[philmont] Please Stop

A great and eloquent post from a great Scouter. Well done.

Joe Jansen
JaJansenJr@gmail.com

On 2/11/08, Dr. Bob Klein <drbob@troop111.org> wrote:
> If I may be allowed to offer a semi-contrarian point of view. There is
> a difference between bad behavior and thoughtless behavior. It's a
> matter of knowledge and intent. It's my guess that very few of the
> Scouts who have been involved in this particular act would have done
> what they did, had either they or their Advisors put about 10 seconds
> thought into it. And that if they did think about it, years later and
> with some perspective, I'd bet most would have (at least) a twinge of
> regret, and probably a lot more than just a twinge. But let's please
> remember, stupidity is rarely malicious.
>
> I remember some years back I was attending the funeral of a Scouter (a
> full Colonel in his day) at Arlington. I was in full Scout uniform, of
> course. An attendee was increasingly incensed at the antics of a host
> of nearby young children, laughing and playing amongst the headstones of
> many generations of heroes. When I saw he was about to act, I walked
> over a couple of steps to stand in front of him and stated very slowly
> and forcefully: "Sir, there is no sweeter music ever heard by the souls
> of the men in this hallowed ground than the sound of American children
> chattering - in English - in a free land. Stand down." And he blinked,
> and did. Later, he looked over at me and smiled.
>
> To this day I cannot explain where that line came from - it came out of
> me without prep or practice. Maybe I had some support I wasn't expecting.
>
> Anyway, I would like to think that the souls of those who repose on
> Trail Peak would also react with smiles, not anger, at the silly antics
> of the boys that they were once themselves. They're not malicious,
> they're just teenagers, with much to learn. If those souls could speak
> from beyond the grave, I think they'd say: "Live the lives we helped
> earn for you. Don't forget us."
>
> Don't condemn, teach!
>
> - Dr. Bob
>
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> As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
> Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
> loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
> cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Mon Feb 11 23:30:17 2008