Scouting’s Incomplete Evolution (Week 1)

The Editorial Board, . "Scouting’s Incomplete Evolution." NYTimes.com. The New York Times, 2 Jan 2014. Web. 7 Mar 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/03/opinion/scoutings-incomplete-evolution.html?_r=0>.




In this editorial, written by the New York Times Editorial Board at large, the recent changes for the positive within the Boy Scouts of America are tempered with the negative realities. While the article acknowledges that the Boy Scouts of America made the decision to allow gay members to join, it reminds readers that the association continues to discriminate against gay leaders. The article continues on to make the parallel between reforms that are necessary within the Boy Scouts of America and reforms that have happened regarding "don't ask, don't tell" in the United States military. Further, the editors claim that the Boy Scouts of America's continued discrimination against gay leaders is inconsistent with the strong moral values that the organization tries to instill in its members. The article claims that the idea that homosexuals are inferior is naturally being transferred to members who have to watch this entire ordeal. This editorial is decidedly opinion-fueled, and tends to portray the Boy Scouts of America pessimistically. 

LETTERS: Readers sound off about gay rights, Boy Scouts and the lack of global leadership (Week 1)

"LETTERS: Readers sound off about gay rights, Boy Scouts and the lack of global leadership."WacoTrib.com. The Waco Tribune, 6 Mar 2014. Web. 6 Mar 2014. <http://www.wacotrib.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letters-readers-sound-off-about-gay-rights-boy-scouts-and/article_fc02efd4-8b30-514e-9416-5e6277dd4d8f.html>.

(No specific article author, since this is a collection of letters to the editor.)


In this collection of letters to the editor of The Waco Tribune, direct reader response to the current controversy regarding the Boy Scouts of America's anti-gay-leader policy is provided. The letter that speaks directly to the current happenings regarding the issue is written by Jon Cockrum. Starkly contrasting with the status quo in current journalism regarding the issue, which tends towards antagonizing the Boy Scouts of America for being discriminating, Cockrum takes a different approach with the topic. While he very clearly indicates that he is not overly pro-gay-rights, he suggests that religion, specifically Christianity, be pulled out of the equation. Cockrum argues that using religion as a justification for policy - either in favor of or opposed to gay rights - is a mistake. He provides an example using race: a black person could never "pray his way" to becoming white. Similarly, using prayer with regards to a person being gay is simply ridiculous, and, according to Cockrum, sends the wrong message to children in terms of religion.

Boy Scouts' Ban On Gay Leaders Leads Disney To End Grants (Week 1)

In accordance with its "pro-gay" policies, Disney recently cut off funding for the Boy Scouts of America.

Memmott, Mark. "Boy Scouts' Ban On Gay Leaders Leads Disney To End Grants." The Two-Way : NPR. National Public Radio, 3 Mar 2014. Web. 4 Mar 2014. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/03/03/285255126/boy-scouts-ban-on-gay-leaders-leads-disney-to-end-grants>.


This article describes the latest revelation in an ongoing debate about the controversial Boy Scouts of America ban on gay troop leaders. Disney, which provides funding to worthy organizations through a program titled "Ears to You," has made the decision to cut off funding for the Boy Scouts of America. Although Disney has remained relatively quiet about the decision, they do cite a corporate policy requiring that Disney refrain from donating to any organizations that 'operate or support activities that are counter to the policies of The Walt Disney Company,' with the given that Disney is, in fact, a gay-friendly corporation. Boy Scouts of America spokesperson Deron Smith responded to the news with a generic statement of disappointment, indicating that the loss of funding will negatively impact children, although the response made no mention of the relationship between the Boy Scouts of America's policies regarding homosexuality and Disney. Memmott takes a decidedly non-opinionated approach to the article by relying on large quotes from other publications that have reported on the issue, including The Orlando Sentinel and The Washington Post. He concludes the article by referring online readers to another article about the Boy Scouts of America's controversial policies, inviting the audience to do additional research about the topic.