Monday night during dinner, my phone started to blow up with texts. This never happens. They were from four different people on the same subject: Are you watching CNN? Are you watching this Jamboree speech?
The President tried to drag the Boy Scouts back down with his misappropriation of Scouting's message at the Jamboree. What people saw on television Monday night was problematic for two reasons: The bullying and sore loser (or sore winner, oddly enough) mentality on display is counter to the core of scouting. And, it has the potential to hinder what many adult scout leaders here in Atlanta are trying to do to bring scouting fully into the 21st century.
We can't let this happen.
I was part of a group of Eagle Scouts that agitated for Boy Scouts to drop their anti-gay policies. Robert S. Gates, as president of the Boy Scouts of America, coerced the organization to drop the last of its restrictions against gay adult leaders the month before my son was eligible to join Cub Scouts. My family and friends celebrated and we signed him up for our local pack based in Candler Park.
Our pack has embraced the changes that have come to scouting. We declared ourselves to be an inclusive unit and were recognized by Scouts for Equality. Our leaders wear a special knot on our uniforms that declare our acceptance of all families that want to take part in the life lessons taught in scouting.
I was bursting with pride when we recognized our Tiger den leader, who is openly gay, at our end-of-the-year picnic in May. Her partner's father is an Eagle Scout and she did a great job stepping in to lead our youngest scouts.
As the school year starts we are getting ready to bring in a new group of scouts. We have a great year planned ahead. However, one of the texts from John, a father of a second-year Cub Scout, deeply concerned me. He asked if I was watching and I said I couldn't bring myself to do it.
He wrote: "You should. You may need to for recruiting purposes. By recruiting I mean retention. I am slightly less concerned about his message and more so the reaction that he got from the crowd -- foaming at the mouth. Honestly man, makes me want to run from the scouts. In our ‘hood, may be something you might have to address."
I hate that Boy Scouts are being dragged down again. The day after the election, my friend Mike said in response, "We need to raise better boys." I knew scouts can help accomplish that task. It was formative for me and I want my son and other boys to have that experience. We reoriented our pack to embrace a program of "Service, Skills and Outdoor Fun."
Monday, just before dinner started, my son, his friend, Nathaniel, and I recreated a skit we had learned the week before at summer camp. Nathaniel and my son had learned the skit from a wonderful scout named Matthew who helped me all week with 13 eight-year-old boys. Matthew, who lives in Sandy Springs, is close to earning his Eagle and he's a tremendous role model for these young boys. He's unfailingly polite, hyper-competent and most importantly, compassionate.
When Matthew saw my son was frustrated on the archery range, Matthew passed up his chance to take part in the fun and instead gave his to turn to my son. Since adult leaders often go out of their way not to show favoritism to their own kids, it was a wonderful gesture. When my son told my wife the story at dinner that night we were so proud to have him be part of an organization that encourages him to do the right thing.
The values and skills that are taught and practiced in Boy Scouts are crucial to raising better boys, and I hate to think what happened in West Virginia Monday night will keep families from joining Scouting.
To the parents and prospective parents of Atlanta Scouts: We've made a lot of progress. One speech should not deter us. It can serve as an example of how much we need to hold the true values of scouting dear and raise trustworthy and compassionate boys.
Naka Nathaniel is the Cubmaster of Pack 586.
