Boy Scout Explorers Trained to Kill Veterans/Terrorists

[cerebus]

Did you read the bit in the NY Times article about Scout leaders molesting the kids? There seem to me to be an increasing number of devious things happening in every institution of our society.

People in every age have always felt that the "bad or devious" things in society were increasing, even in times when they were not. In fact "bad things" of all sorts have decreased greatly since, say, the Middle Ages for instance. But we are living in the here and now, so when we see or hear of "bad or devious" things happening it seems to us as if they are on the rise. It's often a trick of one's own perception...

[cerebus]

And I have to say that I agree with Steve about the whole "choosing the wording to slant the view" of the article without outright stating any actual untruths. A slick and devious way of smacking down the BSA.

[Andy_S]

Scouts being trained to kill vets? What the hell have animal doctors done to them?

[yusuf]

Scouts being trained to kill vets? What the hell have animal doctors done to them?

i'll get my coat...

[Bär]

The Scouts and Explorers have always been Christian paramilitary organizations. This probably only comes as a shock to those who weren't ever in there. Explorers was pitched as a stepping stone to the services or becoming a cop when I was in scouts.

[Michael]

...but when there is a thread title that does basically the same thing: implication, guilt by association, or subliminal smear, there is a reaction.

[nianfong]

wow. i was an explorer. we learned how to make emulsions and crystals, and sent 2 experiments up in the shuttle

[Doc Stier]

wow. i was an explorer. we learned how to make emulsions and crystals, and sent 2 experiments up in the shuttle

Not just the same old, boring Explorers anymore, eh?

In any event, I wouldn't be too worried about the quality and integrity of the young people who are interested in being a part of the Explorers! Most of them have already been through the other Scout programs before entering the Explorers, like Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and I'm willing to bet that the vast majority have a pretty good perspective on things in spite of the occasional weird leader.

So let not your hearts be troubled. Don't worry...be happy! And be glad that they aren't engaged in street gang activities or drug dealing instead.

Doc

[Michael]

XXXXXXX

[Ian]

reminds me of this:

[Steve James]

Yup, just like the Scouts.

Well, I think this is not-so-subtle propaganda. What bothers me most is not the propaganda itself; it's the fact that the propagandists use whoever or whatever they want as tools to make their point. For ex., the complaint here was not about the young men and women who are Explorers or Scouts: that we were putting them in danger by asking them to go up against "special forces" types, or taking on the jobs of border-crossing officers, etc. Naw, that's not important; it's who they happened to be practicing their tactics on. Instead of a deranged vet, they should have used ... who, exactly? a deranged Mexican, a crack addict, a postal worker?

On that note, I have heard a lot about the gov't trying to get vets; but I've heard fuck-all about the need to take care of vets with psychological issues that HAVE caused psychological and domestic problems. But, concern for the vet is not the point either. Oh, that's not to say that people don't care, about Scouts or Vets, Mexicans or crack addicts. It's just that they're secondary to the political point being made.

For example, many vets (I know) go into public service, including the police force, etc, when they return. They are then in the awkward position of being 1) the object of the government's attempt to create a police state because they are a threat, while simultaneously being condemned 2) the mechanism of the government: i.e., the "police." But, when they are actively serving in the military, they are still considered the arm of the government. Ironically, ime, many enlistees were also Scouts.

Anyway, that's what makes me skeptical about the title of the thread, the association with racist nationalists/nationalism or the claims of concern for veterans. Of course, what would be the point if we agreed on improving veteran care, giving more to the VA, or spent any time condemning the real racist nationalist groups that exist here. If I didn't feel uncomfortable giving them advertisement, I'd post them myself. I sure wouldn't choose the Boy Scouts as the American example.

[Michael]

Several years ago, the UK setup a huge force of voluntary minders outside the police that wear little orange vests and wander the streets intimidating and harassing people for little to no reason, detain them, and then enter their names into terrorist databases. One report was of a young man and his girlfriend at a bus stop being detained because "he had his hand in his pocket". The minders can detain you for up to 30 minutes for the police to arrive if you refuse to cooperate.