BSA's Commitment to Act Against Racial Injustice

The BSA recently sent out a statement regarding their commitment to act against racial injustice, where they commit to the following four specific actions:

1. Introducing a specific diversity and inclusion merit badge that will be required for the rank of Eagle Scout. It will build on components within existing merit badges, including the American Cultures and Citizenship in the Community merit badges, which require Scouts to learn about and engage with other groups and cultures to increase understanding and spur positive action.
2. Reviewing every element of our programs to ensure diversity and inclusion are engrained at every level for participants and volunteers by applying a standard that promotes racial equality and denounces racism, discrimination, inequality and injustice.
3. Requiring diversity and inclusion training for all BSA employees starting July 1 and taking immediate action toward introducing a version for volunteers in the coming months.
4. Conducting a review of property names, events and insignia, in partnership with local councils, to build on and enhance the organization’s nearly 30-year ban on use of the Confederate flag and to ensure that symbols of oppression are not in use today or in the future.

I just wanted to share a few thoughts I had about these specific items.

First, a diversity and inclusion merit badge, required for the Eagle rank, is probably a good thing. I'll be interested to see the requirements and how it turns out.

Second, I'm kind of surprised that some sort of diversity and inclusion training hasn't already been required for BSA employees. There was a diversity and inclusiveness section in Wood Badge since at least the year 2000. Participants have been instructed to make one of their goals focus on diversity. A required volunteer diversity training is probably also good.

I think actions 2 and 4 are pretty closely related. Reviewing elements of programs and property names, events, insignia, etc. will be a good thing. My first thought when reading these, however, had nothing to do with the Confederate flag or Civil War related people/places. I'm in Utah, where that doesn't have a major presence. While I recognize that the spark for this idea comes from recent events revolving around racism toward the black community, I don't see much of those issues in the BSA. Certainly, let's take the time to identify and eliminate whatever we need to there. But my first thought on these two points was about all the Native American stuff in Scouting. 

There have been lots of people who have written about issues with the BSA and Native Americans. Here are a just a few:

https://www.voanews.com/usa/native-americans-boy-scouts-stop-plundering-our-past

https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/boy-scouts-have-been-one-of-the-worst-culprits-of-cultural-appropriation-Cf-Moaug90Knza6-Oz9A9A

https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/boy-scouts-playing-indians-X039STijO0q2mOW6AMEk_g

https://medium.com/@mishablaise/creating-boy-scout-ceremonies-without-taking-native-american-cultural-property-382ad880cce3

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/8/8/1409988/-The-Boy-Scouts-of-America-Has-a-Long-Way-to-Go

I recognize the historical side of Native American lore in the BSA. I think folks like Seton and Baden-Powell genuinely saw aspects of various native cultures as admirable and wanted to include certain things in Scouting for the benefit of boys from their own culture. At the same time, they held other views that we would see today as problematic. We should acknowledge that history, both the good and the bad. 

But we are living in a different time. What may have seemed appropriate in 1910, my not be now. I am all in favor of evaluating programs and property names, etc. and making adjustments to some of those things that are seen as offensive. 

Here are some specific things I think need to be revisited. I'm sure there are others, these are just the ones that, from my experience, stood out first. 

1.  Beat of the Drum adventure for Bears. The Native American crafts and dance portions of this are problematic. There might be ways to make them appropriate, but "create a ceremonial song" and "create a ceremonial dance" are big problems. The BSA should work with native tribes to find ways that kids can appropriately learn about native cultures. 

2. Ceremonies. Just Google "Cub Scout Ceremonies." It won't take you 2 minutes to find something with some faux Native American symbolism, props, dress, or stereotypical speech patterns. These are completely unnecessary. There are other ceremonies that can be used or created that won't cause the same offense. 

3. A World of Sound adventure for Bears. Cubs are led to make approximations of three musical instruments from three different cultures, but there is very little learning about those cultures or what those instruments are for or why they might be culturally important. While this one is maybe not as offensive as other issues, I think there is plenty of room for improvement.

4. Indian Lore merit badge. This one is much better than the Cub Scout adventures, because they are actually supposed to learn about specific tribes, but there are probably things that could be improved.  Making items of clothing or other things used by the tribe could be seen by some as cultural appropriation. We should be working with native tribes to make sure that these kinds of requirements lead to cultural appreciation rather than appropriation. 

5. There are plenty of Native American names used in camp and even local councils. There's a lot there that may need to be changed.

6. I think the BSA should completely eliminate the Order of the Arrow. I confess, I don't really have a lot of love for the OA to begin with. Personal feelings aside, however, if the BSA is going to get serious about "promoting racial equality" and eliminating things that will lead to offense, then the OA just has to go. There's too much history there, from names, to symbols, to dances and ceremonies. I think it would be more effective to start fresh and create a brand new organization, rather than try to change every little problematic detail in the OA. I personally like the idea of a servant leader and service society like what some old Venturing leaders created in The Corps of Discovery.

Again, I realize that the origin of this whole thing was sparked from issues of racism toward the black community, not Native American cultural appropriation. That's fine. I hope the BSA takes whatever time they need to address those issues, and I look forward to those changes. But if the BSA is going to be consistent in promoting diversity and inclusion, then we also need to take time to address issues with other minority groups, which issues are much more widespread and systemic within the BSA.

Corona virus and supply shortages

Like everyone else, I’ve been trying lately to navigate life under threat of the corona virus. I read news articles about the pandemic spreading through the country and in my state. I’m trying to deal with social distancing rules at work while my wife is now homeschooling all of the kids. Life is definitely different now. Amid all of this I keep having a thought and felt like it might be appropriate to write about here. It has to do with that delicate balance between being prepared and hoarding supplies during a crisis. Furthermore, it has to do with how we should treat others during this crisis.


