In reply to Bernie Schaeffer.

Mr. Schaeffer,

Indeed, the Boy Scouts have historically striven to inculcate the values of love for fellow man, compassion on people and animals, caring for people, animals, and our earth, as well as tolerance for the viewpoints of others. However, two other major aims of the movement are to teach boys self-sacrifice and to strive for moral 'cleanliness'. Sometimes, a person must sacrifice their own wants and desires on that path. What grieves those of us who are saddened by the BSA's decision is that they have now said that regular, avowed sodomy is no longer an amoral and unclean activity to be avoided (if a person is so inclined). Allowing leaders to openly celebrate such activity means that they will not, of course, make any attempt to discourage such behavior in the boys in their charge and the BSA will no longer hold up that aspect of cleanliness and virtue. This is completely 180 degrees from the historical position of the scouting movement. I suggest you read some of Baden-Powell's writings on this subject.