does anyone see something the !#[email protected] wrong with this

[Trapper]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/us/14explorers.html?_r=4:mad:

[Oscar Wilde]

[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/us/14explorers.html?_r=4:mad:[/url][/QUOTE]

Trapper, this takes you to a log in page. What is the issue?
O.W.

[Trapper]

it should of been new york times article on training boy scouts for tactical purposes. search bsa explorer and see what there doin it's almost like hitlers youth all over again

[Skyowl]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/us...rers.html?_r=4

Try this link.

Scouts Train to Fight Terrorists, and More

IMPERIAL, Calif. — Ten minutes into arrant mayhem in this town near the Mexican border, and the gunman, a disgruntled Iraq war veteran, has already taken out two people, one slumped in his desk, the other covered in blood on the floor.

The responding officers — eight teenage boys and girls, the youngest 14 — face tripwire, a thin cloud of poisonous gas and loud shots — BAM! BAM! — fired from behind a flimsy wall. They move quickly, pellet guns drawn and masks affixed.

“United States Border Patrol! Put your hands up!” screams one in a voice cracking with adolescent determination as the suspect is subdued.

It is all quite a step up from the square knot.

More at the link.

[Skyowl's Wife]

Haven't read the article, won't register at the New York Slimes to give them advertising hits. But on the surface, it sounds like a good idea, to me. Think about it....

Boy Scouts are taught about God, Country, family, and community responsibility. They reject athiests and sodomites. Then throw in some tactical training. They WILL be part of an army... OURS.

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.

Who is providing the training? Details, please.

[Skyowl]

The key to the program, according to the article, is the following...

QUOTE
The Explorers program, a coeducational affiliate of the Boy Scouts of America that began 60 years ago, is training thousands of young people in skills used to confront terrorism, illegal immigration and escalating border violence — an intense ratcheting up of one of the group’s longtime missions to prepare youths for more traditional jobs as police officers and firefighters.
ENDQUOTE

That takes me back to when I was seventeen and participated in the Space Explorers, when we went to Seal Beach and learned all about the Saturn rocket and the Apollo capsule. In fact, I met my "Wife" there at the meetings. We were both geeks.

The problem, is that the program gets unwanted publicity when one of the Explorers takes his/her training and goes "off the reservation" and using their skills, makes an attack one some innocent group and someone gets killed. Then the perp states that his training made him do it.... Now the program will get more attention than it wants and everyone loses. I think the program is good on its face value if they can keep them focused on the goals of the program and the end result of a job in law enforcement. It will save time and money in the long run.

[Oscar Wilde]

I believe we will soon discover that this is not what it is intended to appear to be. I can't think of one good reason why our children should be involved in such matters....our children should be enjoying the protection of us adults, not undertaking our responsibilities. This and all other aspects of our social structure that, in the past 10 - 15 years, seem to have taken a substantial departure from the norm should be closely scrutinized....there is an underlying agenda evolving.
O.W.

[TheLastMountainMan]

The objective, from my understanding, is to train the boys for the real world and help them be prepared for anything. Not to be playing Homeland Security, but to be aware whats going on around them. To survive, at least thats what I'm trying to teach them. Let the military teach them when they are old enough to join.

[doucmpuppiespn]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jvAebx483rSYOZNjhJtQ-tGKLY9gD98JQ5J01

They are coming at the kids from every angle. Pink Floyd said it well:
"Leave Them Kids Alone"

[Skyowl's Wife]

We were both geeks.

♥ Were? :p ♥

[Oscar Wilde]

[The objective, from my understanding, is to train the boys for the real world]

It has always been my understanding that teaching children anything other than reading, writing and arithmetic is a parental function albeit parental guidance is present day.... an oxymoron.
O.W.