My Service to the Youth of America is No One's Political Football

Went to a meeting last evening of the local Scout Council's Executive Board that was too important to cancel.  In the 4 hours I was there, my car was covered with about 2.5 inches of snow.  On the Business 94 feeder into town, I narrowly averted running into a car that had spun out of control.  Let no one doubt my devotion to the youth of America.  We took care of important business, and learned more about the progress of the Michigan Area Project.  (www.bsaareaproject.org; www.michiganscouting.org)  This is important to me, as I had a role in conceptualizing the changes that are now being implemented.  Plus, I got to talk to some wonderful people.  

All this is a prelude to saying, if BSA changes its rules on membership and makes the chartering organization (which owns the unit it charters) responsible to decide who can be a leader in the unit that group sponsors, that's actually bringing the rules more into line with long-time practice in other areas.  I ask neither side to make this a political issue.  I don't expect lots of "liberals" to suddenly flock to Scouting, and I certainly hope no dedicated Scouter would consider this change grounds to end his or her service to youth.  I hope the change is made, I endorse it, but it will not change my participation in this great youth-serving, life saving, nation building movement one way or the other.  When either side tries to politicize the issue, or the movement, it cheapens what we Scouters do and makes me feel a bit tawdry.  

Hands off, crusaders for morality and crusaders for "civil rights."  Unless you want to join me at the next meeting in trying to do some good for youth, find another political football to kick around.