Why I (Still) Won't Let My Kid Join the Boy Scouts

Act #231:  Pay attention to what others are teaching your children.

On Friday, my six-year old son came home with this Boy Scout recruitment flyer.  The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices and to prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader.  So according to the flyer, this is done through target practice and racing Pinewood Derby cars?  You may recall last year, the largest, private youth organization voted to repeal it's ban on openly gay members, but maintained prohibition against gay troop leaders.  Is the ethical and moral choice this:  gay children are harmless, but you can't trust the grown-ups?  Or is it this:  you'll be accepted until you turn 18, then we will value you less as a human being and you won't be invited to our parties?  Also, will the Boy Scouts prepare youth to become responsible participating citizens and leaders by teaching bigotry and discrimination (AKA, that gays should not be allowed to also participate as citizens and leaders)?   Hmmm... I see a need to sew up a few new patches.  One for exclusion, one for judgement, and maybe one for hypocrisy?

Thanks, but no thanks, Boy Scouts of America.  My kid will have enough challenges navigating this world without being indoctrinated with structured, community-organized hate.  I'll let you teach my kid how to shoot a gun, when you let me teach you that one can't be ethical and moral without first valuing human beings.  All of them. Deal?