The Scout Law is the basis of character education
In light of the recent ACLU attacks on Boy Scouts, and the ordering of the cessation of military support for the Boy Scouts, I felt it appropriate to share the text of a speech I recently gave at a Scouting event.
I saw a bumper sticker at the Camporee this weekend that really made me think, it said, “ America is returning to the values that Scouting never left”. When you consider that exit polls from the Presidential election indicated that “Moral Values” were a high priority for voters, you have to wonder if that bumper sticker is right.
What are the values of Scouting you may ask? They are our Scout oath and Scout Law.
The Scout Oath is as follows;
On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty, to God and my country.
To obey the Scout Law, to help other people at all times,
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
The Scout Law is;
A Scout is trustworthy
loyal,
helpful,
friendly,
curteous,
kind,
obiedient,
cheerful,
thrifty,
brave,
clean,
and reverent
Let’s consider what we are saying when we recite the scout law; the first law is, A scout is trustworthy.
Trustworthy means that you are worthy of another persons trust .It means that you are honest; that what you say is your bond. Trustworthy means you are dependable and that others can count on you. It means that you respect others property.
Loyal is the next Scout Law. Loyalty is being true to your family, friends, and fellow Scouts, and your nation. It is doing your best to support them, and follow their direction. Loyal is taking a stand and sticking to it, and never switching sides.
A Scout is Helpful is the next law, this is simple, a scout is concerned about other people. A scout does things for others without expecting pay or reward. Do a Good Turn Daily is the scout slogan and this spells out the scout spirit of being helpful. Our service projects are perfect examples, picking up litter, cleaning out a vacant lot, recycling, they are all helpful to our community.
Friendly, a scout is a friend to all. This means to accept others as they are, to respect others customs and ideas, and to seek understanding. To be a real friend you must respect others differences.
That law is followed by Courteous, which means being polite to everyone regardless of age or position. Good manners will always make it easier for everyone to get along together. Saying “yes sir”, “thank you” and “please” are keys to gaining the respect of others.
Kind, this law reveals that there is strength in being gentle. Everyone has heard that you can catch more ants with honey than with vinegar; it’s the same with kindness. Kindness is treating others, as you would like to be treated. Being kind is the basis of all of the Scout laws.
Obedient, this is the law most of us tend to have trouble with. It means you follow the rules, that you obey the laws of your community and nation. If we think a law is unfair we work to have it changed in an orderly manner instead of ignoring or disobeying it. Well, I would venture a guess that we have all bent a rule or two lately, leaders speeding to work, scouts not listening, little things, at least this law reminds us to think before we act.
Cheerful, this law goes hand in hand with friendly. It means that a scout always looks for the bright side in any situation. A scout knows that griping and complaining never helps. Do you really think the grouches in the world are happy?
Thrifty, this means much more than squeezing a dollar. A scout is wise in the use of his and others time. He does not waste his resources, and he takes care of things. Thrifty also means taking care of our world, recycling, conserving our natural resources, and living by our outdoor code.
Brave is the scout law of courage. A scout can face danger even if he is afraid. This could be an emergency situation, or the courage to stand for what you think is right, even if others laugh or threaten you. Many of you have had others make fun of you, even making fun of scouting, Being brave is also the power to say no to drugs, to not follow the crowd, to stand by your Scout oath.
Clean is the law that not only means being clean of body, but clean of mind as well. It is just as important to wear clean clothes, as it is to have clean thoughts. Cursing, dirty jokes, or suggestive songs have no place in the life of a scout, nor associating with those that do. It has been said that if you lie with dogs you’re bound to get fleas, so if you’re hanging with the wrong folks their bad habits will wear off on you. Being clean also means choose your friends wisely.
Finally, the scout law that many outside of scouting have trouble with, a scout is reverent. What does this mean? It means that you believe in a god, and that you are faithful to your god, and you respect the beliefs of others. It means much more than going to a church. Reverence is shown in the way you act every day. You live by the moral code of your religion.
People worship in many different ways, and some may be very different than your own. To show disrespect for the beliefs of others is to make a mockery of all religions, including your own.
So, do you think America is returning to our values? Look around you tomorrow, has anything changed overnight? Probably not, but change takes time, and who knows, maybe that bumper sticker will really be true.
Now, I realize by advocating such radical thinking the Boy Scouts are apt to produce terribly responsible young men, and that would be just awful, right?????