The Boy Scouts of America voted to allow gays in their membership. Time to cue up the “wailing and gnashing of teeth” by the RWCRFM’s. (Right Wing Conservative Republican Fundamentalist Morons, I wish this place offered a glossary) The surprising thing to me, is a stale ole stodgy, dogmatic institution actually had the guts to put it to a vote at all. The norm for such an institution is usually to hold on to their out dated ideals no matter how loudly the public outcry becomes…and then act like nothing happened at all, writing it off as a misunderstanding, or engaging in outrageous victim blaming episodes.

As a kid I was Cub Scout, for a year..maybe a year and half. Been a long time ago, and I’ve eaten and slept a few times since, so my memory is a little fuzzy on the subject. I graduated to the Boy Scouts, but didn’t stay long. I enjoyed the experience for the most part, but there was always a nagging uncomfortable knowledge, even at that point in my youth, that being forced an oath of sorts to Glob, was somehow a necessity to be part of the group. I played along like a good lil doubter, but it rubbed me the wrong way then, as it still does today. I wonder how many decades it will take, to be allowed to join this group, without proclaiming a belief or loyalty to the x-ian Glob?

As far as gays being allowed to join. Good! There should be no effort by public or private institutions in this country to hold judgement on, or restrict any particular ethnic group, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation held by anyone. To do so is a direct violation of our constitution’s intent.

Cue up the x-ian revisionists claiming “this is a x-ian country based on biblical values” Umm, nope, sorry. Do some actual reading up on the subject. Do not believe the crap you have been told by the Becks, the Limbaugh’s, Faux News, or the RWCRFM’s you may know. This country was founded by men who had the knowledge and the foresight to understand that religious intrusion in matters of the state was a very bad idea.

“What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society?  In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people.  Rulers who wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established clergy convenient auxiliaries.  A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate it, needs them not.- “A Memorial and Remonstrance”, 1785 (James Madison)

I lifted that phrase, from here: http://freethought.mbdojo.com/foundingfathers.html     – a good many more there, and the entire page is a good read. Read that page, let it soak in, and understand the x-ian revisionists are lying to you.

Finally, congratulations to the BSA for getting caught up with the 21st century…well sort of.