As you know I am a sports fan, and because of the nature of my work (Yeah.. I need to work to fund my Scouting habit). I listen to Sports Talk radio.
This week we have been bombarded by the sports media on the subject of sensitivity regarding comments made by a reporter for the Golf Channel. You can read about here, I am not going to recap it for you.
But this got our local afternoon sports talk show talking about the responsibility of athletes and those in the public eye (actors and the like) to speak out on social issues.
They took a poll today asking the Portland audience what they thought as well as taking comments on the air.
Well this got me to thinking about the subject and of course how it can be applied or should be applied in a Scouting context.
So here is my 2 and 1/2 cents.
First- I do not think that those in public eye need to comment. For the most part I do not think actors and actresses and athletes are qualified to speak on behalf of a group of people. African American Basketball players are not a microcosm of the African American community and therefore do not have the expert training and development to force social change. They are entitled to their opinion and have the right to express it. But, because an athlete says it, does not make it the gospel truth. Same goes for actors. Brad Pitt is not the worlds premier expert on social issues. He has a platform from which he can speak that may not be made accessible to those of us not in the lime light, but I do not expect social change to start with him.
Second- The issue of race constantly is brought to the table. Yes the comment made by Kelly Tilghman was not appropriate, but now we are getting into the sensitivity issue.
Let me take just a few sentences to qualify that remark.
My family is from Germany via Russia. This year we found out about unbelievable, unspeakable atrocities that happened to Germans from Russia, my family included. Germans that were conscripted by Catherine the Great to work Russian land, were rounded up and sent to Siberia and other locations to work camps, later many of them were mass murdered, because they were German. The remainder lived in Russia as slaves of the new government and lived lives in hard labor and meaningless existences. I suppose I am lucky that my ancestors got out before they were rounded up. 5 of my great, great, great Uncles were not so lucky, and we have the documentation to show when and where they were murdered.
Here is the point. When I hear the word Siberia, I do not run and hide, get upset, or fear for my life.
No one has been “Lynched” in America in Generations. No one has been shackled to a ship and forced into Slavery in America in Generation, in fact… there is not an African American in America today that is a slave or knows first hand anyone living that was one. And by first hand I mean can pay the person a visit and have a chat about their experience.
Yes African Americans paid an unnecessary price and have endured unspeakable tragedy, and for that I feel nothing but the most pain in my heart for them. But it is 2008 and we need to move on. Was that not the purpose of the Civil Rights movement?
We have spent the better part of 30 years trying to heal wounds and make things better. We honor those that fought, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and the like have made contributions to America that we are eternally in debt for. But the fact that we can not seem to move on and progress worries me.
Every time someone says something stupid, should we not chalk it up to stupidity and move on. I think we as a nation are smarter now than ever before and should be able to apply a common sense approach and discern what is hateful and what is stupid.
Kelly Tilghman said something stupid. She is a friend of Tiger Woods, and did not have the least bit of hate in her comment. She was suspended by Fox and will spend the rest of her life in the shadow of her comment. And yeah… you reap what you sow. But why does Al Sharpton need to stand up and play the race card. Tiger does not seem to care.. and the comment was directed at him, not the African America community.
Over sensitivity will never allow us to move on. We should never forget the past, and always apply the lessons learned. Slavery of any race is horrible and a violation of all human rights. But we do not have slaves in America now and a “Word” will not bring it back. Using the word “Lynch” in the context of a golf game is not going to insight gangs of hooded cowards to round up people and hang them.. this is just a ridiculous thought.
I understand that it offends some people… but why? It’s a word, much like any other. If you are offended by it, it is because you refuse to move on. Easy for me to say… NO. But in the context of America today it is a safe thing to say. We do not live under the threat of such things. And I highly doubt given the sensitivity of our American people, we will ever see that again. And that is a good thing. It means America is trying to move on. Not forget, not discount, not make light of, but move on to being a better Nation where we are “not judged by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character”.
Third- The context of Scouting and this issue.
Real simple. The Scout Oath and Law will not allow it.
To truly be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent a person must live the values contained within. A friendly person will not harm another or do things to slander or hate. One that is kind and obedient will put others concerns and needs before themselves. It takes bravery to stand up for what is right. A clean heart and mind will not allow for hateful expression, and a Reverent person believes in the golden rule of “Doing unto others…”
As I listened over the past few days, I worried about this. Sure we should talk about it, it is how we move on. But it also seems that making everything an “Issue” just keeps us in a stagnate mode spinning in a circle that allows for no upward movement socially.
I am just a Scoutmaster, with an opinion like everyone else. Some agree with me, some do not. But what you can not disagree with is the fact that what I do is teach and expect young men, those young men that one day will be the heart beat of our social conscience leading our country in the future, to learn and live by a set of values that are good and right.
