As a boy scout, please do not associate "Trump youth" with the boy scouts.

what is the problem at Magnusson park outdoor movies? smash and grabs?

seems pretty vague, like they're trying to avoid saying what the actual issue is.

@2: If the shoe fits...

@2 have you been to a troop meeting lately? In a lot of ways they're getting better about gender and sexuality. And yet, that old evangelical mindset is still there. Thank Ganesh, my son's troop is hosted by the Catholics.

Charles Mudede has been claiming for years that speculative foreign investment is among the primary factors driving Seattle's residential housing market. Any chance of Charles addressing the recent Seattle Times article referenced in this piece?

never mind. I read the FB comments. a kid got jumped for his air jordans and phone.

@2 Unless and until the BSA specifically DENOUNCE ALL the vile lies and hate speech that Herr Gropenführer spewed forth at the Jamboree, AND hold a serious talk with their members about why they CHEERED ON THE HATE, AND tell them THAT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING the Boy Scouts are, it's going to be difficult for people to not think of the Boy Scouts as Trumpen Jungen!

The mealy-mouthed statement they released about not being a political organization ISN'T going to do it:

DENOUNCE:
dəˈnouns
verb
1.publicly declare to be wrong or evil.
"the Assembly denounced the use of violence"
synonyms: condemn, criticize, attack, censure, decry, revile, vilify, discredit, damn, reject
2.inform against.
"some of his own priests denounced him to the King for heresy"
synonyms: expose, betray, inform on

Plus ça change...the BSA doesn't seem to be much different now from when they were banning LGBTQ!

I was a girl scout for many years - although not in this country; I'm beyond disgusted and OUTRAGED at the BSA' actions. Herr Gropenführer might have done the vile deed, but the BOY SCOUTS of AMERICA ENABLED him, and NOW they are tacitly CONDONING his LIES AND HATE MONGERING! Maybe you should be angry too, or have you forgotten your oath?

Robert Baden-Powell:

"...Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one. But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best."

WWRBPD?

There is no prevailing political belief structure or social agenda for the Boy Scouts.

Each troop is its own independent unit, and is run by the boys and adults as they see fit.

If the troop is made up of conservative Catholics, it will likely center itself around those ideals. If it is made up of pagan liberals, it will center itself around those ideals. No one is "hosting" troops or influencing their ideas, although many meet in churches. Many more meet in volunteer fire halls and schools.

The only social ideals that were expressed when I was involved were patriotism, self-improvement, independence, conservationism, and community service.

Areas typically have many different troops, and scouts can join any troop they want, if they feel that one troop does not represent them well, or they feel unwelcome for whatever reason.

If you have children, urge them to join the scouts. I know how to do many, many things my peers have no clue about, and have had the joy of experiencing adventure and personal growth all over the country due to my time with the program.

I have snorkeled with sharks among breathtaking coral reefs, survived a bear attack in the New Mexico desert, navigated a small vessel around a storm-wracked Florida Keys, watched a forest fire rage to the south with a rainstorm to the north from atop a mountain, saved one person from drowning, and another from bleeding to death with the skills I learned there.

@10 As someone who appears to know something about them organizationally, then what was their opposition for years about allowing scouts or scout leaders from being out in their organization?

@3

https://www.facebook.com/MoviesatMagnuso…

If you read the lengthy comments section, there is an unconfirmed account that is also corroborated by at least one one other commenter that a group of teenagers were approaching movie attendees and demanding their phones, shoes, money, etc. The main account states that his teenage son was assaulted when he resisted the demand for his shoes - members of the group attacked him. Another commenter states that they were also mugged by this group.

That said, the person who gave this account passed away sometime in the last few days (unrelated causes), so getting an official statement to the Stranger or other publications is gonna be difficult.

But here, I did your job for you The Stranger - you're welcome.

@11: I was actually a scout at the time of that particular media frenzy (very fun trying to sell overpriced popcorn while soccer moms lecture you on social issues you have no control over), and that was more or less a declaration from the BSA National Council, who were unfortunately responding to fears of gay men and older gay scouts preying on youth.

I am never going to defend that decision. It was based on fear and bigotry, and 100% wrong, even if the intent was to protect kids. Back then there was much less awareness of LGBT issues, and much less visibility around them, which led to fear mongering and ignorance. A large part of the problem was Mormon influence on the program, which is fairly extensive.

That being said, the BSA National Council has no real power to influence or guide individual troops. As I said above, they are independent, and we never cared what the BSA Council said or did. There were bigoted troop leaders who expelled gay leaders and boys, but the vast majority were welcoming and ignored what the National Council said.

I can not and will not defend the actions of the National Council. But the scouts has helped and will continue to help millions of young men and women find themselves and be better citizens. It is an organization that guides itself at the local level by its members, it does not bow to the commands of the National Council.

Like many old organizations, it can be antiquated and slow to change. But they are getting better.

>The Boy Scouts are vaguely patriotic! HITLER FASCISM NUREMBERG RALLY HATE CRIME ZOMG CALL THE SPLC!

Oh grow the fuck up.

@14:

Sez the anonymous troll who thinks incorporating the word "fuck" into his online handle is the zenith of ribaldry...