Issue 640 – May 5, 2020

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Several weeks ago, a discrepancy in the descriptions of the points of the Scout Law was pointed out to me. The online versions (verify these for yourself at https://www.scouting.org/about/faq/question10/). You’ll notice that these tend to take all self-determination away from Scouts; instead, they’re much more like “rules” and, as such, they eschew Scouts’ self-evaluations as they do their best to live up to the twelve values of the Scout Law. Here’s the online version of the Scout Law, per the URL above:

TRUSTWORTHY. Tell the truth and keep promises. People can depend on you.

LOYAL. Show that you care about your family, friends, Scout leaders, school, and country.

HELPFUL. Volunteer to help others without expecting a reward.

FRIENDLY. Be a friend to everyone, even people who are very different from you.

COURTEOUS. Be polite to everyone and always use good manners.

KIND. Treat others as you want to be treated. Never harm or kill any living thing without good reason.

OBEDIENT. Follow the rules of your family, school, and pack. Obey the laws of your community and country.

CHEERFUL. Look for the bright side of life. Cheerfully do tasks that come your way. Try to help others be happy.

THRIFTY. Work to pay your own way. Try not to be wasteful. Use time, food, supplies, and natural resources wisely.

BRAVE. Face difficult situations even when you feel afraid. Do what you think is right despite what others might be doing or saying.

CLEAN. Keep your body and mind fit. Help keep your home and community clean.

REVERENT. Be reverent toward God. Be faithful in your religious duties. Respect the beliefs of others.

Perhaps these sound okay, but now I’ll ask you to take another look—this time as if you, yourself, were a teen or pre-teen seeing them for the very first time…

If you do this, I think you’ll find that they now sound pretty much like “laws” to be strictly obeyed, instead of principles that you would strive to achieve in your daily life. Looking at them this way, don’t they seem a bit like “laws” that are somehow “outside” of ourselves—more like stuff “from on-high,” if you will?

But before your hair catches fire – good news! Here’s what BOTH of the new SCOUTS BSA HANDBOOKS (14th Editions) have to say about the Scout Law…

SCOUT LAW The Scout Law will show you how to live as a young person and as an adult.

A Scout is TRUSTWORTHY. A Scout tells the truth. A Scout is honest and keeps promises. People can depend on a Scout.

A Scout is LOYAL. A Scout is loyal to those to whom loyalty is due.

A Scout is HELPFUL. A Scout cares about other people. A Scout helps others without expecting payment or reward. A Scout fulfills duties to the family by helping at home.

A Scout is FRIENDLY. A Scout is a friend to all other Scouts. A Scout offers friendship to people of all races, religions, and nations, and a Scout respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different.

A Scout is COURTEOUS. A Scout is polite to people of all ages and positions. A Scout understands that using good manners makes it easier for people to get along.

A Scout is KIND. Scouts treat others as they want others to treat them. A Scout knows there is strength in being gentle. A Scout does not harm or kill any living thing without good reason.

A Scout is OBEDIENT. A Scout follow the rules of the family, school, and troop. Scouts obey the laws of their communities and countries. If a Scout thinks these rules and laws are unfair, then change is sought in an orderly way.

A Scout is CHEERFUL. A Scout looks for the bright side of life. A Scout cheerfully does assigned tasks, and tries to make others happy, too.

A Scout is THRIFTY. Scouts work to pay their own way and to help others. Scouts save for the future. A Scout protects and conserves natural resources, and is careful in the use of time, money, and property.

A Scout is BRAVE. A Scout faces danger even when afraid. A Scout does the right thing even when doing the wrong thing or doing nothing would be easier.

A Scout is CLEAN. Scouts keep their bodies and minds fit. A Scout chooses friends who also live by high standards. Scouts avoid profanity and pornography. A Scout helps keep the home and community clean.

A Scout is REVERENT. A Scout is reverent toward God. A Scout is faithful in fulfilling religious duties. A Scout respects the beliefs of others.

I think you’ll agree—this is more like it!

But if you’re wondering—just as I am—why there should be a difference between the handbooks and what somebody did to the online version of the Scout Law, and if you’re wondering—just as I am—what other discrepancies there are, we’re going to need to do our own research! In the meanwhile–and I never, ever expected to be saying this–I’m going to have to say READ THE BSA’s ONLINE STUFF WITH CAUTION, because there’s no telling what else is wrong!

Till next week, please stay safe, stay healthy, and stay positive!
Happy Scouting!
Andy

Have a question? Facing a dilemma? Wondering where to find a BSA policy or guideline? Write to askandybsa@yahoo.com. Please include your name and council. (If you’d prefer to be anonymous, if published, let me know and that’s what we’ll do.)

Although these columns are copyrighted, any reader has my permission to quote or reproduce any columns or column parts so long as you attribute authorship: “Ask Andy” by Andy McCommish.

[No. 640 – 5/5/2020 – Copyright © Andy McCommish 2020]