Follow
The following statement comes from a Council website. It seemed a timely thing to pass along. I found the picture above on the web. The name on the sign isn’t important, we all need to read, understand and practice this policy:
Boy Scouts of America policy prohibits Scouts from participating in political activities. Uniformed unit members and leaders may participate in flag ceremonies at political events and may lead the Pledge of Allegiance;
however, they should retire after the ceremony and not remain on the speakers’ platform or in a conspicuous location where television viewers could construe their presence as an endorsement or symbol of support. In addition, photos of candidates or Scouts in uniform or BSA marks and logos are not allowed in political campaign materials of any kind.Leaders must be alert to situations that would imply that the BSA favors one candidate over another. Strict observance of our long-standing policy against the active participation of uniformed Scouts and leaders in political events is mandatory.
From Jim Nolan, scout executive with the Tecumseh (OH) council: “The Scouts were supposed to do a color guard ceremony before Senator McCain took the stage. The leaders were informed of the BSA policy ahead of time. We will have to be more careful in the future.” (8/29/08)
FROM CLARKE
The comment below somehow ended up attached to the wrong post so I have put it here:
I see you managed to show McCain’s name in your article. That in itself takes you out of “neutral,” even as you claim to be reiterating the prohibition against political endorsement. I am the granddaughter of much respected and beloved Scoutmaster Oren Franklin Schumaker (deceased), an agent of the National Forest Service after whom Schumaker Campground and Creek in Montana are named. I know my grandfather would disapprove of your tactics; and if you honestly did not understand the power of the image you ran with your commentary, then he would be ashamed of your lack of “preparedness” in these modern times of media power.
Thanks for refreshing our memory on this important policy especially at this time of year. It definitely bears repeating.
Thank you for posting this reminder about BSA’s strict policy on this matter.
I was sitting at home last week watching McCain’s announcement rally in Columbus OH and mentioned to my son (currently a Webelos I scout) that those scouts on TV really should not be wearing their uniforms and sitting in the front row at a political rally. Thanks for confirming my feelings on this.
If I understand the laws correctly, this policy is necessary because failure to abide by it could result in the BSA losing its non-profit tax designation.
The same applies to churches and any other 501(c)3 org.
Why we allow the IRS to dictate to us what, how, and when we can say something is, I’m sure, a post for another time.
FROM CLARKE
Thanks for the comment. I must say I think you have the wrong end of the stick on this one. Most Scout organizations worldwide have the same policy. It’s not the IRS or fear of loosing tax exemption, it’s simply not a part of Scouts. Citizenship, yes, politics, no.
To many of us politics and citizenship are almost inextricably linked but when we put on our Scout uniform we are no longer spokesmen or representatives of our personal political affections and opinions. Instead we are representatives of Scouting’s core set of values that are, thankfully, broad enough for all of us to share.
Your post comes at an interesting time. It is coming up to party conference season here in the UK and the Scout Association are holding events at the three main political party’s conferences to raise awareness of young people’s issues with our elected representatives and their parties.
Of course, in no way, is the SA endorsing one party over another and this is the way it should be. Scouting is not a party political organisation, but it can lobby our politicians to make sure they do the right thing for our young people.
Nick