I earned my Eagle Scout rank in 1985. The Boy Scouts were very important to me as a youth. I was late to join the Boy Scouts. I joined when I was 14. I earned my Eagle Scout rank when I was 17. The highlight of my Scouting career was working for the Boy Scouts of America at the national high adventure base in Ely, Minn., during the summer of 1986.
Today I am 45 years old, and my Eagle Scout badge and metal are still among my most-treasured earthly possessions. They represent challenge, determination, perseverance and success.
The values I learned in the BSA still have an effect on my life choices today. To reach the honor of Eagle Scout, I had to climb some difFIcult mountains. Today, those difFIcult mountainskeep coming. Those values are still in play today when I choose to be faithful to my wife and family. They have made a diff erence in my career. They affect my relationship with others and my walk with God. Those learned values have endured because they were based on truth. If those values had been based on anything else, they would have passed away.
I was sad to hear that the BSA was once again considering a change to the policy of allowing gays to serve as adult leaders. This contradicts everything my Scouting values stand for.
My relationship with God, which the BSA encourages, teaches me that there are timeless truths. To compromise those truths comprimises the value of my Eagle Scout honor. The BSA asked me to promise to be morally straight. I never asked my fellow man to be morally straight nor does the BSA program seek to change our society by making rules for anyone.
Yesterday’s news from the BSA caused me a sleepless night. This morning I called the BSA national office to share my thoughts. I was disappointed to hear that they were only taking down info about “for” or “against.”
A Boy Scout, especially an Eagle Scout, does not count his supporters. He determines the truth and climbs on regardless of the odds against him. He has been trained to understand truth and honesty don’t change based on the circumstances. Sometimes the mountain he is climbing is difficult. He does not plot his course based on the level of his support. He plots his course based on truth and personal convictions.
If an Eagle Scout makes his decisions based on which road is most comfortable, he will not reach his goal.
On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty TO GOD and my country ... and to keep myself morally straight.
If the Boys Scouts accept this, they will have to rewrite their Scout Oath.
They will also have to rewrite their list of Eagle Scouts because this one will return his Eagle Scout badge and metal. They just won’t mean anything to me anymore because truth does not change. Truth is timeless.
DAN SHARON
Bella Vista
Opinion, Pages 5 on 01/31/2013