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Over the past year, there has been a great deal of discussion concerning the Boy
Scouts of America. I am not here to justify or argue any position that the Boy
Scouts of America have taken. I accept the decisions from National Headquarters
and the US Supreme Court. I do that because I believe in the Scout Oath and
Law, and perform my duty to my country.
You came to this celebration because of your involvement in Scouting. I assume that
your opinions of the Scout Oath and Law are similar to mine. The Oath and Law
are clear in what they say. The interpretation of the Scout Oath and Scout Law,
however, cause controversy.
After a lot of thought and research, I have found descriptions that, in my opinion,
best describe these.
Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne, both Eagle
Scouts were at a dinner with President Gerald Ford, another Eagle Scout. The
purpose of the dinner was to benefit a land purchase for a Scout Reservation
called the John Wayne Outpost Camp.
Jimmy Stewart
Actor Jimmy Stewart was active in Troop 3 in Indiana, PA as a youth and earned the
rank of Eagle Scout. On being presented the Distinguished Scouter Award in
1980, he recited the Scout Oath and then explained what the Scout Oath meant to
him. In describing a Scout's Duty to God and County, he said:
"To do my duty." Duty - that
implies a moral or legal obligation to follow a certain code of conduct. Duty
means playing by the rules, reaching deep into your own conscience for the
meaning of these rules and giving just a little beyond and doing just a little
bit more than is expected.
"To God and my country." Duty to
God - means a lot more than saying a prayer every time you need a favor. A lot
more. Duty to God is simply that voluntary gesture you must make and remake a
million times in your lifetime as a statement of your recognition that there is
someone above this universe who watches over this universe and to whom each of
us is a favorite son. Duty to God is a lifetime thank-you note our hearts send
out in appreciation for the life that has been loaned to us here on earth.
John Wayne
One of his last public appearances was at this dinner. He was riddled with cancer
and knew he was close to death. At this dinner, Wayne recited the Scout Law.
Then he did something unusual. He said the twelve points of the Scout Law are
"nice words". "Trouble is" he continued, "we learn
them so young we sometimes don't get all the understanding that goes with them.
I take care of that in my family. As each boy reaches Scout age, I make sure he
learns the Scout Law. Then I break it down for him, with a few things I have
picked up in more than half a century since I learned it." Then Wayne proceeded
to explain the importance of the Scout Law, breaking it down for the guests at
the dinner, much like he would have for his grandson.
TRUSTWORTHY
The badge of honesty. Having it lets you
look at any man in the eye. Lacking it, he won't look back. Keep this one at
the top of your list.
LOYAL
The very word is life itself; for without
loyalty we have no love of person or country.
HELPFUL
Part sharing, part caring. By helping each
other, we help ourselves, not to mention mankind. Be always full of help -- the
dying man's last words.
FRIENDLY
Brotherhood is part of that word. You can
take it in a lot of directions - and do - but make sure and start with
brotherhood.
COURTEOUS
Allow each person his human dignity; which
means a lot more than saying, "Yes, ma'am" and "Thank you,
sir." It reflects an attitude that later in life you wish you had honored
more... earlier in life. Save yourself that problem. Do it now.
KIND
This one word would stop wars and erase
hatreds. But it's like your bicycle, it's just no good unless you get out and
use it.
OBEDIENT
Starts at home. Practice it in your family.
Enlarge it in your friends. Share it with humanity.
CHEERFUL
Anyone can put on a happy face when the
going is good. The secret is to wear it as a mask for your problems. It might
surprise you how many others do the same thing.
THRIFTY
Means a lot more than putting pennies away,
and it is the opposite of cheap. Common sense covers it just about as well as
anything.
BRAVE
You don't have to fight to be brave. Millions
of good, fine, decent folks show more bravery than heavyweight champs just by
getting out of bed every morning, going out to do a good day's work, and living
the best life they know how against the law of odds. Keep the word handy every
day of your life.
CLEAN
Soap and water helps a lot on the outside.
But it is the inside that counts, and don't ever forget it.
REVERENT
Believe in anything that you want to believe
in, but keep God at the top of it. With Him, life can be a beautiful
experience. Without Him, you are just biding time.
I believe in the Scout Oath and Law. I believe that people that have been in
Scouting hold parts of them very dear. The constant pressures of life, the
stress that can be placed on individuals from the different facets of daily
interaction can be difficult. If we, as Scouts, look inside ourselves for the
meaning of the Oath and Law, and realize that there are millions of others
doing the same, we can overcome the pressures that are trying to usurp the very
meaning of Scouting.
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