Bush inserts himself into the Boy Scout tragedy

[wicket]

Ugh, it's always all about him, isn't it?? :puke:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5170016,00.html

As thousands of Boy Scouts gathered in the woods of northern Virginia on the opening day of their national Jamboree, a group of Scouts from Alaska watched in horror as tragedy struck their campsite.

Four adult Scout leaders who were pitching a huge dining tent were killed Monday when the tent's towering pole hit live power lines, sending electricity coursing through the metal.

-snip-

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush would stick to the focus of his original speech on service and choices - while touching on the tragedy.

``These parents were there doing their part to help their children have a better understanding of service and leadership and making the right choices in life.'' But, McClellan added: ``Those parents would want the Boy Scouts to continue forward in their important work.''

[Justitia]

1. Ghoul-In-Chief LOVES to suck up all that post-tragedy energy

He feasts on it like a vulture, then licks the bones clean.

Wherever tragedy falls, Bush will be along to exploit it.

:puke:

[Drifter]

3. I believe he was ...

scheduled to speak there long before the tragedy occurred.

Cheers
Drifter

[trotsky]

2. God's judgment...

...for discriminating against homosexuals and atheists. ;-)

[Fountain79]

4. ?

I really don't see where he's exploiting this tragedy....

[oneighty]

5. A cautionary tale

When flying a kite, a cable controlled model airplane, raising a ladder or erecting a tent ask your self-- "Are there power lines overhead?"

Poor guys. Really.

180

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Yeah and the Senate used the tragedy to pass legislation

to allow the Boy Scouts to have their 'Jamboree' on U.S. Military instillations. Easy access for recruiting, IMCPO.

[Psephos]

9. If you believe that then you don't understand much about the Boy Scouts

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. I don't.

Are they in training for the military or something? I thought the Boy Scouts was an organization that just taught kids how to be 'good citizens'. I'm wrong? Are they anti-military? :shrug:

[Psephos]

12. In_cog, in real-world terms, they're actually pretty cool

Nice to exchange views with you, btw.

I wouldn't say the scouts are anti-military, but they're not pro-military, either. (I was an Eagle scout, btw.) Military issues just don't come up as part of the program.

The "good citizen" aspect is certainly part of the whole scout message, but the real emphasis is upon development. Strong character, strong body, strong and curious mind, strong appreciation for responsibility to self and community. Conservation of Nature and love of the outdoors are also high on the list.

A lot of people seem to get hung up on the uniform and the word "troop." I don't get it. The briefest look into what scouts actually do would reveal that the scout uniform has about the same military significance as a bus driver's uniform. The uniforms were originally established for the same reason school uniforms were implemented: to level out demographic differences, and provide visual reinforcement of belonging to a group, and one's earned rank within it. This is a good thing.

Over and over I see comments here and elsewhere about supposed BSA homophobia and religious indoctrination. It's so ridiculous. I had one gay scoutmaster, everyone knew it, and it was a nonissue. He was absolutely a great leader, smart, strong as an ox, and inspiring. We had Jews, a couple of Muslims, lots of Catholics, several atheists, and a bunch of generic Christians in my troop. Beyond vanilla invocations of the Great Spirit, religion was not part of the program. Again, those who know the least about scouting seem to be the ones who shriek the loudest about indoctrination. It just ain't there. Something that IS there is lots of hands-on parental participation with their sons. Again, this is a good thing. A great thing, actually.

Of course, any large organization has a variety of people and views in it. Anybody who's sufficiently motivated can pick off anecdotal evidence to "disprove" every point I've made here. But anyone who's been involved with scouting knows there is a wide chasm between what the intolerant Morality Police spew, and the reality of scouting.

Peace.

[mtnester]

7. Of course he did, and you are surprised because...?

Teasin, but you know, this was not unpredictable at all.

[mopaul]

8. future cannon fodder. many will be prime for 2010 in iran & syria

[Crankie Avalon]

10. Well, he was already scheduled to speak to them...

...and if he said nothing at all about what happened that would REALLY be wrong, wouldn't it?

It's a very sad story, that's for sure. The article said two of the men who died even had their sons there with them.

[baby_mouse]

13. I read that subject line completely wrong nt