From: anthropo@carina.unm.edu (Dominick V. Zurlo)
Subject: Re: Scouting Magazine Article
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 92 16:47:12 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Distribution: usa

In article <1992Aug20.171923.7657@uwm.edu> dpfabie@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (David Paul Fabie) writes:
>I have been reading all the hubub over the decision of Levi Strauss and 
>Bank of America et.al to pull support for the BSA over the Homosexual
>issue.  For those of you who were not down in Knoxville TN last week for
>the National Order of the Arrow Conference, you may not have heard that
>Gay activitsts had threatened to disrupt the conference.  Order of the 
>Arrow National Director, G. Allen Mossman warned the staff on Sunday
>night about the possible trouble.  As it turned out nothing happened.
 
That's because rumors are all over the place, including lots of 
misinformation and miscommunication and misunderstanding.
>
>My largest complaint with those who are attacking the BSA is that
>it is NOT a desire to "right a wrong" that is the prime motivation.
>The BSA is just a stepping stone.  These groups hope that by winning
>against Scouting they can then go on and fry bigger fish (ROTC, The
>Department of Defense etc..)  They truly don't care if they destroy
>the BSA in the process.  The reorganization of the six regions into
>four for done  so that 3 Million dollars we save, could be used to
>pay for the BSA legal fees.

Well, yes, it is just a stepping stone in the fight for equality,
however, it is to right a wrong.  Discrimination.  And besides that,
don't you DARE try to say that I am not interested in the welfare of
the BSA.  Quite the contrary.  As my personal service to the organization,
not to mention that of my family, will prove.  The only reason I do not
currently actively participate in the BSA is that I was terminated from
employment by the Valley Forge Council for being gay.  Not my decision.
my sexual orientation had nothing to do with my job, yet I was still
fired. My job performanc was exemplary, and if allowed back into 
scouting, I'd be there in a flash.  So don't you go calling people 
uncaring.  I'd say you are.  Do NOT generalize.  I won't.  I can't
speak for others, but I will make reference to the people I have talked
to through use of plural pronouns like us and we, but that is not for all
the lesbigays in the world, or even in my local community.  
It's ignorance like this that I object to. >
>The Boy Scouts of America is a private organization, pure and simpl
>The reasons for a ban on gays is not so much a matter of Youth
>Protection (Statistics support the claim that the majority of 
>child molesters are not gay)

Thank you for at least pointing this out.  

>  But rather one of role modeling.
>Just as there is freedom from religion as well as freedom of
>religion there has to be a place where the rights of those
>who do not agree are respected.  If gays were attacking the BSA
>so that the homosexual community could benefit from those programs
>and values that scouting has to offer, that would be one thing. 

That is just what I and the people I've talked to are doing.  
I may not always agree with the methods, and I am definately
not Machievellian, but the people I know are working towards
having the benefits, and supporting the benefits of the BSA
>. But
>all I read here are people screaming "bigot! bigot!" and pointing
>fingers.  The motives of those who are attacking scouting are 
>suspect at best.  The BSA has never claimed to be anything but
>what it actually is - a private organization.  Just as Levis has
>the right to not support scouting, scouts have the right to not
>support Levis.  There have been people on this net who are saying
> that I'm a bigot because I will no longer buy levis.  That's 
>a telling factor in just how the motives of those who are against
>the BSA have nothing to do with helping others enjoy scouting, but
>rather they will not rest until there is no longer a BSA.

INCORRECT.  Survey saysXXXXXXX.  it is not about dragging the BSA into
the ground, but about being accepted in an organization that nurtured, 
helped to mature, and make us the strong people we are today.  We have
the right, and if not the right, then the desire, to contribute to that,
to help other people grow the way Scouting has helped us.  What I do not
understand, is why you have such a problem with that?  I have supported
Levi's for years because of their very progay policies.  They have policies
for domestic partners, gay and straight; they are very supportive of people.
I always thought that that was what the BSA was about. 
>I have
>news for you folks. . . call me a bigot, call me homophobic call
>me whatever you want, but the greatest crime would be to stand by
>and let the gay community kill the BSA for its own political gain.
>There are lots of heterosexuals in scouting who up until now were
>somewhat sympathetic to the promotion of civil rights for all groups
>including gays.  What you have done is drawn battle lines and turned
>many of your friends into enemies.
It's not political gain, it's personal.  I have a personal reason for 
boycotting BofA and fighting against this discrimination.  I want back 
into scouting.  I want to be there.  To be able to teach kids at camp, to
lead songs in the dining hall or at a camp fire.  To once again be in that
brotherhood of feeling, support and love.  I agree, the actions of some 
groups have indeed caused people who are/were sympathetic to become angry.
SOme of them have caused me to become angry.  But stop judging all gays
by the actions of a few.  That would be like saying that because one 
straight person is homophobic, all are.  NOT TRUE. Why don't  we talk, 
and stay as friends.  
>
>-- 
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>David Paul Fabie                   * "Remember! Editors never reject.  We
>University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee  *  merely select." - David Kirby
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWW
Dominick V. Zurlo
Eagle Scout
former Lodge Chief, Meechgalanne Lodge, Essex Council, NJ


The opinions expressed above do not necessarily reflect those of the 
organization.

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