On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting for by Stroud & Hall Publishers Title: On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting for

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On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting for by Stroud & Hall Publishers

Well written book, but flawed by misinformation and the authors biases/views

As a long time scout and scouter, I have delved into the scouting movement and its history.

While this work is well written (much better then Hans Zieger's work), it is flawed by the misinformation given, and to a degree the author's beliefs and biases. The author is entitled to his views, but the misinformation is more problematic. Some examples.

* Baden-Powell did NOT create scouting to train future soldiers. He created scouting to create better individuals and citizens. As an officer, he was very different from the stereotype of the british solder. His military scouting program was different from the typical drilling/boot camp type of training. In it, small groups of men learned self reliance and independence thru activities and games. B-P thought military training was inappropriate for youth ("drilling is not scouting") and spent a lot of time adapting his scouting program to be appropriate for youth. Even after he established scouting, some critics claimed he was trying to create future soldiers, and formed rival groups like the "Peace Scouts". Other critized B-P for failing to create future soldiers and formed rival groups like the "Empire Scouts".

* William Boyce did not get lost in the fog of London, that is a myth created by James West. Furthermore, Boyce had little involvement with the BSA after it was incorporated. It was others who got involved and saved the org and brought on board James West.

* the information on page 49-50 on the senior scouting programs is full of errors.

* B-P's wife Olave did NOT start Girl Guides. B-P did before he was married, then turned the program over to his sister Agnes. Olave got involved later. Juliet Low had been involved with the Girl Guides in the UK and brought it to the states, renaming it the Girl Scouts of the USA.

I did like it for its celebration of scouting and its positive values. But I am always annoyed by misinformation given about scouting.
On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting for by Stroud & Hall Publishers

Important message marred only by Rick Perry's self congratulation

Having previously read most of the information about hard left assaults on the Boy Scouts of America, I found "On My Honor" a good review of liberal hubris. As the father of four Eagles Scouts, it is really disappointing to see the ACLU and liberal activists aggressively attack the BSA. This book provides important perspective and does so in the voice of the current Governor of Texas.

Unfortunately, Gov. Rick Perry inserts some unseemly self-congratulation in "On My Honor." At least the proceeds go to the BSA and not to Gov. Perry's campaign fund. If you are inclined to, I recommend you make your donation directly to the BSA and get good up-to-date information about the attacks on the BSA at [...]. They even have an RSS feed.

On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting for by Stroud & Hall Publishers

The Scout Oath, Law, Motto, & Slogan are good for all

I try to live by the following principles:

The Scout Oath:
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.

The Scout Law:
A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Cautious, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, & Reverent.

The Scout Motto:
Be Prepared

The Scout Slogan:
Do a good turn daily

For anyone who think our society would be served will by raising children with these principles, I recommend this book.

Joseph Durnal
On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting for by Stroud & Hall Publishers

Renews my commitment

As a Scoutmaster I found this book outstanding.
It reassured me of why I still need to stay involved. The book provides clear examples that I can use to show my boys why they should be proud to wear the uniform of a Boy Scout.
On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting for by Stroud & Hall Publishers

ON my Honor


On My Honor Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts are Worth Fighting For is a great book about the Boy Scouts of America. The author Rick Perry, Governor of Texas and an Eagle Scout is donating the proceeds to the Boy Scouts of America legal fund. The book begins with the history of Scouting. The chance meeting of an American businessman in London, England with a British Scout started the chain of events that lead to the founding of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910.
The scouts have been under attack for many years. Rick Perry said the first concentrated effort started in 1970. The attacks are in the form of law suits and court challenges which fall under four different topics. These categories are girls seeking membership in the BSA, duty to God, duty to be morally straight and access to government forums.
The author writes about each example of these attacks and their outcome. One of the cases went to the Supreme Court which the Boy Scouts won. The Boy Scouts usually win, but at a great cost in attorney fees and loss of future donations. The latest attacks are designed to cut off funding and reduce meeting locations.
On the values side of Scouting, the Rick Perry goes into many examples of successful Scouts and how Scouting has helped them. There are statistics that show the effect on a boy's life when he enters and stays with the Scouting program compared to a non-scout. The numbers will surprise you. The author points out that the Scouting handbook is the roadmap for a young boy growing up. Rick Perry writes that single parents in need of a male mentor for their son(s) see the Boy Scouts as an answer.
As you read the book the question comes to mind, Why do so many groups attack the Boy Scouts? The Boy Scouts have a set of rules much like our military and society, and looks for the greater good of the community. The last question, will Scouting survive? Rick Perry believes it will and I think all 100 million boys who have been Scouts will say strongly agree.
On a personal note Scouting, I am an Eagle Scout and a Cubmaster of Pack 136 and the scouting motto of Be Prepared served me well in Mosul, Iraq. Boy Scouts of America will be 100 years old in 2010 and many celebrations will be held. Let's hope scouting will be around for another 100 years. I am proud of my father an Eagle Scout my mother was a Cub Scout den leader, my wife also was Cub Scout den leader, and my two boys are Boy Scouts. I know the Boy Scouts is worth fighting for.

On My Honor Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts are Worth Fighting For is well worth reading whether you are involved in Boy Scouts or for those that want to learn more about the values and program of Boys Scouts of America.

Be Prepared

MAJ (ret) NJARNG
Eric Shuler
On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting for by Stroud & Hall Publishers

Book Description

In On My Honor, Texas governor Rick Perry, through the legacy of the Boy Scouts of America, takes dead aim at the moral relativism of the secular humanist movement, indicting its corrosive impact on the culture. Examining the left's legal assaults on the Boy Scouts of America - which span more than 30 years - Perry offers prescient insight into the multi-faceted war, which pits the proponents of traditional American values against the radical leftist movement that seeks to tear down our social foundations.

On My Honor underscores the depth to which the culture warriors of the left will go to force their secular humanist minority view upon American society and revered American institutions. It is a revealing look at a culture war that rages close to the surface of American life, and it is a must read for any American concerned that our society is slipping from the high moral ground of liberty to the valley of license.