Right on! I was an active Boy Scout (Minsi Trails Council Troop 105, “the pride of the Poconos”) and it was an experience I treasure and value to this day. I can still tie a square knot and a bowline, identify white pine or red oak by either leaves or bark, and know how to handle safely and sharpen properly a knife, axe and saw.

Like Chris, I find it unfortunate that I cannot in good conscience support the Boy Scounts of America any further, for the exact reasons he listed above. I recognize that the Scouts were originally founded as a semi-religious organization (hell, I even got two religious awards through the Scouts, an experience that helped me to understand better the tenets of my Catholic upbringing, and ultimately contributed to my decision to leave the faith).

Yet I find it hypocritcal and unethical to issue a statement of diversity (http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=mc&c=fs) which touts the benefits of recognizing and finding strengths in our differences, and yet discriminates against specific groups based on sexual orientation or faith.

The Scouts are a private organization, and I respect that they can choose to exist in this way, but it is sad that these young men are not given the guidance they need to be tolerant and accepting of persons with certain (anti-) religious views or different lifestyles.

I don’t blame the kids–in fact, I hope that many of the scouts can gain the same experiences I did and grow and develop as scouts ought to, and I hope that they come to realize that many of the ideals of scouting are not always practiced by the current leadership of the organization.

Freshboy blogs over at Advanced Remediation