From Michael Surbaugh is the Chief Scout Executive for the Boy Scouts of America and a member of the organization’s “Key 3” providing leadership and vision to the Scouting movement all across the United States. Find weekly posts at the Chief’s Corner on Scoutingwire.org
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Scouting Family,
In the last two weeks, we have celebrated the best of Scouting at our 20th National Jamboree with nearly 40,000 participants, volunteers, staff and visitors. The 2017 National Jamboree has showcased and furthered the Scouting mission by combining adventure and leadership development to give youth life-changing experiences. Scouts from Alaska met Scouts from Alabama; Scouts from New Mexico met those from New York, and American youth met youth from 59 other countries.
Over the course of ten days, Scouts have taken part in adventures, learned new skills, made new and lasting friendships and completed over 200 community service projects that offered 100,000 hours of service to the community by young men and women eager to do the right thing for the right reasons.
These character-building experiences have not diminished in recent days at the jamboree — Scouts have continued to trade patches, climb rock walls, and share stories about the day’s adventures. But for our Scouting family at home not able to see these real moments of Scouting, we know the past few days have been overshadowed by the remarks offered by the President of the United States.
I want to extend my sincere apologies to those in our Scouting family who were offended by the political rhetoric that was inserted into the jamboree. That was never our intent. The invitation for the sitting U.S. President to visit the National Jamboree is a long-standing tradition that has been extended to the leader of our nation that has had a Jamboree during his term since 1937. It is in no way an endorsement of any person, party or policies. For years, people have called upon us to take a position on political issues, and we have steadfastly remained non-partisan and refused to comment on political matters. We sincerely regret that politics were inserted into the Scouting program.
While we live in a challenging time in a country divided along political lines, the focus of Scouting remains the same today as every day.
Trustworthiness, loyalty, kindness and bravery are just a few of the admirable traits Scouts aspire to develop — in fact, they make up the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
As part of our program’s duty to country, we teach youth to become active citizens, to participate in their government, respect the variety of perspectives and to stand up for individual rights.
Few will argue the importance of teaching values and responsibility to our youth – not only right from wrong, but specific positive values such as fairness, courage, honor and respect for others.
For all of the adventure we provide youth such as hiking, camping and zip-lining, those activities actually serve as proven pathways and opportunities to develop leadership skills and become people of character.
In a time when differences seem to separate our country, we hope the true spirit of Scouting will empower our next generation of leaders to bring people together to do good in the world.
Yours in Scouting,
Mike
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And in case you need a refresher on exactly what “Mike” is apologizing for, here’s a small sample….
Pres. Trump calls D.C. a 'cesspool' or 'sewer' in Scout Jamboree speech. "Believe me, I'd much rather be with you." https://t.co/kZy1uS44p2 pic.twitter.com/yWPm8Jke80
— ABC News (@ABC) July 24, 2017
Pres. Trump calls D.C. a ‘cesspool’ or ‘sewer,’ and with his arrival it is now literally true, accurate and devastating to America in every way that Boy Scouts represent to America.
It is really good to read Mr. Surbaugh’s comments to the “Scout Family”. I was appalled when I watched trump speak to those children – and also shocked at the crowd’s reaction to his distasteful and disrespectful remarks. I am hoping that the thousands of Scout Leaders are also speaking to the young men about the inappropriate comments as well as their own reactions of cheering! Those kids know it was wrong and they should also be told about the Nation’s reaction to the openly disrespect shown to prior Presidents as well as women.
Trump had the audacity to bring up and mock Obama for not attending a jamboree. And those kids cheered. The best thing those leaders can do now is show them the prepared video from Mr. Obama for the 100 Year Anniversary in 2010 and hear what a real man, a respectful man, had to say. I sincerely hope the leaders take the steps to correct the inappropriate behavior shown by this pathetic excuse of America’s President! http://time.com/4872425/boy-scouts-america-jamboree-donald-trump-barack-obama/
– Murphy
Here is the link to Surbough’s actual posting:
http://scoutingwire.org/chief-perspective-presidential-visit/
And also this breakdown of the “most cringe-worthy moments” that led to Surbough’s pseudo-apology:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/25/politics/donald-trump-boy-scouts-speech/index.html
RT, Thanks for posting that CNN article – I did not see that before now. I watched that speech the other day and was outraged and disgusted. However, reading this analysis of those specific lines really emphasized just what a psycho trump is, to his core. Rambling, inappropriate, so far over the line in so many ways!
Pence being former Governor Indiana and now VP in that “cesspool” trump has created and seeing how some of the adults in the crowd also cheered; and the former scouts, trumps guys, on stage grinning from ear to ear, as one comment in the first link above wrote, sure had an impact on me today! It was clear in half the comments they endorsed the absurd speech by this grotesque man! The other half were disgusted. I’d say some parents have some work to do and turn their sons around in the way they think and behave! That kind of thinking is how this cretin got elected!
– Murphy
Even I had to wince at Trump addressing the Scouts. Getting the Scouts to boo any president (… ie Obama)) is just bad. Period. Where is the respect Boy Scouts? A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. What happened, boys?