Boy Scouts reflect society, which is not secular

Boy Scouts reflect society, which is not secular

Date published: 4/14/2005

Just in case Kent Willis hasn't noticed, the federal government is as religious as the Boy Scouts ["Critics say the Boy Scouts' use of military facilities should be out of the picture," April 10].

In fact, the goal of the Boy Scouts of America is to make generations of better and productive citizens.

Check your calendar--why is Saturday and Sunday the weekend instead of Monday and Tuesday? Does religion have anything to do with the selection of those particular days?

How much money does it cost the federal government to give its employees Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas as federal holidays? Don't you see those days as having a "religious" significance?

If you every visit a veterans cemetery, there are federal government-provided headstones for our fallen heroes with religious symbols on them. If you look closely, you might even see a military chaplain (a federal employee) conducting a graveside service for a veteran.

What about all of those military chapels on military installations, including the Pentagon? What about religious services prior to going into battle or honoring the dead?

What about those dollars and cents in your pocket--federal treasury notes with "In God We Trust" printed on them?

The military has a vested interest in courting the Boy Scouts--future service members. There are probably more Boy and Girl Scouts serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces in Iraq than card-carrying ACLU members.

Finally, Rep. Jo Ann Davis' legislation should be supported, not ridiculed. She is very serious in her commitment to Scouting.

Even though the House of Representatives starts every working day with an opening prayer, she has the right to represent her constituency.

Steve Robertson

Falmouth

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Date published: 4/14/2005