From: Del Wilson (dwilson8@utk.edu)
Date: Sat Nov 02 2002 - 01:39:24 CST
Before a firestorm starts, I would just like to say this: Each person
on this list has a right to their opinion and should feel free to post
it. However, I don't think that the best way to to this is to go
through and personally attack specific things that have been said. "so
Bob..." Teenage boys today are facing the toughest battles ever and
they don't need leaders that act like this. Most of you guys are scout
leaders and you need to act like it. Why don't we just leave the whole
"uniform traveling" topic and go on to better issues- it has had it's
time. Read that last line carefully and let me repeat. Why don't we
just leave the whole "uniform traveling" topic and go on to better
issues-it has had it's time.
-Del Wilson
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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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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