Leroy N. Soetoro
2019-05-07 00:56:24 UTC
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/alvin-townley-boy-scouts-extraordinary-
impact-on-america-calls-us-to-consider-risk-of-litigating-it-to-death
Rain, mud, cold, dark, and an undercooked piece of meat remain the most
vivid memories of my first Scout camping trip. I still marvel that I
returned for a second. But I shared that momentary misery with a group of
equally wet and chilly twelve-year-olds. We endured the elements together
and learned how to survive. I found it blissfully authentic; I signed up
again.
Unfortunately, for many people today, it is the saddening and shocking
revelations of sexual abuse that now rank first in their impressions when
it comes to Scouting. As an Eagle Scout and as a father, this not only
breaks my heart, but it infuriates and sickens me that young people have
been harmed by those willing to exploit this altruistic and important
program.
It would also infuriate me, however, if litigators who are now gearing up
to revive discussion of past abuse, manage to exploit these young victims
to the detriment of tomorrows youth by crippling a vital American
institution.
I understand why many Americans may have questions about the programs
legacy and value because I once asked those same questions myself.
To discover the answers, I undertook a global quest that yielded two
books: Legacy of Honor and Spirit of Adventure. I met with countless
Scouts, Eagle Scouts, parents, and leaders in 44 states, on five
continents, and on three oceans. And I discovered many elements of
Scoutings legacy as I learned their stories.
A young and undersized Rex Tillerson, for instance, first found confidence
lugging and paddling canoes across Boundary Waters lakes. Michael
Bloomberg, the only Jewish Scout in a Baptist-sponsored Scout troop,
learned salesmanship by selling Christmas wreaths to fund his trips to
summer camp. NYPD Special Services officer Scott Strauss crawled into
smoldering rubble to rescue the last September 11 survivor because he
deeply believed in the Scout credo, Help other people at all times. The
Scout Oaths phrase On my honor, I will do my duty sustained POW George
Coker during seven years of brutal captivity in North Vietnam.
Matt Dalios Greenwich, Connecticut, Eagle Scout project led to the
international adoption program China Care. Buey Tuts project in Omaha
became Aqua Africa, an organization that now provides water for villages
in his native South Sudan. Without Scouting, Buey never would have
graduated high school.
Consider the lives ultimately affected by these individuals. Then extend
that impact across the 110 million young people who have been Scouts, two
million of whom became Eagle Scouts.
Young people will say they play soccer, attend a certain school, or belong
to a church. Yet they say, I am a Scout. In that deep-seated identity
lies the power of Scouting.
The Scout program fired the imagination and broadened horizons for these
young people. It equipped them to realize their potential. Perhaps most
importantly, it bent their minds toward leadership and turned their hearts
toward service. It steered them toward contribution and significance.
Now imagine if these kids didnt have Scouting. Thats what is at stake
today.
In the foreword he penned for Legacy of Honor, former Defense Secretary
Robert Gates wrote, There is much to concern us about the future of our
country. Yet, because of the Boy Scouts, I remain an optimist.
So do I.
Our country indeed faces real challenges; Scouting provides real
solutions. Show me an Eagle Scout and Ill show you someone prepared and
equipped to help, someone with the bravery to fight for community or
country, with the courage to stand for whats right. Scouting raises up
young men and women and impresses upon them the principles of duty, self-
reliance, and personal responsibility that sustain our republic.
The Boy Scout organization led in youth protection long before sexual
abuse was discussed openly. It implemented policies to keep Scouts safe
and expelled those who might threaten young people. Every known case of
abuse in the past 50 years has been reported to law enforcement, while
policies and safeguards have continued to improve. The organization offers
support and counseling to any victims, while working toward ensuring there
are no more victims, period.
Last year, Scouting served 2.2 million youth, with five incidents of abuse
reported. Thats five too many times a predator broke youth protection
policy. Statistically, however, Scouting policies have created a vastly
safer environment than youth find in the general public. Scoutings
leadership provides a positive example for other institutions currently
struggling to prevent abuse.
When my long journey into Scouting ended, I felt renewed pride in the
programs legacy and sincere gratitude to the millions of adult volunteers
who give unselfishly to help youth become better citizens. I found a
steeled belief in Scoutings potential to improve lives, strengthen
communities, and help realize Americas promise.
I hope all Americans will pause to appreciate how significantly Scouting
has contributed to our past and present. The country should carefully
consider the risk of litigating to death this extraordinary movement of
good people and thus robbing future youth of the transformative
opportunities the program provides.
Young people will say they play soccer, attend a certain school, or belong
to a church. Yet they say, I am a Scout. In that deep-seated identity
lies the power of Scouting.
--
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Donald J. Trump, 304 electoral votes to 227, defeated compulsive liar in
denial Hillary Rodham Clinton on December 19th, 2016. The clown car
parade of the democrat party ran out of gas and got run over by a Trump
truck.
Congratulations President Trump. Thank you for cleaning up the disaster
of the Obama presidency.
The Obama-led Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
approved Uranium One in fall 2010. With a little luck, we'll see
compulsive liar Hillary Clinton in jail before she dies.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp.
