ; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 10:07:13 -0400 Received: from lightpost by outbound.Princeton.EDU with SMTP id <542259-26086>; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 09:56:13 -0400 Received: from pucc.Princeton.EDU (pucc.Princeton.EDU [128.112.129.99]) by outbound.Princeton.EDU (8.8.0/8.6.12) with SMTP id JAA27928; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 09:53:59 -0400 (EDT) Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin MAILER@TCUBVM) by PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 8432; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 09:51:01 -0400 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 1210; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 08:53:46 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LISTSERV release 1.8b) with NJE id 1129 for SCOUTS-L@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 08:53:05 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM (NJE origin SMTP@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 1128; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 08:35:25 -0500 Received: from boulder.Colorado.EDU by tcubvm.is.tcu.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Wed, 01 Oct 97 08:35:22 CDT Received: from rococo.Colorado.EDU (rococo.Colorado.EDU [128.138.247.88]) by boulder.Colorado.EDU (8.8.7/8.8.7/UnixOps/Hesiod/(SDM)) with SMTP id HAA23678; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 07:33:39 -0600 (MDT) Received: by rococo.Colorado.EDU (cu.generic.890828) Mailer: Elm [revision: 70.85] Message-ID: <9710011334.AA00492@rococo.Colorado.EDU> Date: Wed, 1 Oct 1997 07:34:57 MDT Reply-To: Jonathan Dixon Sender: Scouts-L Youth Group List From: Jonathan Dixon Subject: Re: Jewelry in uniform X-To: CSRTJ@TTUHSC.EDU To: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L In-Reply-To: <2.2.32.19970930062649.00a0bc48@TTUHSC.EDU>; from "Russ Jones" at Sep 30, 97 1:26 am Status: RO X-Status: D Russ Jones (and several others) make the point that the committee has the right to define what will be worn in the troop. This is true; they also have the right to require/disallow any activity and set whatever policies they want to (so long as they are not contrary to National policies). The committee could, for example, say that boys are not allowed to camp until they are 16; hopefully they would realize that is a bad idea. So the committee has the right to do a lot of things, but it has the responsibility to do such things which promote a good scouting program with maximal boy leadership that reaches as many boys as they can handle. To me, this means that the committee should only step in when safety or scout policy requires it (except to make suggestions). And yes, there is a difference between body piercing and wearing eyeglasses, but the point was that neither is addressed by the Uniform Guide. There actually isn't much difference between the piercing and a ring, since both are often used as symbols to mark important life events. I would also take issue with Russ's clasification of earrings as "traditionally feminine accoutrements". Their role and significance has varied considerably over time and space. From my understanding, pirates often wore earrings (and I doubt it was a matter of getting in touch with their feminine side :) ). Many other cultures (especially in Africa, Asia, and among Native Americans) have strong traditions of body-piercing by men. Besides, I have a little problem classifying something which has been going on for 15 years or more as a "fad of the moment". >From Russ Jones : > There are exceptions, to be sure; but by-and-large the backwards ball cap, > the earring, the baggy clothes, and the untied Nikes usually seem to be > accompanied by a generally disrespectful attitude toward adults in general > and parents, teachers, and other authority figures in particular; a disdain > for productive pursuits; and an unwarranted admiration for those of their > peers whose parents allow them to cruise the mall unaccompanied whenever and > for however long they want to. There are exceptions, but by-and-large being a teenager usually seems to be accompanied by these characteristics. But we still choose to work with them. I feel that what is important for the scouts is to see that we accept them no matter what they look like. In my experience, this unconditional love is what teens are generally looking for when they do such outrageous things (not really to just rebel, but to see who accepts them for who they are and who rejects them because of outside appearances). We can (and should) encourage them to consider the health risks they are taking, and help them examine why they are doing these things. Making arbitrary rules, though, sets you in the position of having to exclude boys from scouting. Is the earring/nosering/green hair/whatever actually worth doing that over? Jon -- Jon Dixon dixonj@colorado.edu http://sandman.colorado.edu/~dixonj/ From Scouts-L@tcu.edu Wed Oct 1 13:01:16 1997 Return-Path: Scouts-L@tcu.edu Received: from outbound.Princeton.EDU (outbound.Princeton.EDU [128.112.128.84]) by cap1.CapAccess.org (8.6.12/8.6.10) with ESMTP id NAA25643 for ; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 13:01:16 -0400 Received: from lightpost by outbound.Princeton.EDU with SMTP id <541955-26089>; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 12:52:33 -0400 Received: from pucc.Princeton.EDU (pucc.Princeton.EDU [128.112.129.99]) by outbound.Princeton.EDU (8.8.0/8.6.12) with SMTP id LAA08293; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 11:41:46 -0400 (EDT) Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin MAILER@TCUBVM) by PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 1761; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 11:37:38 -0400 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 2449; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 09:41:38 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LISTSERV release 1.8b) with NJE id 7371 for SCOUTS-L@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU; Wed, 1 Oct 1997 09:40:51 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM (NJE origin SMTP@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 7369; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 11:07:33 -0500 Received: from andover by tcubvm.is.tcu.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Tue, 30 Sep 97 11:05:05 CDT Received: from andover_mail.andover1 ([207.76.105.25]) by andover_main.andovercontrols.com (post.office MTA v2.0 0813 ID# 0-29328U510) with ESMTP id AAA162 for ; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 11:17:35 -0400 Received: by ANDOVER_MAIL with Internet Mail Service (5.0.1457.3) id ; Tue, 30 Sep 1997 11:19:07 -0400 X-Priority: 3 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.0.1457.3) Content-Type: text/plain Message-ID: Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 11:19:03 -0400 Reply-To: "Godbout, Marc" Sender: Scouts-L Youth Group List From: "Godbout, Marc" Subject: Re: The wearing of jewelry To: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Status: RO X-Status: I really didn't want to continue this thread, but Mr. Schup's post was a little too much for me. So much so that I read it several times, looking for smileys, to make sure it wasn't tongue-in-cheek. If I've missed your point, and that your post was meant to be sarcastic, then I apologize. > ---------- > From: H. Alan Schup[SMTP:aschup@WHY.NET] > > IMAGE HAPPENS TO BE EVERYTHING. > Here you make this statement in all caps so it's obviously important to you. Image is everything???? What about leadership? What about older boys training younger boys? What about outdoor skills, merit badges, service projects? Are Eagle projects only for the purpose of perpetuating an image? If everything the BSA stands for is to project an image, than maybe we should re-evaluate what we're here for. Lord B-P started a program to build boys into responsible men. The image came later. > This includes pride in uniform and > squeekly-clean behavior when in front of the public. If a everyday > nobody > "Joe" commits a felony, the media does not report anything unless that > person is related in some way to the Boy Scouts. No other youth group > is > under the media microscope as much as the BSA. Scandels sells and > media > will hype any dirt to make money. (EX: Scoutmaster arrested for > rape... > Eagle Scout DWI,...) If there was no BSA relationship, then there > would be > no story. > This "No BSA - No story" idea is baloney. I see reports every day of murders, robberies, DWI, etc. and it's rare to see a BSA tag on them. Most are average Joe's. Furthermore, this does not apply to the question of wearing jewelry. Illegal activity is not condoned by any member of the BSA. We don't prohibit it because it may tarnish our image. We prohibit it because it's wrong. > Uniform means consistancy and the wearing of the BSA Uniform > legally binds a person to maintaining a proper image. Again, what is > being > perceived by the public by scouts and/or leaders displaying big gaudy > dangling ear rings, painted finger nails, and pony tails/braids? The > BSA > has an image to maintain. > And who makes this judgment call on what is "proper"? You? I hope not. I think it was the ponytail part that bothered me most here. I've got one. I also have never used any illegal drugs (didn't bring it to my lips, didn't inhale), I don't drink, I go to Church regularly, I've never been arrested, and my waist measurement is about 11 inches smaller than my chest. I guess I should cut my hair - wouldn't want people to think less of me. > A small stud ear ring does not detract from the Scout Uniform. A few > of my > scouts wear them, and I counsel many others from other troops who also > change into small studs when donning a scout uniform. Profanity, > vulgarity, body piercing and other gang signs/colors do not belong > with the > scout uniform, and would incur the wrath of the BSA attorneys should > it be > condoned by the troop. The BSA has an image to maintain. > We should be concentrating on our core values, our program, and the goals of the BSA. Let the image follow that. Marc Godbout SM Troop 98 ASM Troop 412 Derry, NH http://www.tiac.net/users/godbout/troop98