Comments on: Scouting For All Fundraiser http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/03/scouting-for-all-fundraiser/ Atheism with Positivity Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:59:02 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Rakeela http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/03/scouting-for-all-fundraiser/comment-page-1/#comment-3093 Rakeela Fri, 05 Jan 2007 22:50:35 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/03/scouting-for-all-fundraiser/#comment-3093 I was going to say this is ridiculous to object to a private organization setting its own requirements. I was going to say that it is a bit chilling that we want to force private organizations to change. Then I read the comment that the government is subsidizing the BSA. Although I don't think I'll join them, I've changed my mind about the organization and I support the Scouting for All group now, where I used to not. No government subsidy should go to an organization that discriminates against homosexuality. Either the subsidies or the discriminations needs to stop. I was going to say this is ridiculous to object to a private organization setting its own requirements. I was going to say that it is a bit chilling that we want to force private organizations to change.

Then I read the comment that the government is subsidizing the BSA.

Although I don’t think I’ll join them, I’ve changed my mind about the organization and I support the Scouting for All group now, where I used to not. No government subsidy should go to an organization that discriminates against homosexuality. Either the subsidies or the discriminations needs to stop.

]]> By: Hemant http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/03/scouting-for-all-fundraiser/comment-page-1/#comment-2820 Hemant Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:28:11 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/03/scouting-for-all-fundraiser/#comment-2820 Matt-- You are right that the BSA receives public funding and that should not be happening at all if they are kicking out boys based on sexual or religious preference, but even if it refused all public funding, it is still a private group that can choose who is allowed in the group, and that is the point I wanted to make. The fact that they kick out boys they deem unworthy seems to go against the very nature of the scouts. -- Hemant Matt– You are right that the BSA receives public funding and that should not be happening at all if they are kicking out boys based on sexual or religious preference, but even if it refused all public funding, it is still a private group that can choose who is allowed in the group, and that is the point I wanted to make. The fact that they kick out boys they deem unworthy seems to go against the very nature of the scouts.
– Hemant

]]> By: Matt Hill Comer http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/03/scouting-for-all-fundraiser/comment-page-1/#comment-2816 Matt Hill Comer Wed, 03 Jan 2007 13:19:38 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2007/01/03/scouting-for-all-fundraiser/#comment-2816 <em>(The BSA is a private organization and can discriminate as they wish, but it seems to go against the very ethos of the group…)</em> This is probably one of the largest misunderstandings of the BSA discrimination story. The Supreme Court ruled in 2000 (BSA v. Dale) that the BSA is a private organization and can, per their rights to freedom of speech & association, set their own membership and leadership standards. While the BSA is, in large part, private many people are not aware of the millions and millions of public monies which go toward helping or aiding the Scouts. The many court cases involving the Scouts since the landmark Dale decision in 2000 have revolved around the Scouts' special status with local governments and with subsidies of tax payer monies which go to support Scouting programs or the use of public facilities by the BSA for Scouting programs (Berkely, CA is one example). Even in North Carolina, the public has lent a hand to the Scouts. In Winston-Salem, NC, the headquarters of the Scout council I was kicked out of (The Old Hickory Council) sits on land that was once - and still may be - leased from the city for a fee of $1 per year. The Boy Scouts of America also has a Congressional Charter making it the only officially recognized "Scouting" program for boys within the United States of America. The President of the U.S. serves as the Honorary President of the BSA. (The BSA is a private organization and can discriminate as they wish, but it seems to go against the very ethos of the group…)

This is probably one of the largest misunderstandings of the BSA discrimination story.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2000 (BSA v. Dale) that the BSA is a private organization and can, per their rights to freedom of speech & association, set their own membership and leadership standards. While the BSA is, in large part, private many people are not aware of the millions and millions of public monies which go toward helping or aiding the Scouts.

The many court cases involving the Scouts since the landmark Dale decision in 2000 have revolved around the Scouts’ special status with local governments and with subsidies of tax payer monies which go to support Scouting programs or the use of public facilities by the BSA for Scouting programs (Berkely, CA is one example).

Even in North Carolina, the public has lent a hand to the Scouts. In Winston-Salem, NC, the headquarters of the Scout council I was kicked out of (The Old Hickory Council) sits on land that was once – and still may be – leased from the city for a fee of $1 per year.

The Boy Scouts of America also has a Congressional Charter making it the only officially recognized “Scouting” program for boys within the United States of America. The President of the U.S. serves as the Honorary President of the BSA.

]]>