From: Dan Kurtenbach (danielkurtenbach@hotmail.com)
Date: Sat Nov 02 2002 - 01:17:21 CST
Bob Klein wrote:
> I may start a firestorm on this next comment, but I personally would
> urge you in the stongest possible terms to NOT take or use your Scout
> Uniforms on the trail. Although they were once the standard for trail
> use at Philmont, that was pre-1970 with the uniforms of that time. The
> modern version is very poorly suited for wilderness outdoor use (despite
> the pretty pictures in the various official literature, or the
> ridiculous testimonials that were common in Boy's Life or Scouting
> Magazine a few years back - thankfully now rarely seen
Then Bob wrote:
> Units that wear full Class A's all
> the time have no difficulties doing so while on travel to Philmont or
> elsewhere. Units that have sunk to some lower standard . . . I think
> Scouts in mufti look like crap.
So, Bob, why is "some lower standard" not only okay, but strongly
recommended on the trail, where Scouting really happens? After all, you
wrote:
> Personally, I DO believe that the
> uniform is an inherent character building facet of modern Scouting (and
> check that 10th point of the Scout Law too), and that is one of the
> primary reasons why Troop 111 is a fully uniformed outfit.
Does character building stop at the trailhead? If you can actually come up
with some rationale for looking "like crap" on the trail, particularly when
BSA shows Scouts doing *everything* in Class A uniforms in so much of their
literature, and BSA and many experienced Scouters swear that the full
uniform works well for *all* Scouting activities, should not that rationale
apply across the board? Even if you believe that the current Scout uniform
is not well-suited for the wilderness, wouldn't it build character in your
Scouts, and particularly promote the 10th *and* 11th points of the Scout
Law, to wear full Class A uniforms in the wilderness anyway? Wouldn't that
be a good tool for building Eagle Scouts?
When you refer to "mufti," are you including the official BSA activity
uniform (Scout shorts or pants with a Troop or camp T-shirt)? Is the
official activity uniform "some lower standard"?
I guess I'm just confused by your thinking here. And, oh yes, by something
else you said:
> I like my Unit to look sharp
What does what *you* like have to do with it? Aren't Scoutmasters giving in
to their personal uniforming preferences exactly what you so sharply
criticized?
Dan Kurtenbach
Fairfax, VA
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BSA-Uniforms
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