Leadership, step up
I am writing to encourage greater acceptance, fairness and respect for individual rights in regard to personal sexual identity in the formal policies of the Boy Scouts of America.
I am an Eagle Scout, and I served as assistant scoutmaster for seven years as my son also earned his Eagle rank. I have always felt that discrimination against others based on race, religion, sexual orientation, style or other perceived differences is morally indefensible and often grounded in ignorance, fear and hate. I have also always found the official anti-gay policies of the Scouts to be disappointing, offensive and even shameful. The Scout Oath promises “To help other people (no exceptions!) at all times,” and the Scout Law implores us to be “helpful... friendly... courteous... kind...” and, I might point out, “brave,” for example, in defense against discriminatory and reprehensible attacks by the less egalitarian (i.e. more bigoted) and ever-present bully types.
Scouting teaches leadership, and true leaders (in contrast to politicians) are not afraid to do the right thing even if it elicits the paranoid yelps of the intolerant. The progressive equal rights train is well on its way, and there will be no turning back for intransigent persecutors.
The recent progress is laudable, but I urge Boy Scout leadership to embrace a full national non-discrimination policy. Be brave!
ALAN J. TOWNSEND
Winston-Salem
Helpful studies
How helpful it would have been if Gov. Pat McCrory had taken gender studies at his private college (“McCrory: Colleges must focus on jobs,” Jan. 30). He would see how, as an upper middle-class white American male, he epitomizes the patriarchal model, thinking that he is entitled to tell others what’s best for them and imagining he has the right to decide what adults should study.
The governor’s ignorance would be funny if only he and the legislature didn’t control the budgets for North Carolina’s public universities, which rank among our nation’s very best.
DIANA GREENE
Winston-Salem
Background checks
In the Feb. 4 Readers’ Forum, the writer of the letter “On firearms” advised there is no way to have background checks on individual gun sales. There is. A most effective way. Pass a law to the effect that a gun supplier is equally guilty of any crime committed with the gun.
Lending, selling and keeping guns safe from theft and easy access would become important to the individual; a formal background check wouldn’t be necessary. Stores and gun shows could still do background checks, but they might want those checks beefed up in order to avoid prosecution.
This would not limit any gun owner’s rights, but it would require responsible gun ownership, something supported by NRA members and non-NRA members alike.
DOROTHY MATHEWS
Rural Hall
Confused claims
I am writing in response to the Feb. 5 letter “Potential consequences,” in regard to the writer’s concerns about the Boy Scouts’ potential change of policy regarding admission and support of homosexual troop leaders and Eagle Scout candidates. The writer was “very concerned” about the “negative consequences” on his grandson’s emotional and psychological health if he joins a troop that includes gays. I myself am concerned about that same child’s health if he is continually exposed to bigotry and misinformation.
Yet again, the writer and many others confuse upstanding homosexuals with pedophiles. Pedophilia is a horrific crime and needs to be treated as such. Pedophilia exists among both heterosexual and homosexual adults. Banning gays does not rid the organization of pedophile leaders; sadly, a few exist now under current policy. They need to be removed and replaced by Scout leaders who care about developing boys into upstanding male citizens (and these new leaders can and should include responsible and capable gay male citizenry).
A ban keeps forcing many adult gay Eagle Scouts to mail back their medals in shame of the discriminatory policies (and discourages young gay men who are about to complete the achievement from doing so).
Upholding the ban is sheer discrimination, and it is sad that it has taken this long for the Boy Scouts to follow the moral policies of their corporate funders. I only wish the Boy Scouts’ leaders could have come to this moral conclusion on their own.
DIRK ROBERTSON
CO-FOUNDER, EQUALITY WINSTON-SALEM
Lewisville
Finish the Thought
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