It is very upsetting to hear how the Boy Scouts of America discriminates against those with differing beliefs. No, not that they don’t believe in helping young men grow up into good, productive adults. No, not that they are somehow unethical or a bad role model. The Boy Scouts of America has a long tradition of discriminating against homosexuals and atheists. Here is a story about Neil Polzin, an atheist, who has served faithfully in various positions for the Boy Scouts for 15 years. He received a brief letter, telling him that he was to cease all contact and activities with the Boy Scouts. He was also fired from his paid position as Aquatics Director at Camp Cherry Valley.
This man is not a predator, nor is he a risk to have around children. Quite the opposite; he has been an ethical and valuable resource, but as soon as someone complained that his belief system was different, he was forced to pay with his job and reputation. I find this deplorable. I realized that the Boy Scouts discriminated against gays, but for some reason I thought that was in the past. This is evidence that the Boy Scouts of America are in fact the ones who are no good role models – I would never recommend a child participate in activities with this organization again. I was a Cub Scout, and Boy Scout myself. Of course, I never really enjoyed it that much, and gave it up in elementary school, but it did have it’s fun moments. I remember the Pinewood Derby with my Dad… now, the only thing I’ll think of when I hear the name of the organization is that they are a bigoted American group that teaches children to discriminate. This is hateful and wrong. I hope the B.S.A., nationally, is more ethical and tolerant than this branch in California.
[UPDATE: Since writing this, I've spoken to friends who are involved with their kids, and they really have nothing but good things to say about BSA. I have to think that the group in California is to blame. Any group can have some overly zealous volunteers, who push their agenda. While technically BSA doesn't promote alternative lifestyles or ideologies, I don't find any evidence that they are systematically applying this standard to their national organization.
I ended with a comment, "I hope the BSA, nationally, is more ethical and tolerant than this branch in California". From the discussions I've had with others, it would seem that this is an isolated case. But, BSA does need to be careful not to endorse such policies nationally, or they will take something that has been beneficial to society and to many generations of young Americans, and ruin it. Thankfully, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts rarely face these issues, and more often than not, the troop leaders are parents who are just looking out for their own kids.
I am rightfully annoyed when incidents like this occur, but I am very glad to see that this is uncommon with the national organization. BSA reflects our society, and it is composed of children and adults who have beliefs and opinions and who sometimes do stupid things, just like the larger society. We are not always proud of what goes on in society, but we remain proud of America as a whole, and we strive to improve.]
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6 responses so far ↓
1
Jake Smith
// Sep 8, 2009 at 5:36 pm
I think you have a good post, but you are bashing Boyscouts to hard! I am a Life scout, about to be Eagle. You are telling people not to join Boyscouts, please look at what Boyscouts has done for society!
I agree that the BSA was wrong with their decision to fire this man, but this was not the whole BSA’S decision but his council!
2
Null Session
// Sep 9, 2009 at 10:26 am
Hey, Jake, thanks for the comments. I’ve spoken to some other people recently about Boy Scouts and it does seem that some groups are like this, but most aren’t. I was a Boy Scout myself and it wasn’t ever anything us kids saw.
I think at the time, this probably pissed me off and I had to rant about it, but since then I’ve had lots of co-workers who are involved with BSA and they say nothing but nice things about what they are able to do with their troops and how BSA helps kids and society. I’ll definitely update my post!
3
Neil Polzin
// Oct 15, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Hello,
Sorry to be late chiming in, I had not seen this article until just now when I did a google search on myself. I am the above mentioned Neil Polzin. As Jake is going to achieve, I am an Eagle Scout. For that matter I also have my arrow of light. I have staffed National Jamborees and participated in NJLIC at Philmont. The Boy Scouts taught me skills that have enabled me to save the lives of others.
Above these things the Boy Scouts have shaped who I am. I attended my undergraduate college because it hosted a merit badge day. I earned my electricity, chemistry, atomic energy badges there among others to lead me to major in Chemistry. I met my fiance in 2000 at a lifeguard training I was assisting with for the scouts.
