Who once would have believed this kind of nuttiness could take root here: commitment to God and country and moral fiber assailed in federal court as un-American and subversive of democracy? Here comes Bush, at any rate, to do something welcome and valuable, namely, to throw the prestige of his office behind the cause of scouting -- and on government property yet, Fort A.P. Hill.
"It's a fantastic sight," the president says, "to look out on more than 30,000 young men wearing the uniform of the Boy Scouts." (Young men the ACLU would probably love to evict from the premises.)
"When you join a scout troop, and put on the Boy Scout uniform, you make a statement. Your uniform is a sign that you're a certain kind of citizen -- trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. These are the values of scouting, and they're important values for America …
"I'm standing in front of America's future leaders. When you follow your conscience, and the ideals you have sworn as a scout, there is no limit to what you can achieve for your country."
And so on. The presidential pulpit has no end of uses: not the least of which is hitting a lick for common sense when such a lick, or a barrage of licks, seems called for. Here was one of those moments, and Mr. Bush delivered -- loyally, helpfully, cheerfully and more than just a bit bravely.