What values does Cadmus reference?

Once again we are treated to a deceptive diatribe by yet another American Mullah wannabe (Mr. Thomas P. Cadmus), this time bemoaning the ACLU’s efforts to restrict the Boy Scouts of America from receiving aide from the US government.

Mr. Cadmus quotes Ronald Regan’s statement that the First Amendment was not created to protect the country from “religious values.” I guess it depends on what “values” we are talking about. Some religions “value” persecuting others who do not share their faith. The First Amendment seeks to restrict the ability of such religious folk from using the government to impose their “values” on others.

Back in the time of our country’s founders, religious persecution was a big deal. Religions usually held sway over governments, using state power to coerce the populous to submit to the sanctioned religious authority through governmental proxy. Our founders thought it very important that government and religion should not combine in efforts to influence or coerce the populous and so authored the First Amendment.

The concept of the Separation of Church and State (first promulgated by Thomas Jefferson) served us well for over 150 years, until religious fervor in response to communism in the 1950s resulted in references to God appearing in oaths across the land. This was also the time when our national motto was changed from “E Pluribus Unum” (“From Many, One”) to “In God We Trust,” which was then added to our paper currency. For good measure, “under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance. Religious activists hope you are ignorant of history and will believe these relatively new governmental endorsements of religion were always in place and thus worthy of eternal protection.

I am continuously disappointed that religious activists like Mr. Cadmus rely on deception and subterfuge rather than honestly and directly expressing their true hopes and desires. As an example he states, “Some words in the Scout oath refer to the existence of ‘a higher power.’ Why not use the word ‘God?’ ” The Scout credo does not state, “A Scout is reverent to a higher power and is faithful in his higher power worshiping duties.” Nay, it states, “A Scout is reverent toward GOD. He is faithful in his RELIGIOUS duties.” Ironically, the next statement reads, “He respects the beliefs of others.” Perhaps to reflect the true feeling of the American Legion, the credo should be changed to “He respects the beliefs of others, as long as those beliefs do not differ in regard to professing religious faith.”

Mr. Cadmus claims the ACLU is in a battle against “American values.” I do not like the idea that if my values are not the same as his, they are not “American.” I hope even religious people see the danger in this attitude.

The Boy Scouts provide wonderful opportunities for young people. Why is it so important to exclude a segment of our youth simply because they do not share the same religious beliefs as the majority of the members and their leadership? Why not allow ALL children to benefit from the value-building experiences that the Scouts offer regardless of religious affiliation?

It would be nice if the Leadership of the Scouts and the American Legion would seek to understand others and respect those with ideas and customs other than their own rather than shun them.

It is my hope that someday the majority of the members of the American Legion and the BSA will reject the bigotry embraced by their leadership and make the following declaration:

“The Boy Scouts of America no longer require their members to profess belief in the existence of a supreme supernatural being nor require deity worship as a prerequisite to membership.”

Making such a change in policy would simultaneously eliminate all challenges to governmental support while ending the dubious tradition of religiously based discrimination against and exclusion of a small minority of America’s youth. It seems the Christian thing to do.