A Scoutmaster's Blog

A scoutmaster took out his phone at the roundtable Tuesday night to show me something that was written many centuries ago about the younger generation, but seemed to be written about many of today’s youth. After reading it I had him email it to me so that I could share it with all of you.

Socrates wrote. . . “Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt fot authority; they show disrepsect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company; gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers.”

But, Plato in the Republic argued that youth should learn the cardinal virtues of wisdom, bravery, temperance and justice through adversity and adventure, and that young people could learn lessons about virtue best by impelling them into adventurous situations that demanded that virtues be exercised.

Was Plato talking about Scouting before Scouting existed? Uncanny, isn’t it?

I enjoy reading articles about the good that Scouting does across the nation and around the world. I also like reading quotes from well know people who are not afraid to talk about the positive aspects of the Scouting program. I wish the national office would somehow use these quotes to counter the negative publicity that we see so much in the media these days.

“The Boy Scouts of America stands for a set of principles. These principles have a lot of staying power. The values you learn as a Scout are like a compass. They can help you find your way through difficult and sometimes unchartered terrain. The principles of Scouting give you a sense of what’s important. I feel I owe the Boy Scouts a great deal, both personally and professionally.” Bill Bradley, former U.S. senator, New Jersey

“The Boy Scouts of America has something going for it that all the government welfare programs in America can’t match: success. Besides families and religion, Scouting is probably this country’s single best program for building character in boys, and has been for nearly a century.” The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

“Scouting exposes young men to people and experiences that encourage and nurture positive moral values. But we mustn’t take Scouting for granted. You can do nothing more important for young people today than to continue, or begin, your support of Scouting. I have never met anyone with devoted Scouting experience who was not a solid citizen, a loyal friend, and a patriot. We need more of them.” Wallace G. Wilkinson, former governor of Kentucky

“Following the Scout Law sounds like a game plan that would give us all a better chance for success in life—and I mean every area of life.” Zig Ziglar, author and motivational speaker

“I assure you of my own personal appreciation of Scouting as a magnificent experience and form of social and religious commitment.” His Holiness Pope John Paul II

Here are a few good quotes about Boy Scouting I found through the help of the internet:

“We must depend upon the Boy Scout Movement to produce the MEN of the future.“ Daniel Carter Beard.

“A Scout is never taken by surprise; he knows exactly what to do when anything unexpected happens.” Robert Baden-Powell.

“The simplest way of saying this for the very young Scout is to do a good turn to someone every day: that is, to be a giver and not a taker.” Juliette G. Low.

“In the 30 years that I’ve been doing this for a living, I’ve never had a parent say to me, ‘I regretted the time I spent with my son or child in Scouting.'” Roy L. Williams, Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America.

and one fun one….
“Being in the army is like being in the Boy Scouts, except that the Boy Scouts have adult supervision.” Blake Clark.

I just have to share this quote with you… “A scout troop consists of twelve little kids dressed like schmucks following a big schmuck dressed like a kid.”

Jack Benny, a famous American comedian from radio and early television, said this. I came across this quote the other day when I was browsing the internet. I bet I laughed for the next five minutes after reading this. It is amazing that even though he died in 1974 he can still make me laugh.

So the question is, are Boy Scouts schmucks? I would say that would depend on your definition of the word. It is a word you do not hear used very often anymore. Are adult leaders schmucks? I cannot speak for everyone but I know there are times when I have certainly felt like one. (See “Lessons in Stupidity”.)

I think the thing about this quote that really struck my funny bone was the reference to adults dressing like kids. That may be true, in a way. Or is it the kids dressing like adults? Either way, I know that being a Scout leader helps to keep the kid in me alive and well. And yes, maybe the schmuck also.