"On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight."
Yesterday a movie called Troop 491: The Adventures of the Muddy Lions debuted, in Richmond, VA. It is based on a true story which follows the life of a young boy whose mother enrolls him with the Boy Scouts to keep him off the streets. He is faced with peer pressure that often accompanies violence & drugs in the inner city. These haunting circumstances eventually lead him to a crossroad where he will have to choose between following the oath of the scouts or the code of the streets.
The mission of BSA is to "prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes..." The Scouts have impacted over 2 million lives of young men between the ages of 6-17. Today they have national relationships with several companies like Lowes, ExxonMobil & NASA. These relationships are fostered to emphasize education and mentoring. BSA also promotes healthy lifestyles and has joined first lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move program and the President's Council on Fitness, Sport and Nutrition platform.
The Boy Scouts prepare young men for Adventure through its great outdoors experiences; for Service by providing opportunities to volunteer and work in their communities and for Leadership with their life skills merit badges, ranks and awards.
Unfortunately, with all good intentions, life experiences and development the Boy Scouts offer our young men; membership is on the decline nationally. I would like to believe that this is be due to more youth groups & mentoring programs being offered to youth now and not due to an empathetic perception of our young men. We cannot give up on the value and talent that young men posses especially those who without any say of their own, find themselves being raised in the tough streets of our inner cities.
Tristan, the lead character and young Scout in the movie Troop 491 is faced with decisions that far too many of our young men (and woman) are faced with. I encourage you to go see this movie if it is in your neighborhood. It is family friendly (PG-13) and will promote positive dialogue in our homes and communities and perhaps it will ignite new enrollment with the Boy Scouts throughout all of our cities.
Stay Connected!
Dr. Dee Carter
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