So the Boy Scouts of America are lacking when it comes to being brave. Read this post if you don't know what I'm talking about "Boy Scouts Showing Cowardice." I guess they think they can make up for that shortcoming when it comes to being kind. The Boy Scouts of America have banned any water wars to occur during a scouting event.
Now why would the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) ban water wars? Keep in mind that the BSA was
originally a way for young boys to prepare to become scouts in the military. Apparently, according to Wendell of the BSA, the ban is about more than safety. Wendell says in his blog post about the ban, "A scout is kind. What part of pointing a firearm at someone is kind?" Wendell is saying that it's not kind to point toys that shoot water at each other. Calling a water gun a firearm is definitely a stretch. Yes, water guns work by pulling a trigger causing water to come out of a barrel. However, unlike pellet guns, airsoft guns, bb guns, paintball guns, and the like, water guns can't really hurt you. We've all been shot in the eye with a water gun, it does hurt, but only for a few minutes tops. Most of the time people are able to close their eyes before the water even hits them in the eye. There really aren't any safety hazards being avoided by banning water wars.
An unkind use of water guns would be spraying scouts who don't want to participate in the water wars, but scouts who are going to spray scouts who don't want to participate will do that whether or not they are allowed to. Banning water wars from scouting will in no way prevent it. Anyone with a brain would realize that. The only thing that this ban will accomplish is stealing hours of fun away from scouts across America. When I was still a scout I went to a week long camp for leadership training. The camp is called National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT). At this camp the scouts spend their free time during the week constructing catapults with their patrols, for a huge water war scheduled for the end of the week each year. That was by far one of the best parts of camp. Now it will no longer be allowed.
With the direction the BSA is moving, soon campouts will consist of spending the weekend in an air conditioned building, and spending little time experiencing nature. This is not the vision that Robert Baden-Powell had when he started the Boy Scouts. I know that that statement about what the BSA will become is overflowing with hyperbole. I still don't know how many people want to be a part of the new vision for the BSA that is coming. A vision that includes not standing up for beliefs, and a vision that says it's unkind to have water gun fights.
Now why would the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) ban water wars? Keep in mind that the BSA was
An unkind use of water guns would be spraying scouts who don't want to participate in the water wars, but scouts who are going to spray scouts who don't want to participate will do that whether or not they are allowed to. Banning water wars from scouting will in no way prevent it. Anyone with a brain would realize that. The only thing that this ban will accomplish is stealing hours of fun away from scouts across America. When I was still a scout I went to a week long camp for leadership training. The camp is called National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT). At this camp the scouts spend their free time during the week constructing catapults with their patrols, for a huge water war scheduled for the end of the week each year. That was by far one of the best parts of camp. Now it will no longer be allowed.
With the direction the BSA is moving, soon campouts will consist of spending the weekend in an air conditioned building, and spending little time experiencing nature. This is not the vision that Robert Baden-Powell had when he started the Boy Scouts. I know that that statement about what the BSA will become is overflowing with hyperbole. I still don't know how many people want to be a part of the new vision for the BSA that is coming. A vision that includes not standing up for beliefs, and a vision that says it's unkind to have water gun fights.
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