And at the end of the Good and Right always win!
We prove that over and over, just look at our history. We may take too much time to figure it out, but in the end we learn and do our best to make it right.
Happy Scouting!
This past weekend our Troops plan was to float a portion of the Deschutes River in Central Oregon. We all knew going into this activity that there was risk as well as the opportunity to challenge our selves. What we could never plan for was how well the Scouts did in the adventure leading to the adventure.
Where worlds meet
This last weekend was spent watching my oldest son wrestle at a tournament with the High School wrestling team. John did real well this weekend, and as I sat and watched, and for those of you that have been to wrestling tourney’s.. you know that it is an all day affair. You have lots of time to sit and watch, think, write, or do as I do.. people watch.
I typically get into lengthy discussions with other parents. This year has been interesting as John is a Senior and many of the parents we hang out with we have known since the boys were all in kindergarten. So the discussions quickly turn to how amazed we are about our boys, future plans, college, and “do you remember when” subjects. This last weekend we got into a discussion about one of the boys that I have known since he was 7. He was in Cub Scouts with John, but when the time came to cross over, he made the choice not to continue with Scouting. He turned out to be a great young man and is a good friend of my daughters.
One of the other dads sitting with us said that his son had to drop out of Scouts because of athletics. He could not do both as Scouting and sports don’t mix.
I had to ask why he thought that way. The answer I got did not make sense to me. He said that Scouting was more for kids that were intellectual and could not make it in sports. He added that scouting takes too much time away from sports practice and social time. <insert record scratch>
I made mention that both of my boys were in scouts and they both are athletes, and they both are A’s and B’s students, and both have a good social life. He said it was the exception not the rule. Then I told him of the Scouts in my troop. In my Troop there are football players, baseball players, wrestlers, water polo, swim team, lacrosse, soccer, and golf team members. Of those guys, they are active in the Troop and are all either Eagle Scouts or well on their way to becoming and Eagle Scout. All of them are good students and very active with their Schools. Members of Student government or clubs, and are all really good young men.
Again, he said we are the exception not the rule. So I had to ask.. why do you suppose that is?
I believe that young men that play organized sports learn valuable life lessons. They learn team work and working with others. They learn that the team comes first and individual egos should be left at home. They learn that hard work produces great things and that when you lose you learn. They learn that effort pays off and that collective effort will eventually win.
I believe that sports push young men to stay fit and sports develop in them a sense of committment and accountability. The individual is driven to be there for his team mates, he understands that without every one pitching in and moving toward the same goal the team will not be a success.
I think far to many times parents and Scout leaders can not get past the old “Jock” stereotype.
Speaking strictly for my family Sports and Scouting go hand and hand. Sports and Scouting complement one another and help round out our kids. Add to Sports and Scouting good family values, strong faith, and a host of friends that have the same interests, and we have been blessed with three awesome kids.
The boys John and Josh have been active in both Scouting and Sports since they could be. Josh started playing Football in 3rd Grade. John and Josh both run Track and played Soccer. John took to Wrestling, Josh stuck with Football and Track. Katelyn played Soccer and volleyball for the Nike Club league team. She is talented in Band and is a great student academically. She tried Girl Scouts, but could not fit in with their click. So she stuck to a supportive role in her brothers Scouting lives.
The point here is that all three are great kids and sports and scouts have played a great role in that. It has meant long weekends, lots of travel time, and spending money on the kids activities rather than ourselves, but the result is that we have a great family life and kids that are healthy, smart, and ready for life.
Sports gave them confidence, good attitudes, and drive to accomplish anything. Scouting does much of this and more, but when the two worlds meet a great young person comes out the other end.
So this Dad that does not see the value in both.. or that its one or the other.. well, I think that comes from parents that see the hassle, Scout leaders that see the competition, and youth that go along with what they say.
Parents need to be supportive of a young man that wants to do sports and scouting. They need to make a committment to their son that doing both is possible. Scout leaders need to understand the value in having an athlete in their troop. They too need to be committed to the Scout and his needs and interests. Scouting and Sports can work together.
I am proud of the Scouts of my Troop that take the time to be athletes. I admire their dedication and committment, and I tell them that during Scoutmaster conferences or when they have an achievement on or off the playing field.
Here is what I know for sure.
It’s not 100% so I am not saying this for effect…
Young men that are Scouts and Athletes are better students, better leaders, are better fit, and have a higher confidence level. They stick it out to the end and do not let their Troop or their team mates down.
I’ll take that any day!
Have a Great Scouting Day!
*By the way.. the picture on this post.. Gerald R. Ford, 39th President, Eagle Scout, Football player at the University of Michigan 1933
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