Red Blooded American Boy

Archive for the ‘Eagle Scout’ Category

Good Going, Obama. Any dedicated socialist knows that addressing a group of motivated young people is paramount to the success of a brainwashing campaign.

As Honorary President of the Boy Scouts Of America, Obama had a grand opportunity to convince a whole generation of attentive boys that he was in fact a good President.
Instead, Obama chose to address the Boy Scouts of America 100th Anniversary Jamboree via a stale recording. This is just the thing you would expect a negligent father to do, not a President.

Truly, the impact of his presence could have made quite an impression on these kids. Instead, a whole generation of Boy Scouts received a hard and very good lesson. Government is worthless and ain’t your daddy.

Yes, the boys all know he skipped out on them to attend fundraisers and be on a foolish daytime talk show. Kids are connected nowadays and probably knew about the news before the adult leaders were finished brewing their morning coffee. These young boys will remember that Obama could not keep the environment safe from the oil spill, did not keep our homeland safe, put us in National Debt and valued his own politics over people.

I argue this point from my own experience. I was one of the thousands who saw Marine One fly over Fort AP Hill, Virginia in July 1985. The 1985 Jamboree was the 75th Anniversary of Boy Scouts and Nancy Reagan spoke a positive message to us young men. Looking back, there are two main things I remember about that Jamboree: listening to the Beach Boys play live and hearing Nancy Reagan speak. Had Reagan chose to address the Boy Scouts via a VHS recording, his voice would have filled the amphitheater with sound. But, the words I heard would not have gone to the heart. Presence is more important than performance.  People are more important than politics.

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As an Eagle Scout myself, I am appalled by your treatment of the fellow Eagle Scout, Matthew Whalen.  Granted, he did violate some sort of school rules and should have some level of punishment.  But, you know that such a fine young man could have been given something less harsh than a protracted suspension.  Despite the abuse by you and others in the school system, Mr. Whalen is holding his character up.

Your behavior is a reflection of the current mentality that the “state” has power over the people.  As such, you have sown a seed and taught Matthew Whalen a very valuable lesson.  He has been educated to resist the authority of the state because it will always penalize the innocent and reward the guilty.  He is kind and compliant person now at such a young age.  But, when he grows into an adult he will not surrender and will not yield.
 
I would recommend you uphold this “zero tolerance” rule in place.  A spineless individual such as yourself has sent a revealing message to all the school children in your district.  You have announced that you are a weakling that only has the fortitude to hide behind the cowardly authority of a desk.  You are what “Dirty Harry” calls a – punk.

             — Sent today via email to: ggoodwin@lansingburgh.org

Unlike many of my peers at age 16, I was working hard on my Eagle Scout rank in Boy Scouts that I did not notice girls. Ok. Thats not true. I was such a Boy Scout that was on my honor, I would not have tried anything untoward young women. Ok. Thats a lie, too.
I can admit it. I was quite a geek and really not as exciting those guys with slick smiles and fast cars. That doesn’t mean I didn’t dream of a girl that was really turned on by an array of patches sewn all over a uniform and other shiny things hanging from my belt. In my mind, the dream girl would rip off my neckerchief and ask:

Is that a special issue 75th Diamond Anniversary pocket knife? Or are you just happy to see me?

For sure that did not happen! But, after earning Eagle at age 17, I got my car and more freedom.  I had a new page of adventure yet to write and I was ready!

Debauchery Merit Badge

Still the dating scene was quite slow. Seems that the geek does not go away so quickly…

But, aside from being a geek, I found the party scene not what I expected.  My peers had heard about or even saw the newspaper article about me earning Eagle Scout.  So, I had a reputation that proceeded me.

To my surprise, when I went to a party – I was recruited as the designated driver because no one expected me to drink.   No one offered me the cigarettes or pot they were smoking.  What I found myself doing was delivering drunk friends around and being the guy folks could count on.

One of my pot-smoking friends of the time told me this:

I like you because you do not have to do what I am doing.  You are your own man.

That was an awesome statement from the least likely of sources.  Yes, I was my own man.  I was an Eagle Scout.

As I grew, I discovered the truth behind those great things I was taught in Boy Scouts.  Those elements in the Scout Law: living a Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent life are things my wife and kids look to me for each day.  My employer looks for those, too.  Being physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight keeps me going — at home or during work travel.  My neighbors, my community and church all expect these attributes from me.

So, my advice to Boy Scouts working on their ranks… earn your debauchery merit badge after Eagle.  Discover all that you had missed while on campouts, hikes and jamborees.

Actually, you will find that the requirement for earning the merit badge will be saving others from debauchery.  Your own debauchery?  No way.  Doing good turns and doing your duties will keep you busy enough.