[Winona Online Democracy]
Thank you Bob! Very sincerely and well said.
>From: bob sebo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: [Winona] united way and the boy scouts
>Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 19:27:16 -0600
>
>[Winona Online Democracy]
>
>Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this discussion...it has
>been a very informative exchange for me and, I trust, others as well...
>
>To my mind this is the kind of issue that has no absolutely right
>answer. I think scouting is a terrific program, both for boys and
>girls. I had terrific experiences both as a cub scout and as an
>explorer...both programs of the Boy Scouts of America. My family
>and friends count many scouts among them...from brownies to an eagle
>scout. Scouting activities both provide a safe haven for young
>people, and develop self-esteem, self-confidence, and leadership
>skills.
>
>By the same token, I think the boy scouts are dead wrong to say
>that gay men are, without exception, a threat to young boys, and
>cannot be trusted as role models. Homosexuality and pedophilia
>are not the same thing...heterosexual men are much more likely
>to abuse children than gay men, simply because there are more of
>them. As for a gay man's ability to successfully mentor a child,
>Big Brothers-Big Sisters has no problem with it...they simply
>work with the child's family to see if that kind of match would
>work for them.
>
>There is no 'homosexual agenda' to steer children into a 'homosexual
>lifestyle.' There is no annual recruiting drive.
>
>These concerns, however, pale in comparison with the thought that
>the scouts might discriminate against an individual troop member
>who is perceived as gay. I can think of no greater injustice that
>could be done to a child than for supposedly upstanding adults to
>say to him or her, 'you are a bad person.'
>
>The Supreme Court has said that the BSA may, as a private organization,
>determine its own membership standards. That is current law. But
>that does not make it right. Early in our state's history the Supreme
>Court determined that an African-American man in Minnesota was not a
>free man. Just because it was the law of the land for a number of years
>did not make the Dredd Scott decision a right decision.
>
>Dean Lanz's reference to an opposite finding by the high court about
>The Jaycees right to determine its own membership standards (when they
>fought admitting women in the late seventies) is good to bring to our
>attention. It is my belief that when that decision came down, women's
>rights were essentially a fait-accompli...a done deal. Our discussion
>about gay rights is not yet as far along...and it has all sorts of
>religious and moral and sexual overtones that make for a difficult
>discussion.
>
>I am glad that we are having a good discussion here and now...and there
>has been no incivility...congratulations to everyone on that.
>
>I am sorry that this post is so long, but I have wrestled with this
>issue for almost a year now. The boy scouts have the right to set
>their own membership standards. The United Way has the right to
>establish its own membership standards. The boy scouts have been
>praised in some quarters for sticking to their guns. The United
>Way honestly believes that what we are doing is right. Even if you
>disagree with us, I hope that you respect us for having the courage
>of our conviction, because this has not been easy for us. We are
>doing what we feel is right and just and fair.
>
>Thank you again.
>
>Bob Sebo
>Vice-President
>United Way of the Greater Winona Area
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