Dear Boy Scouts of America,
I am an Eagle Scout, I was raised in Scouting and made my childhood revolve around the Scouting program as best as what was available to me in my area. As such, I am deeply ashamed of the behavior portrayed by the Scouts in yesterday's political rally at the Boy Scout Jamboree.
An invitation to the President of the United States to speak at a public Boy Scout function is not an issue. Behavior is the issue.
President Donald Trump acted inappropriately in his speech by transforming a Scouting event into a political campaign rally. We will never receive an apology from Donald Trump regarding his misuse of the time granted to him - however, it is your duty as the hosting organization to apologize for that misuse.
A Scout is Reverent - it is part of the Scout Law, to be "Reverent" means to show a "deep and solemn respect", according to the dictionary, and that "deep and solemn respect" includes maintaining a respect for the rules and purpose of an non-political Scouting event. The Boy Scouts of America, leaders and youth alike, violated the Scout Law of Reverence in following the example of President Donald Trump by willingly participating in the degradation and public shaming of Trump's political opponents and rival political ideologies. It is your responsibility to apologize for that violation of the Scout Law - not to mention the violation of official BSA policy affecting political events.
A Scout is Courteous - this is also a part of the Scout Law, with Courteous meaning, according to the dictionary, "polite, respectful, or considerate in demeanor". There was nothing polite, or respectful, or considerate in the behavior of the Boy Scouts of America during that misused Jamboree speech. Is it courteous to angrily boo the name of the speaker's political rivals or competing political ideologies? No, it is not. Do others angrily boo or behave in inconsiderate manners in private or public events? Yes, yes they do. Is that an excuse for you? No, it is not. The Boy Scouts of America is supposed to teach boys to be BRAVE by being Courteous and Reverent even when other people don't want them to be. It is apparent in yesterday's Jamboree speech that your organization has failed to embody or teach that principle to any of those roughly 40,000 participants, and that failure has been displayed to the world.
A Scout is Loyal - this portion of the Scout Law was brought up specifically by Donald Trump as a very political reference to his desire to get whatever he wants, whenever he wants it. In truth, the principle of loyalty in Scouting has nothing to do with politics - instead it is a principle that teaches boys to be dependable, to not retreat when the going gets tough, and to be there for others when you are needed.
A TRUE Scout would never be more loyal to a specific President of the United States than he would be to another President. A TRUE Scout would never be more loyal to any specific President more than he would be to the Constitution and the rule of Law in his country. A TRUE Scout would never betray his loyalty because he didn't get something he wanted, when he wanted it. A TRUE Scout is supposed to be loyal to both God and Country - that does not mean that a Scout is required to say (or that he requires others to say) "Merry Christmas" in order to truly be an American, or a Scout. A Scout can come from any background, and any religion, and as such a Scout is expected to be loyal to his God, no matter what religion he might willingly be a part of. To accept the statement made by Donald Trump that Scouts must say "Merry Christmas" is to deny the core principles of Scouting and require Scouts of other religions to be disloyal to their beliefs and religion. A TRUE Scout is loyal enough to apologize for his wrongdoing towards others, or towards himself.
It was disloyal to the United States, to the American people, to the principles of Scouting for the crowd of Scout youth and leaders to repeatedly chant "We Love Trump" while simultaneously booing to the names of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. It was disloyal to affirm that a Scout must say "Merry Christmas". It was disloyal to encourage the idea that you are not American if you are not a Republican. It was disloyal to cheer and applaud the defamation and slander of journalists by a political figure.
A Scout is Trustworthy - I am an Eagle Scout. I trusted your organization to honor your principles and do the right thing. I trusted your organization to reason out decisions and eventually come to a morally upright conclusion. I waited for your organization to accept LGBT+ members as part of a moral decision that no one is superior or inferior to another human being - regardless of religious, political or moral beliefs - I waited because I trusted in the Scout Law, that you would eventually make the right decision. Now, my trust in your organization and your moral uprightness and connection to the Scout Law is once again in question. Will you honor the principles of Scouting and apologize for the inappropriate behavior of your guest and your members at the 2017 Boy Scout National Jamboree? Will you uphold the Scout Law and teach proper principles to your leaders and youth? Or, will you continue to abandon your oaths and fail to be a beacon of moral fiber in America?
Sincerely,
An Eagle Scout