I go grocery shopping and find empty shelves where stacks of toilet paper and paper towels once stood. Occasionally, I find it hard to get the supplies our family needs for our normal use in a regular week (like baby formula or wipes). When I do happen to find some, I’m torn between the need to get the resources I know my family will use and still try to be courteous to other shoppers who are searching for the same limited supplies.


There is a tendency, during times of crisis, to stockpile supplies that may be needed. We’re all seeing that play out right now. There is certainly something to be said for being prepared; my own church leaders have counseled members for years to have a supply of food on hand. And my own experience seems to suggest there is a fine line between preparedness and panic. It can be difficult. But I wonder if we might be missing the mark just a little. I have heard plenty of people tell how they are including firearms and ammunition in with their food storage. The idea being that they may have to defend their stores against everyone else who didn’t stock up and are now desperately looking to get what they can wherever they can. I just read an article today describing the run on guns and ammunition that is occurring right now.


The thought I keep having is, what if the answer to the shortages we are experiencing is the exact opposite of the natural reaction of hoarding supplies?


As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I regard the Book of Mormon as scripture. In one passage, a prophet named Jacob expresses his concern that the people of his time were too focused on gaining material wealth. The counsel he gives to his people is: “before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.” After we “have obtained a hope in Christ,” Jacob says that the Lord will bless us to obtain riches, if we seek for them. But in the process of obtaining hope in Christ our hearts are changed so that we no longer want those riches for ourselves, but “for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and afflicted” (Jacob 2:18-19).


These are interesting thoughts, but they are made all the more interesting by the verse immediately preceding them: “Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you” (Jacob 2:17).


I’ve been struck by that last line: that they may be rich like unto you. It’s almost as if Jacob is saying that when you share with others, it will not decrease your wealth, but will lift others up and all will become wealthy.  


I have wondered lately if it is appropriate to replace the word “riches” in these verses with some of the supplies people are searching for these days—“toilet paper,” for instance. Is it possible that if I share my supplies I will be blessed to not run out of them and, in fact, there will be enough for everyone?


There are similar thoughts in the Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament: “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:31-33). Also “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” (Matthew 5:42).


The Old Testament account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath provides an interesting illustration of what I’m talking about. There’s a famine in the land and the prophet Elijah finds a widow and asks her for some food and water. The widow replies that she only as enough for one last meal for herself and her son. Elijah encourages her to share what little she has, promising that there will be enough for all three of them. Furthermore he promises that she won’t run out of food until the famine ends. “And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not...” (1 Kings 17:15-16).


Now, what would have happened if the widow had refused? What would have happened if she decided that she needed to defend her supply of food and attacked Elijah?


There are other stories of miraculous occurrences centered on someone’s decision to share what meager supplies they have.


In Matthew 14, Jesus found himself among a crowd of 5,000 people who didn’t have any food. Rather than sending them all away, as his disciples suggested, Jesus decided to feed them. I wonder how many skeptics in the crowd thought he was crazy to suggest feeding everyone when there were only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish to be divided among them all. But, not only were they all “filled” but the leftovers added up to more than they started with. (See Matthew 14:15-21)


In the very next chapter, Jesus feeds 4,000 people from only seven loaves of bread and a few fish. Again, the leftovers added up to more than they started with. (See Matthew 15:32-38).


Ask yourself what would have happened if those who had the loaves of bread and the fish had refused to share, thinking they needed that food for themselves.


In the book, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom describes experiences she and her sister Betsy had while confined in the Ravensbruck concentration camp during WWII. They had managed to sneak a bottle of vitamin oil in with them and Corrie would give a drop to Betsy every morning, but worried at how long it would last. Corrie admitted that “my instinct was always to hoard it,” but Betsy had a habit of sharing with anyone else who was sick. “And still,” Corrie reports, “every time I tilted the little bottle, a drop appeared at the tip of the glass stopper. It just couldn’t be!” The sisters compared it to the miracle with Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. “It was one thing to believe that such things were possible thousands of years ago, another to have it happen now, to us, this very day. And yet it happened this day, and the next, and the next, until an awed little group of spectators stood around watching the drops fall onto the daily rations of bread.” This miracle continued until the very day that someone else managed to sneak some vitamins from the infirmary.


My own family history provides another miraculous account. During the early days of Utah food was often scarce. It became scarcer still when swarms of crickets devoured the crops. As the story goes, Andrew Burnham was one of the few who had a supply of flour and meal in his granary. Occasionally, people would come to ask if he had any to sell. The reply was always that there wasn’t any for sale, but anyone in need was welcome to a portion. Before long, Andrew found himself dividing his last sack of flour with a needy neighbor. The very next morning, another neighbor came asking for help. The neighbor was told of the situation but Andrew offered to see if they could perhaps sweep up a few cups. The story is that upon opening the door of the granary they found all the sacks filled with flour and meal just as they had been before Andrew Burnham started sharing. The food supply is said to have lasted as long as the food shortage continued.


I have come to believe that those of us who claim to believe in God need to step up here. We need to have the faith that miracles will happen to those who are willing to share.


Fortunately, there are those who are doing this; those stories are out there, too. I smile to think that someday, somewhere, someone will recount the story of how their supply of toilet paper was miraculously replenished just after sharing their last roll.


Now, I realize that this topic doesn’t really fit with all the other Scouting themed stuff I have reserved this blog for. But I believe Scouting embraces the principles I’ve been talking about. You might recognize the words Helpful, Courteous, and Kind.