December, 2002
A Letter From Congressman Chris Cannon, Member of the
Scouting Legal Defense Fund Advisory Board
Dear Friend of Scouting;
At this time of year we traditionally pause to reflect on how thankful we are for the many blessings we enjoy. Too often, though, I think we focus too narrowly on the things for which we are thankful.
Most of us rightly give thanks for the material bounty we have and for the many other benefits of living in the wealthiest and most powerful nation in history. Most of us, too, are thankful for the sacrifices of men and women throughout our history who have made it possible for us to enjoy these blessings.
But we should also recognize-and be thankful for-those institutions that have helped build our national character and imbue those generations of Americans with the spirit and dedication that prepared them to meet the challenges that make this nation what it is today. These include strong families, churches, schools and other organizations such as the Boy Scouts,
After the 9/11 attacks, no one should doubt that we face tests and challenges at least as great as those faced by any previous generation. To meet them successfully, we and our children and grandchildren, must be as strong and prepared as any generation of Americans before us. Yet, never have these critical basic institutions, the family, schools, the Boy Scouts and others, been under greater attack than they are today.
This means that every one of us who cares about the future of this country must come to its defense in whatever way we can. It also means that there is something each of us can do. It may not be serving in the military, or in Congress, or joining a law enforcement agency. But each of us can at least pick an important institution, like the Scouts, and help defend and strengthen it. Whether it is serving as a volunteer, writing a letter to the editor, contributing money or whatever, each of us can do something. It will make an important difference.
I am thankful for the Scouts and the role they have played for nearly a century in helping mold millions of boys into responsible citizens and good husbands and fathers. I am proud to serve on the Scouting Legal Defense Fund Advisory Committee and do what I can to defend Scouting.
I urge each of you to join me in redoubling our efforts.
Sincerely,
Congressman Chris Cannon
News From The Scouting Legal Defense Fund
Please Remember The Scouting Legal Defense Fund In Any Year End Giving!
Our work at the Scouting Legal Defense Fund is made possible by the generosity of people who care about Scouting and are willing to step up and defend it.
This is the time of year when many people are deciding what worthy causes they will support this year. We hope that you will consider making a contribution to support our efforts to defend Scouting. Any amount will be much appreciated and efficiently put to work.
You can make a contribution on line or print out a form to send a check by mail by clicking here.
Thank you for whatever you can do to help!
What Is Happening To Scouting Around The Country
Scouts Win District of Columbia Discrimination Case On Appeal
TThe District of Columbia Court of Appeals has overturned the ruling of the District of Columbia Human Rights Commission that the Scouts violated the District's anti-discrimination law when it revoked the membership of two openly homosexual men who wanted to be Scout leaders. The Human Rights Commission decision would have required the Scouts to admit the men, pay their attorney fees and $50,000 in damages to each. In its ruling, the Appeals Court said that the Dale Supreme Court decision clearly allowed the Scouts to set their own standards for leaders and applied in this case. An appeal of the ruling by the two homosexual men to the U.S. Supreme Court is possible but not considered likely. Articles here and here.
Atheist Scout Leader Expelled >From Scouts, Plans Appeal
Darrell Lambert, the atheist 19 year old Washington Scout leader who has been the subject of national publicity, has been formally dismissed from Scouting by the Chief Seattle Council. When his lack of belief was revealed, he had been given a period of time to re-examine that belief or face dismissal from Scouting. "You need to have a recognition of a supreme being," Brad Farmer, the Scout executive said at the time. "We as the Boy Scouts do not define what that is, but you need to have a recognition." Lambert plans to appeal within the Scouting organization and has said he has not decided whether to pursue the issue in court. Article here.
Scouting A Factor In Georgia U.S. Senate Race Upset
Georgia Senator Max Cleland's vote against the Defense of Scouting Act (commonly known as the Helms Amendment to last yearâs education legislation) was a factor in his upset defeat by Saxby Chambliss in the recent election, according to some political analysts. Tom Perdue, of the Chambliss campaign, said that they found that the vote against the Scouts was one of several that resonated particularly negatively with Georgia voters and so they highlighted it in their advertising. The vote took on a much higher profile in the race after Cleland's collegue, Georgia Senator Zell Miller, ran an advertisement angrily refuting the charge against Cleland. As it turned out, Miller, who had voted for the Helms' Amendment himself, was wrong. The vote, and Miller's mistaken advertisement, became one of the key reasons for the upset. Article here.
·AND SOME THOUGHTFUL COMMENTARY ON SCOUTING.
In his editorial, "Scouting And Nihilism" Scripps Howard Newspapers Editorial Director Jay Ambrose examines the national criticism that the Scouts are guilty of "intolerance" for expelling Darrell Lambert, a self-professed atheist, from Scouting. Of the critics he asks, "Might they themselves be intolerant? They are, of course, and I would like to suggest that theirs is a particularly insidious kind of intolerance that endlessly nicks away at much that is precious to our civilization." He concludes that "what is perplexing about them is their insistence that scouts officials conform to their own moral vision, which they think of as very large, but which does not seem to me large enough to accommodate much more than their prejudices." Full text here .
If this free e-newsletter was forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe yourself, please go to www.defendscouting.com and fill in your name and e-mail address. To unsubscribe, simply click here .