Troop 483 Blog

Political correctness has been killing truth, and common sence. It now looks like it has killed soldiers. As of today I am declaring war on Policital Correctness! I encourage all my friends to join me in this war. When you hear or see anyone with PC speech, stop them, and demand plain truth.

Our prayers go out to the families of the 13 who died at Ft. Hood this week. We hope for a speedy recovery for all that were wounded and the brave woman police officer that shot down the shooter. Thank you to all of you who have and are defending our Great country.

 What exactly do Webelos base their decision on when deciding which Boy Scout troop to join. I guess it depends. If the young scout lives in an area where there is only one troop, well I guess the decision is easy. What if they live in an urban area where there is a Scout troop on almost every corner. Do they decide on the activities the troop likes to do, is their decision based on where siblings or relatives are at, follow their friends to the troop of their choice, or do some parents make the decision for them?                      All of the above. I have watched this happen year after year.

 I believe that decision should be left up to the scout. When I hear parents and leaders tell me the boys will go to a troop as a group because they believe they should stay together, it makes me cringe. Thats great, but that troop may not be THE right troop for all of the boys. Ok, look at it this way, when they graduate high school, are they all going to go to the same college? After college, are they all going into the same careers and work for the same company’s? Or better yet will they all join the same branch of the service and stay in the same patrol to fight for our country? If thats the case lets change their scout uniforms to sheep costumes, retire the scoutmaster and get a sheep dog to heard them instead of leading them.

What is important is that they make their own choice to which troop they join and be encouraged by their parents to be in scouting. By letting them make an independent choice we will end up with stronger leaders and better citizens in the future. You never know, they just might one day become an Eagle Scout and do some incredible things in their life.

It’s only a lump on a length of line,

A snarl in a place of string.

But properly tied, by a practised hand,

It becomes such a beautiful thing.

It is square. It is round. It can slip or hold fast.

That depends on the job that’s required.

But when it’s complete, all tucked in and neat,

It is really a sight to admire.

We splice it or hitch it.  Make becket or bend,

Tie a gromet, an eye or chain,

Make a sling or a sinnet, a noose or a net, And none of them looks quite the same.

Be it useful or fancy, for work or display,

If it’s used once or twice or a lot. There’s nothing quite like it to make you feel proud,

Than knowing that you tied a knot.

The knots that I learned under canvis and pine,

At Scout camps in days long ago,

Are as handy today as they were in my youth,

But back then I just didn’t know …

That those lumps on a line and those snarls in a string,

Would linger and not be forgot,

And foster a love for more knowledge and skill,

As I struggle to learn one more knot.