[15247] in APO-L
A Message For All
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Weiss.H@MCD.GEN.DE.US)
Tue Nov 5 09:25:02 1996
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 1996 09:00:00 EST
Reply-To: Weiss.H@MCD.GEN.DE.US
From: Weiss.H@MCD.GEN.DE.US
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
Brothers:
Yesterday upon my writing my words, I got distressed. I think part of it was
in the fact, that we are still trying to find ourselves in an organization
that has become us. I may not be as old or wise as Mr. Correll, Ms.
Galllagher, or even you, but I feel an organization might wish to consider
adopting its own principles and standards for humanity.
The constitution of the United States sets forth a precedent that allows us as
citizens to determine the fate of our country... such that if the constitution
shall not meet the needs of its citizens, it may be altered or destroyed and
begun again. Thus, I wonder if we need to sit down and really delve into our
rituals and practices, our creeds and mottos, our clasps and songs, etc and
etc. The point of the National Convention is to do some of that, but perhaps
that is not enough... perhaps we need to truly investigate and worry less of
the words and more to their meaning.
I am quite upset about the BSA policy as regard to two of the G's (G-d and
Gay). I have never felt women should be a part of the BSA, just as I now feel
men should not be a part of Girl Scouts. These are two distinct
organizations. They have their own origins and their own rituals, their own
mottos and creeds, why then does APO not have such its own origin.
The Boy Scouts were founded in part and parcel of the Army. An associate of
Lord Baden Powell, once came to Williamsport PA to explain the origins of BSA.
It was honor to hear his voice. He explained that BSA was initially thought
similar to the Scouts in the British Army. Teaching the skills of knot tying,
camping, cooking, fishing, hunting, etc. etc. Several years later, when I
became an Eagle I attended a similar presentation on and by the Girl Scouts.
The woman whom I know as Mrs. Smith, expressed that Girl Scouts were founded
to be as if the standard of womanhood had to mission other than to be lesser
than men. Thus the Girl Scouts served as a means to promote women and
strengthen gender identity of women. She was very cordial to point out, that
they were (at least locally) were exclusive to women only. Men were not
allowed to be members.
But what is APO to do? We were founded by an idealist who sought BSA as a
model for his organization to be developed. But now, it seems as if we want
it either "tied to" or "cut off" but neither extreme will suffice all
brothers. I wish to make a suggestion here. That upon the outcome of the
National Conventionthat you all visit Lafayette College in Easton PA and ask
yourself: how far have we come, how far must we go, how can we build a bridge
to our future, how can we not forget our past, how do we right the wrong, and
how do we salute our foundings?
I wish for everyone's sake that we learn to deal with each other as fellow
humans rather than as attack and defend. Only then is my message to all that
we learn to grow to become our own organization founded as a model for
humanity to accept or reject as they grow.
Hayim Weiss
Xi Alpha Alumni
"The ocean is made of fine salts.
The meadow is made of fine flax.
The hills are made of fine grass.
But you are made of fine class."
Hayim Weiss
