An Open Letter to the BSA
TO: Michael Surbaugh
Chief Executive, Boy Scouts of America
Sir:
I am writing as a former Girl Scout and Curved Bar recipient, which is the highest rank in Girl Scouting and equivalent to the rank of Eagle Scout. I was active in scouting between the ages of eight to eighteen, and still take pride in having been part of this great American tradition.
Donald Trump’s speech at this year’s Jamboree was beyond inappropriate; it was truly appalling. If you want to claim that you had no idea that his speech would turn into a self-serving diatribe about politics, replete with smears against President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and American journalists, you can do so. But the reality is that not a single person in the country is unaware of the fact that Trump is an ego-driven loose cannon, who invariably turns every speech into a vitriolic-filled statement about himself and his perceived political enemies.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year and more, you had to know that Trump’s remarks would, in all probability, include comments that would be not only inappropriate for the occasion, but would represent ideas completely contrary to the principles of scouting.
A Boy Scout is trustworthy. You invited a man who has lied repeatedly, and has been proven to have done so, to address the very children you are allegedly trying to teach the importance of truthfulness.
A Boy Scout is courteous. Where was the courtesy in prompting an audience of Scouts to “boo” the former POTUS?
A Boy Scout is reverent. Where was the reverence for our former president, and the office of the presidency itself?
A Boy Scout is brave. Where was YOUR bravery, and the bravery of your organization, in allowing Trump to ramble on unimpeded about his “political enemies”, and anecdotal tales about how successful and how wealthy he is, how he was invited to all the “right parties” – as though these things are representative of the values the Boy Scouts should be striving to emulate?
Your own choice of language leaves much to be desired, and speaks volumes about your unwillingness to take responsibility for your own actions. “I want to extend my sincere apologies to those in our Scouting family who were offended by the political rhetoric that was inserted into the jamboree.”
Apologizing to “those who were offended” implies that you and your organization are blameless, while those who were offended are somehow responsible for their OWN adverse reaction, rather than YOUR actions and those of your organization.
The president of the United States is traditionally acknowledged as the honorary president of the of the Boy Scouts of America. But when that “president” demonstrates a complete disregard for the principles of scouting, it is time to remove him from that honorary position.
The only appropriate action at this point would be for you, on behalf of the BSA, to denounce Trump’s remarks AND remove him as your “honorary president”. But that would take “bravery” – a quality you apparently lack.
Yours Truly,
NanceGreggs
= new reply since forum marked as read
