[HANASHIR:14810] Scouting (Re: Imagine - the song)

[Freedabet <Freedabet...>]

I think it wrong to characterize Boy Scouts as a secular entity.  It is 
non-denominational, but requires each member to believe in and practice a 
religion. 
 There are many 'units' of Boy Scouts sponsored by Temples and Churches (and 
I suppose probably Mosques as well), there are religious requirements for each 
level of achievement, and additional 'Religious Emblems' that the boys can 
earn as they practice and study their religion.  There are many Jewish 
Committees on Scouting across the country which coordinate regional activities. 
 BSA 
has a 'Relationships Division' which helps to coordinate with various religious 
traditions.

While I believe Girl Scouts once had at least an acknowledgement of God, it 
has evolved into a totally secular entity.  While there are Religious Awards 
the girls can earn, my experience has been that there is no ongoing religious 
component in the program and the religious awards are not emphasized or 
encouraged.  It is very hard to 'get the word out' to Jewish Girl Scouts as 
there is 
no structure for doing so.

Cantor Michael Freed
Cubmaster, Pack 36
Father of a Webelos Cub Scout and a Cadette Girl Scout 

-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

> Date: Thursday, 03-Jul-03 02:56 PM
> 
> From: rahel                    \ Internet:    (rahel (at) empire(dot)net)
> To:   Hanashir Mail Server     \ Internet:    (hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org)
> 
> Subject:  [HANASHIR:14807] Re: Imagine - the song
> 
> Sender: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Reply-to:       hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> To:     hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Hi Ruth - It all sounds wonderful. I would like to point out that the 
> Scouts is a secular entity. I believe our discussion about the use of 
> "Imagine" was focused around using the song in a more religious setting - 
> though I may be wrong.
> 
> Rahel
> 
> 
> 
> At 12:44 PM 7/3/2003 -0500, you wrote:
> >I saw the Israeli scouts last week and they performed the song "Imagine" 
> >as a tribute to Colonel Ramon.  They quoted him saying that the world 
> >looked different from outer space - no borders.  They sang verses in 
> >english and Hebrew.  They did not sing the 'no religion' verse in english 
> >and I only understood isolated words and phrases in the hebrew.
> >
> >The show had a very different flavor from the one I saw two years ago, one 
> >year into this intafada.  They did not talk about army service as they 
> >have in the past and they did not display a map of Israel.  They did talk 
> >about terrorism and it's effect on children.  They started with the early 
> >pioneers and they ended with the belief that peace is possible.
> >
> >Ruth
> 
> 
> 
> 

-------- REPLY, End of original message --------

------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+