Obama increased total debt from $10 trillion to $20 trillion in the eight
years he was in office, and sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood queer
liberal democrat donors.
impact-on-america-calls-us-to-consider-risk-of-litigating-it-to-death
Rain, mud, cold, dark, and an undercooked piece of meat remain the most
vivid memories of my first Scout camping trip. I still marvel that I
returned for a second. But I shared that momentary misery with a group of
equally wet and chilly twelve-year-olds. We endured the elements together
and learned how to survive. I found it blissfully authentic; I signed up
again.
Unfortunately, for many people today, it is the saddening and shocking
revelations of sexual abuse that now rank first in their impressions when
it comes to Scouting. As an Eagle Scout and as a father, this not only
breaks my heart, but it infuriates and sickens me that young people have
been harmed by those willing to exploit this altruistic and important
program.
It would also infuriate me, however, if litigators who are now gearing up
to revive discussion of past abuse, manage to exploit these young victims
to the detriment of tomorrows youth by crippling a vital American
institution.
I understand why many Americans may have questions about the programs
legacy and value because I once asked those same questions myself.
To discover the answers, I undertook a global quest that yielded two
books: Legacy of Honor and Spirit of Adventure. I met with countless
Scouts, Eagle Scouts, parents, and leaders in 44 states, on five
continents, and on three oceans. And I discovered many elements of
Scoutings legacy as I learned their stories.
A young and undersized Rex Tillerson, for instance, first found confidence
lugging and paddling canoes across Boundary Waters lakes. Michael
Bloomberg, the only Jewish Scout in a Baptist-sponsored Scout troop,
learned salesmanship by selling Christmas wreaths to fund his trips to
summer camp. NYPD Special Services officer Scott Strauss crawled into
smoldering rubble to rescue the last September 11 survivor because he
deeply believed in the Scout credo, Help other people at all times. The
Scout Oaths phrase On my honor, I will do my duty sustained POW George
Coker during seven years of brutal captivity in North Vietnam.
Matt Dalios Greenwich, Connecticut, Eagle Scout project led to the
international adoption program China Care. Buey Tuts project in Omaha
became Aqua Africa, an organization that now provides water for villages
in his native South Sudan. Without Scouting, Buey never would have
graduated high school.
Consider the lives ultimately affected by these individuals. Then extend
that impact across the 110 million young people who have been Scouts, two
million of whom became Eagle Scouts.
Young people will say they play soccer, attend a certain school, or belong
to a church. Yet they say, I am a Scout. In that deep-seated identity
lies the power of Scouting.
The Scout program fired the imagination and broadened horizons for these
young people. It equipped them to realize their potential. Perhaps most
importantly, it bent their minds toward leadership and turned their hearts
toward service. It steered them toward contribution and significance.
Now imagine if these kids didnt have Scouting. Thats what is at stake
today.
In the foreword he penned for Legacy of Honor, former Defense Secretary
Robert Gates wrote, There is much to concern us about the future of our
country. Yet, because of the Boy Scouts, I remain an optimist.
So do I.
Our country indeed faces real challenges; Scouting provides real
solutions. Show me an Eagle Scout and Ill show you someone prepared and
equipped to help, someone with the bravery to fight for community or
country, with the courage to stand for whats right. Scouting raises up
young men and women and impresses upon them the principles of duty, self-
reliance, and personal responsibility that sustain our republic.
The Boy Scout organization led in youth protection long before sexual
abuse was discussed openly. It implemented policies to keep Scouts safe
and expelled those who might threaten young people. Every known case of
abuse in the past 50 years has been reported to law enforcement, while
policies and safeguards have continued to improve. The organization offers
support and counseling to any victims, while working toward ensuring there
are no more victims, period.
Last year, Scouting served 2.2 million youth, with five incidents of abuse
reported. Thats five too many times a predator broke youth protection
policy. Statistically, however, Scouting policies have created a vastly
safer environment than youth find in the general public. Scoutings
leadership provides a positive example for other institutions currently
struggling to prevent abuse.
When my long journey into Scouting ended, I felt renewed pride in the
programs legacy and sincere gratitude to the millions of adult volunteers
who give unselfishly to help youth become better citizens. I found a
steeled belief in Scoutings potential to improve lives, strengthen
communities, and help realize Americas promise.
I hope all Americans will pause to appreciate how significantly Scouting
has contributed to our past and present. The country should carefully
consider the risk of litigating to death this extraordinary movement of
good people and thus robbing future youth of the transformative
opportunities the program provides.
Young people will say they play soccer, attend a certain school, or belong
to a church. Yet they say, I am a Scout. In that deep-seated identity
lies the power of Scouting.
--
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Donald J. Trump, 304 electoral votes to 227, defeated compulsive liar in
denial Hillary Rodham Clinton on December 19th, 2016. The clown car
parade of the democrat party ran out of gas and got run over by a Trump
truck.
Congratulations President Trump. Thank you for cleaning up the disaster
of the Obama presidency.
The Obama-led Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
approved Uranium One in fall 2010. With a little luck, we'll see
compulsive liar Hillary Clinton in jail before she dies.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp.
Obama increased total debt from $10 trillion to $20 trillion in the eight
years he was in office, and sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood queer
liberal democrat donors.