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Mom's
I was going to re-run my "The Boy Scouts of America Discriminate" button, but decided to use this button of Steve which I made for a gathering in Baltimore--the buttons are still sitting in a box somewhere in Maryland, unless they got thrown out finally. Household Hints from A Medieval
Home Companion: Cherish Your Husband's Person Carefully I entreat you to keep his linen clean, for this is up to you. Because the care of outside affairs is men’s work, a husband must look after these things, and go and come, run here and there in rain, wind, snow, and hail--sometimes wet, sometimes dry, sometimes sweating, other times shivering, badly fed, badly housed, badly shod, badly bedded--and nothing harms him because he is cheered by the anticipation of the care his wife will take of him on his return--of the pleasures, joys, and comforts she will provide, or have provided for him in her presence: to have his shoes off before a good fire, to have his feet washed, to have clean shoes, and hose, to be well fed, provided with good drink, well served, well honored, well bedded in white sheets with white nightcaps, well covered with good furs and comforted with other joys and amusements, intimacies, affection and secrets about which I am silent. And on the next day fresh linen and garments. (don't get any ideas, Walt) I am a theatre critic OK...so it's a new "career", but if you're interested in reading my reviews, go here Updated 3/10/01 WHAT I'M READING... I was able to get into this book while waiting at the doctor's office yesterday. Fascinating book!! Fascinating country!! WHAT I WATCHED... nothing tonight That's it for today!
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Look out, Martha, she's at it again... 18 March 2001 Oh, I’m afraid it’s time to tackle the Boy Scouts of America again. I don’t hate Boy Scouts. I love Boy Scouts. I just hate their leaders. Especially I hate their Executives. There was a meeting of the town Human Relations Commission (HRC) this week, at which many Scout leaders and supporters turned out. The HRC has had, as one of its issues, insuring that city funds are not used to support activities of the Boy Scouts, an organization which, by fiat of the Supereme Court, is a private organization permitted to discriminate against gay and athiest boys and leaders. After learning that the Scout leaders in Davis assure the town that here at least, all boys and leaders are welcome and they do not discriminate, I decided to check the Boy Scout Law, because it seemed to me that there was something in there about "honesty," and I knew that Scout troops in Chicago had had their charters revoked for admitting to the BSA that they refused to exclude anyone from participation in the program. (This is, by the way, the position of every other Boy Scout organization throughout the world; the Boy Scouts of America is the only one which insists on the ban against gay and athiest boys.) So what does the Scout Law say, from the Scouts' own web page? (I’m only using excerpts) A Scout tells the truth. He is honest, and he keeps his promises. People can depend on him. The Scout Leaders of Davis are in violation of this law, no matter what they are doing. If they admit everyone, as they assure the HRC they do, they are lying to the BSA in order to keep their charter. If they are following the rules they have been told to obey, they are lying to the HRC and to the community. So what are they teaching the boys about honesty, telling the truth, and keeping promises? A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He offers his friendship to people of all races and nations, and respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from his own. By its policy of discrimination, the BSA is in itself in violation of its law to respect other people’s beliefs and customs. A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows that using good manners makes it easier for people to get along. Based on the appearances before the city council and the HRC, the letters to the editor, and letters I have personally received, I would say that it’s fairly safe to say that good manners left long ago. A Scout is Kind. A Scout knows there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. Without good reason, he does not harm or kill any living thing. I would say that the attitude the Scouts have adopted toward gay boys and gay leaders is very definitely not "how he wants to be treated." In fact, the leaders who appeared before the HRC are now complaining that they are being "picked on" and that they "can’t wear their uniforms in public because people might tease them." Gee. Kinda like how the gay kids are feeling, dontcha think? Sorta different when the shoe is on the other foot. A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobeying them. If, as the Davis leaders assure the HRC, they, also, feel the discrimination is wrong, they should not be going ahead and doing their own thing and lying to the BSA, but should be joining the likes of the Illinois troops which bravely stood up to the BSA and had their charters revoked. The Davis leaders should not be lying to the Boy Scouts of America, they should be working from within to change the policies they themselves agree are discriminatory, even as they continue to follow them. Sorry to keep harping on this, but when I get hate mail, and when friends of mine get threatened, it just makes me angry! ~~
The Last Session ~~ |
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Some pictures from this
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Created 3/16/01 by Bev Sykes |
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