[16459] in APO-L
Scouting as Baden-Powell's daughter sees it
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (John Grossi)
Tue Mar 25 15:48:23 1997
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 15:45:30 -0500
Reply-To: John Grossi <jgrossi@MU.BBN.COM>
From: John Grossi <jgrossi@MU.BBN.COM>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
I'm forwarding this from the Canadian Mailing List as it may be of
interest to people states-side also.
-John Grossi
Section 94 Chair
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Quebec
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>From apo-canada-owner@mail.ziplink.net Tue Mar 25 14:37:57 EST 1997
>From: Sonny Fernandez <pferna@po-box.mcgill.ca>
Here's something that may be of interest. Scouting and APO have really
come a long way from the original conception of its founders if we
base it from the article below. As Scouting and APhiO evolved,
interacted with its environment and became worldwide, its principles
and dictums have also broadened to accomodate various cultures and
gender identities.
********************************
SCOUTING'S FIRST FAMILY BALKS AT LIBERALIZATION by Simon Midgley
(London Daily Telegraph)---lifted from The Gazette (a popular Montreal
daily) March 24, 1997, p. B8
LONDON - The daughter of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the
Scouts, criticized the movement yesterday for opening its membership
to homosexuals.
The association has just produced two statements of policy
that say that it should not discriminate on grounds of sexual, gender,
marital status or ethnic origin. This could mean that homosexuals,
lesbians, former drug addicts and some convicted criminals may be able
to become leaders.
Betty Clay, 79, Lord Baden-Powell's daughter, who lives in
Taunton, Somerset, said: "Speaking as it were on behalf of my father,
I do not think he would have approved. He, in his writings to young
men and his responses to many anxious young men's inquiries, always
made it clear that they should do their best to keep themselves clean
in htought, word and deed." He also made clear, she added, that "they
should constantly try to keep their self-respect and respect other
people's feelings, should try to look on themselves as guardians of
bodies and minds and to do as far as they could according to the will
of God. Therefore, I think he would find this decision surprising.
The association was founded by Robert Baden-Powell in 1908 to
develop boys' responsibility and character. It was open to all,
barring atheists and pedophiles.
For three years a working party has been discussing who, more
precisely, should be allowed to join the movement. The new policy
statements clarify the associations position.
John Fogg, a spokesman for the association, said anyone
wishing to be a leader should be a fit and proper person.
Appointments should be left to local Scout groups, whose concerns
about the suitability of a leader could override association general
policy.
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