"On my honor I will do my best to do my duty
to God and my country and to obey the Scout law; To help other people at all
times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally
straight."
I remember so vividly the privilege of speaking
these words. My scouting experience is one of the highlights of my youth. I am
one of those fortunate people who can look back to my formative years with
fondness. My life was deeply sculpted and shaped by my family, church and
spiritual life, my school, musical experiences, and scouting.
Although I did not realize it at the time, I can
now look back and praise the Lord for the many leaders and mentors who deeply
influenced my young life. My high school was one of the best college preparatory
schools (probably the best) in the Mid-South part of the country. While the
Methodist church I attended was not prominent, my friends in the youth group
were very special; our spiritual values were important.
My Scout troop…ohhhh my Scout troop! Troop 13
was known throughout the Chickasaw Council. When we showed up, the other troops
might as well pack their bags if a contest was at hand. A corp of four or five
Scout masters guided the troop, molding the physical, mental, and spiritual
characters of my fellow Scouts. They helped me learn to trust God and believe in
my ability when in His will.
As an Eagle Scout and patrol leader of the
largest and leading patrol, I always felt that our program was secure. We could
count on our good, moral leaders and the sponsoring church to provide the
leadership and financial support needed for our program. Troop 13 produced
numerous Eagle Scouts and many fine young men. Those I have followed went on to
become responsible citizens.
The Scout motto is "Be Prepared." These
two powerful and meaningful words set the tone. We learned many lessons that
carried over into all aspects of our lives. I believe that the time invested by
our leaders and the support of the church were some of the best investments ever
made in the young Scouts of Troop 13.
A recent five to four Supreme Court ruling stated
that the Boy Scouts of America has a constitutional right to exclude gays as
members and troop leaders. The significance of this ruling reflects directly on
our right to believe as our spirits, souls, and consciences dictate. I am not
writing to preach on the subject of homosexuality. Rather, I believe that we
have a right to support our standards without having to march to some vague,
wishy-washy, politically correct concept that can blow with the wind. We have
the inherent right for individuals and organizations to choose. I am appalled
that such a case should be considered by the Supreme Court. A one vote shift,
which could happen with a different court, could have reversed the decision
which will affect virtually every organization in our society.
Since the Supreme Court ruling, the Scouting
organization as we know it has come under some pretty intense fire. For example,
Broward County, Fla., Broward County’s United Way, and the cities of Miami
Beach, Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale have severed relationships with the Boy
Scouts of America. A variety of school districts scattered across the country
have withdrawn their support of the Scouts, an established organization that has
an 85 year history of working to establish good values in our young men. The Boy
Scouts deserves our support.
At stake is both our right to take the moral
route and the ability to support this right with our organizations. If our
schools and churches fail to continue supporting moral organizations, what is
ahead for our society? My younger son Chaille put it this way, "We will get
what we deserve."
I encourage readers to support our right to
decide how our society will function – to decide how we as individuals and our
churches, schools, and government as institutions can stand behind what is
morally right. It may mean opening our billfolds, using our voices, and casting
our votes to see to it that valuable organizations, such as the Boy Scouts,
continue to thrive. Otherwise our very society is at risk.
