This morning, NPR's "Here and Now" host Robin Young interviewed John Stemberger, chairman of the board of the organization, Trail Life USA, about The Boy Scouts of America announcing yesterday that it was ending its longtime ban on openly gay adult leaders, two years after it lifted its ban on gay youth.
You can listen to the 5 minute, 52 second segment here: Religious Groups Upset Over Boy Scouts’ Decision To Lift Ban On Gay Leaders. As is to be expected, in these heady days of "principled resistance" to treating gays as real people with full rights of citizenship, the propaganda, shaming, diminishing, shading, criminalizing and othering flowed freely.
Here are a few of the lowlights [bolding mine]:
John Stemberger, on the decision to lift the ban on gay Boy Scout leaders.
“This is a very sad day in my judgement. The purpose and the mission of Boy Scouts of America, which they rarely talk about, is to really prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices. And so what are we saying to young people when we just look at the polls and what’s popular to determine what our values and morals are going to be? And that’s the problem with the decision. It is unsustainable, but it’s unsustainable for churches, I think, because they’re going to undergo risk and liability that they’ve never had before.”
Why does he oppose allowing openly gay scouts and leaders?
“Prior to this compromise on the Boy Scouts of America’s part, there were people, both adults and young people, with the same-sex attraction in scouting. Everybody knew who they were, but they were appropriate, they were discreet, they didn’t act out, they didn’t make a big deal about it. Under the new policy, they can be now openly gay, and in America that means flaunting, that means sexual innuendo – completely inappropriate behavior in a youth program…
Host Robin Young interrupts and says:
"Well, now hold on, hold on just a second, I have to, I think we have to respond to that because being openly anything, I mean, nobody can be openly anything, flaunting sexuality, even if they're hetero-sexual in a Boy Scout troop. That would be inappropriate, so I think it means just not being secretive."
John responds:
Well, I would have to disagree with that. You look at anything that has the title gay on it, and it’s usually inappropriate, has innuendo in it, and inserts sex. It makes it the big deal of the day. And so it’s just inappropriate. Kids should not be around a campfire learning about what homosexuality is....”
We know what's coming next. Robin:
"I have to ask: Many people in America know gay and lesbian people who never mention their sexuality. It sounds sort of like you're referring to a caricature of it. Do you know gay couples or lesbian couples?"
John:
"Sure. I sure do. Inside my family, outside my family...
Robin:
"Do you think they flaunt, that they're always speaking of their sexuality, is that your experience?"
John:
"Well if you look at magazines, look at TV shows, you look at parades, you look at these things, they're not discreet and that's inappropriate, for a youth program."
Robin:
"Well, again, many people might see a television program not reflecting real life, but, meanwhile...
Robin then asks if Trail Life USA limits young people in an increasingly diverse world:
“In our program, we will allow any boy of any faith. We will allow a boy that has same-sex attraction or even has gender issues. We will even allow an atheist boy, for the reason that we want to influence that young man and show him that the beauty of the creation screams that God exists and try to help him to think clearly about that issue. … It feels to me like part of America dies as a result of this. This is a cherished institution that is literally going to gut its own membership. If the Catholic and the Baptist church leave in addition to the Mormon Church, then it’s really going to be sad thing. This institution is now basically defying its own law and its own oath and 104 years of tradition.”
John Stemberger, chairman at Trail Life USA. He tweets @JohnStemberger.
Not tradition, not heritage, they are lawbreakers, inappropriate, indiscreet, flaunty, acting out, sexual innuendo-izing and "WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS!!!!!"
Oh, my.
Yet, he says all these things with the matter-of-fact, golden-throated reasonableness and calm of your dad, explaining where rainbows come from. This is their world. This is "how things are." It can be difficult for a young child to navigate the world of ideas and questions. Organizations like Trail Life, USA are agenda driven and openly use these re-education camps for "acting out" youth to drive that agenda.
I know of what I speak because I, too, was a recruit and attended re-education camp weekly. Join me below for a short tale of "My Life as a Royal Ambassador."
I grew up in the '50s and '60s, eldest son of a young Southern Baptist Minister, inundated by "Red" hysteria, white male middle-class values and christian life. I belonged to an "alternative BSA" boys program run by the Southern Baptist Convention called the Royal Ambassadors.
Royal Ambassadors® (RA®) is a missions discipleship organization for boys in grades 1-6. Through hands-on activities that encourage spiritual growth, games and sports, and mentoring relationships with RA leaders, RA members become a faith-based brotherhood.
Royal Ambassadors History
Royal Ambassadors began as an organization in 1908 and celebrated 100 years of being Ambassadors for Christ in 2008. Over 2.5 million boys and their leaders have participated in RAs and learned how to help others in Jesus’ name. Throughout the years countless lives have been changed as boys and their leaders have prayed for, given to, and participated in missions projects.
Click here to view a PDF of the Royal Ambassadors history book: http://texasbaptistmen.org/...
It was basically a missionary boot camp for boys, with a decidedly militaristic bent. Besides the camping trips and summer retreats, the activity I remember the most vividly were the "Sword Drills."
"Attention!" - "Salute!" - "Draw Swords!" - "Genesis 1:1" - "Charge!"
You quickly look up the verse and step forward, winning the round (and the battle!). And, yes, I did very well and was eager to please.
Victory! Christian soldiers, indeed!
I was one of the lucky ones. I escaped my "christian heritage" and went on to enjoy a wonderfully secular life. While I have mostly good memories about being a part of the Royal Ambassadors, organizations like these set off my "creepy-dar." When they "other" and shame a group of human beings, particularly under the cover of "re-education," it's time to speak out.
Kudos to Robin Young for pointing out the obvious gaps in this "education."