As for this matter I started to volunteer at Camp Cherry Valley on Santa Catalina Island in 1999. Along with volunteering at CCV and other camps I worked for the scouts as a clerk from 2001 until 2005. In 2007 I was promoted to the Aquatics Director at the Camp. A post I held for the 2007 and 2008 position, and was terminated before the start of camp in 2009. Without pay for the months of work already put in for the 2009 season.
I have never preached or mentioned my atheism in camp or at scouts at all. Instead it came down from the top when it was found out that I was an atheist. A situation that so upset my boss at camp that he resigned from his post. This is not a situation from the bottom up. Anyone locally involved the scouts over the last decade knows me personally, and universally since this happened I have received support from them. Instead this is a national policy that is being pushed from the higher ups.
Ironically a large part of what brought me to atheism was boy scouts itself. The scouts have a very odd non/omni-deminational stance. They exposed me to multiple religions for the first time. Intimate exposure by talking with Holy Men and Women from a dozen plus different religions. This started off my freethinking and doubts in a religion, which later spread to all.
I worked with hundreds of boys 8-11 years old every summer. And when they came back to camp this year looking for me, they where instead told that I was ousted for being an atheist. That is the truly scary part of this, that young boys see such blatant discrimination and feel it is justified.
A private organization can choose there membership. I am not arguing against that. I woulst instead argue that the boy scouts ‘should’ change the policy regardless if they legally have to. I would further argue that the boy scouts are a public organization and not a private (meaning regardless of ‘should’ they are ‘legally required’ to)
To anyone that says that boy scouts is a private organization, why is it charted by congress? My former council (San Gabriel Valley Council) runs camp Trask in the Monrovia foothills. The camp office is on private land, but most of the campground and all of the camping is done on national forest land. Used rent free by the scouts. Presumably for the public good, even though they say they are a private organization. Or the national jamboree each 4 years. That I have staffed and is on Fort AP Hill Virginia. A large space is put aside for the scouts, land that tons of infrastructure has been installed to support the scouts. Not to mention the hundreds if not thousands of military personal and vehicles they have on parade for the scouts, all on the public dime.
I would be happy to take questions on it if someone is not convinced.
Neil Polzin
cinoo@me.com
4
Null Session
// Oct 15, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Thanks so much for your comments. I fully agree that organizations who receive federal money, even if indirectly, should not discriminate or endorse any religion. In particular, they should be held accountable if they discriminate against someone for NOT being religious or having different beliefs. I can only hope than when parents are exposed to any discriminating behavior, they report it, expose it and don’t allow their kids to participate in such activities or with leaders who demonstrate such behavior.
When I mention things like this to parents I know with kids in the scouts, they don’t seem to know of any such behavior in their troops. But then again, it is easy to not notice or ignore something that organization leaders excuse away. I am glad that most kids have a positive experience with the scouts, but neither kids or adult volunteers should be encouraged to hide their personal beliefs, because of the threat of retaliation.
5
B
// Feb 25, 2010 at 2:10 pm
When a boy becomes involved in scouting he is asked to recite an oath and law which is a promise which keeps you involved in scouting. One of those is “On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty, to god and my country…” This is recited in the Scout oath, which requires one to have faith. Being an avid Scouter and knowing that we are celebrating our 100th anniversary of scouting in America (note that Lord Baden Powell started scouts around 1900 in the UK) the Boy Scouts are evidently a religious organization. Keeping tradition in the Boy Scouts is preferable so the organization is not likely to change much in the “pre-requisites.” (having faith)
So I am sure that The Boy Scouts of America or not choosing to discriminate against atheists but simply practicing the tradition established 100 years before.
6
Null Session
// Feb 25, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Some traditions are unfair, like discriminating against handicapped. Could kids seriously join a group that avowed to discriminate against the handicapped or blacks? What if it were a tradition to not allow blacks to join Boy Scouts or sit in the front of the bus. Don’t you feel they should come up with a more mature attitude? Slavery was a tradition at one time. If it is a club that is not funded by public dollars, I say it’s their right to have a religious organization, but they are funded by public dollars and therefore have no right to discriminate based on race, creed, sex or sexual orientation.
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