Thread: Scout Troop Warned on Immigration Protest

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... -headlines
By Associated Press
1:00 PM PDT, April 15, 2006

SALT LAKE CITY -- A Boy Scout official has warned a troop that its participation in last week's immigration demonstrations violated the organization's policy against involvement in political events.

Members of Troop 987 -- made up of 15 Hispanic boys ages 12 to 15 -- were attempting to earn merit badges for "Citizenship in the Community," scoutmaster Michael Clara said.

Clara said he received a phone call this week from Vic Rowberry, a Great Salt Lake Council of Boy Scouts of America field director, who said the troop should not have been involved.

"It's disappointing that the council would second-guess our judgment," said Clara, a Utah Republican Hispanic Assembly member who started the troop three years ago.

Kay Godfrey, spokesman for the Great Salt Lake Council, said uniformed members cannot participate in political events or activities that might be "construed as rendering an endorsement for a particular candidate or position."

Clara said he doesn't understand the difference between performing the flag ceremony and staying at the Republican State Convention in August 2005, and carrying and passing out flags at immigration demonstrations.

Godfrey said members can serve as a color guard or in a flag ceremony as long as the troop does not participate further in the event.

"I'm sure he had good intentions, but we need to watch it," Godfrey said of Clara. "When there's a political cause involved, we have to be careful."

Clara said he doesn't understand the difference between performing the flag ceremony and staying at the Republican State Convention in August 2005, and carrying and passing out flags at immigration demonstrations.

Well, that should be obvious, "Clara".

The Boy Scouts are good citizens who abide by the laws and when you pass out flags at demonstrations wanting amnesty for lawbreakers, then that most certainly goes in the opposite direction of the mission of the Boy Scouts and Good Citizenship.

If drug dealers were demonstration wanting amnesty, would you send your troop to hand out flags and expect a "merit" badge for it from Boy Scout Headquarters?

Then that should answer your question.