Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Rebecca Hagelin :: Townhall.com Columnist
Boy Scouts
by Rebecca Hagelin
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
Poll
Will the Dems' health care Christmas Present to America be an improvement or detriment to our health care system?


It's time someone stand up for the young men of this country.

Despite the negative images of males that the pop culture shoves down our throats, the hearts and souls of America's boys are begging for positive direction. They naturally delight in "guy" stuff like rugged camping and "cowboys" when they are young because they truly want to be protectors - to be the good guys. Anyone who has ever been around a five-year-old boy knows that he desires to be a super-hero who saves damsels, children and the elderly from evil. But as guys age they are constantly pounded by images of lazy or sexually predatory images instead of courageous, genteel protectors - and some grow confused. Radical feminism doesn't help - many teen boys even wonder if they are supposed to be polite anymore. Too many have opened the door for what they thought was a young lady, for instance, only to be screamed at by a suddenly vicious and angry female. Why would they want to take that risk again?

Click here to subscribe to Townhall Magazine and receive a free copy of Rebecca Hagelin's book, 30 Ways in 30 Days: How to Save Your Family.

Turn on the television for 30 minutes and show me how boys and men are portrayed - you can watch just about any station at any hour and the image will be the same. When sit-coms and commercials contain family groups or interactions between the genders, the man is usually stupid, lazy, and doltish.

If our media culture showed positive male images and if we actually put effort back into teaching boys that real men are also gentlemen, we would get more of the behavior our society needs to survive.

What the nation really needs are more Boy Scouts. And I mean that literally.

As a mother of two Eagle Scouts (now ages 20 and 21), I can personally testify about the tremendous positive impact that Scouting continues to have on their lives.

We spent ten glorious, fun years in Scouting working along side other parents who shared our commitment to making sure our boys were well-equipped to deal with anything life would throw at them. In looking through photo albums this weekend with my son who was home visiting from college, my heart was warmed with the memory of the many campfires, pinewood derby races, and badge ceremonies. I'll always be grateful for the image of my husband who was man enough to don the uniform too - green knee socks and all - in order to lead our boys and their friends as a Scout Master.

As I travel the country speaking to parents it is quite obvious that moms and dads need someone to help us teach our sons the character traits we so desperately want them to have. So, when I wrote 30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family it was imperative to include a chapter I call "Dress Your Son in Respect". And the group I feature as the very best to show you how is the Boy Scouts.

Take the Scout Law, for instance. It outlines the characteristics of the type of men we all so desperately need in this country: Continued...

1 2
| Full Article & Comments | Next >
Share:
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
 
About The Author
Rebecca Hagelin is a public speaker on the family and culture and the author of the new best seller, 30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family.
 
TOWNHALL DAILY: Be the first to read Rebecca Hagelin's column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com daily lineup delivered each morning to your inbox.
Scout experience
Wonderful years. I'm 55 and still remember the subtle lessons learned back then. Camping, hiking, learning, courtesy, a code of conduct...
These days when I open a door for a woman she looks surprised to find a 'gentleman'. We need scouting back..desparately. The amoral entertainment industry & even the educational system offers almost nothing by way of positive images for boys & teens. Ritalin isn't the answer.. Scouting and good,maturing life experiences is what they need.

Stop the bashing
If you don't like Scouting start or support your own male youth based character building, leadership developing, faith supporting program, and any other qualifications you want to impose or remove. There are other programs out there. Some impose more faith, some none, some include gays some not. So find what works for you and support it. Who knows maybe you can build it to something the size of the BSA, maybe not. But please quit the pointless put downs. You stated your position, you don't like Scouting. You said it, it's out there. Now go away. Oh, but I forget, it's your right to express yourself, just like a dog. You are compelled to mark your territory, to let everyone know you're here.
Sign Up to Post Your CommentsSign Up to Post Your Comments
If you are already registered, click here to login. Otherwise, please take a few seconds to register with Townhall.com. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, and more!
Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
Salutation:
First Name:
*
Last Name:
*
Email:
*
Nickname:
*
Note: Nick name will be shown when you post comments.
Address 1:
*
Address 2:
City:
*
State:
*
Zip:
*
Phone:
      
Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
(Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.