Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina Defends Scouting!

Excerpts From His Senate Speech Introducing His Amendment To Cut Funding From School Districts Discriminating Against Scouts.

"Mr. President, for years, the Boy Scouts of America organization has been subjected to malicious assaults by some homosexuals and some liberal politicians simply because the Boy Scouts of America organization, and many individual scout groups, have steadfastly continued to uphold their moral and decent standards for scouting and the leaders of that great organization.

I have long admired and supported scouting--its leaders, and the Boy Scouts themselves. (I was one a long time ago, although we will not discuss how long ago that was.) In any case, it comes as no surprise to me that the Supreme Court properly upheld in June of last year the constitutional rights of the Boy Scouts of America-- their rights to establish their own membership guidelines, which included no obligation whatsoever to accept homosexuals as Boy Scout members or leaders.

Nor was there any surprise that there came the customary discordant company of radical militants demanding that this landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court be undermined�"

"This arrogant discriminatory treatment of Boy Scouts of America must not be allowed to continue, and that is why I am sitting here this afternoon offering amendments to reinforce the U.S. Supreme Court's decision upholding the first amendment rights of the Boy Scouts of America and not oblige those Boy Scouts to compromise their membership or leadership guidelines, nor any of their moral principles�"

"Mr. President. I hope the Senate will, as the U.S. Supreme Court has already done, uphold the constitutional rights of the Boy Scouts of America to continue to take this (Scout) oath, meaningfully and sincerely."

Excerpts from remarks to the Senate, March 15, 2001. The entire speech and the supporting material is posted at www.defendscouting.com.

From the editor: Lessons From Two Extremes In The Attack On Scouting

Two articles in this issue illustrate the extremes of the attacks on Scouts going on around the country.

One reports the success of Tennessee Congressman Van Hilleary's amendment to the education bill in Congress. His amendment provides for cutting off federal funds from a school district that denies the Boy Scouts equal access to school facilities. It is very similar to the Helms amendment the Senator was advocating in the excerpt at the beginning of this newsletter.

These amendments are a reaction to the unconstitutional effort by the Broward County, Florida, School District and others around the country to try to punish the Scouts because of their exclusion of openly homosexual scout masters. Hilleary's amendment passed on a voice vote, a sure indication that it was considered non-controversial. That, in turn, is eloquent testimony that most Congressmen recognize the high esteem in which the Scouts are held by the majority of their constituents.

The second article reports the Los Angeles Times withholding thousands of dollars in campership funding over this same position. As a private organization, of course, the Times has every right to endulge in such an example of liberalism and political correctness run amok. The paper has lost some subscribers as a result. Its reputation takes a much bigger hit, however. It is ironic that a newspaper, which depends for its continued existence on the constitutional protection of a free press, should punish the Scouts for exercising their constitutional rights.

The lessons to be drawn from these examples are important ones. One is that most Americans hold firm to the fundamental values and institutions that have made this nation great. But another is that unless enough of these good people are prepared to act in defense of these values and institutions, the liberals and other disciples of political correctness will continue to exert a corrosive influence on our society vastly disproportionate to their numbers.

As always, thank you keeping us informed about what is happening to Scouting around the country and for all that you do in its defense.

Peter Ferrara
Editor

P.S. Please help us pass the word by forwarding this newsletter on to others who are defending Scouting.

What Is Happening to Scouts Around the Country.

Positive Developments For Scouting�

--Another Big Victory In Congress

The House on a voice vote passed Tennessee Congressman Van Hilleary's amendment to the education bill to provide for cutting off federal funding from school districts which discriminate against the Scouts. See article here.

--Helms Amendment Proposes Senate Take Action Similar To The House

North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms has introduced an amendment in the Senate similar to the Hilleary amendment. It also would provide for cutting off federal funds from school districts that discriminate against the Scouts. See article here.

--Conservative Win In Royal Oak Michigan Partly Tied To Support For Scouts

A conservative coalition supported by the Michigan chapter of the American Family Association and other religious conservatives won by a 2 to 1 margin a referendum repealing a city ordinance to include sexual orientation in a city non-discrimination law. The potential impact on the Scouts and similar organizations figured prominently in the debate. See article here.

But Many Problems Still Remain.

--Los Angeles Times Cuts Campership Funds.

The Los Angeles Times is withholding thousands of dollars in campership funds from the local Scout council because of the Scouts position on homosexual scoutmasters. See article here.

--Wisconsin Scout Council Petitions For Policy Change On Homosexuals

The Four Lakes Council serving Madison and surrounding communities has formally petitioned the national Scout office to change its position on excluding openly homosexual men from serving as scoutmasters. See article here.

--Presbyterian Church Appears To Be Distancing Itself From Scouting

And some thoughtful commentary on scouting�

Scoutmaster Al Perrin eloquently describes how a respectful flag burning by his Scout troop illustrates the moral compass Scouting has provided for millions of young men. Published in the Tampa Tribune. See article here.