An old Boy Scout reacts to speech

Because it has been 50 years since I was active in Boy Scouting (Eagle Scout, God and Country award, Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor) I thought my Scouting experiences were old history and of little importance to me now. However President Trump’s recent comments to 45,000 Boy Scouts at their national jamboree caused me to reconsider.

Boy Scouting activities set lofty character development goals as embodied in there all so familiar Boy Scout Law: A Boy Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent. Therefore it took me aback to hear President Trump speak some of these words because, to me, he demonstrates and seems to relish so much of the opposite.

It reminded me how easy it is to say the words but so very different, and difficult, for any of us to actually live those values. I find that I can’t help but wonder if conditions in America wouldn’t be better if a young Donald Trump had spent a few good years in Scouting learning what the Scout Law actually looks like in action.

This story was originally published August 11, 2017 at 6:36 PM with the headline "An old Boy Scout reacts to speech."