So we’re now officially within a “national political campaigning year”. Assuming that the Mayans were wiped out before they could finish their virtual calendar; and also assuming that this year isn’t the one in which hostile and hungry aliens arrive on our planet for a “mid-galatic snack”; we Americans have to contend with a series of gatherings, elections and debates.
I don’t know what’s worse — the end of the world as we know it, some hungry-hungry hippos coming to eat us all — starting with the more “plump” among us, or listening to (because Lord knows I love CNN, the “best network in the Universe”, but I’m NOT in love with the endless debating, sniping and “you said this” — “no, you said that”) stuff we call the “political process”.
A couple of days ago, one of my fellow Army Reserve Soldiers — an enlisted dude living in Iowa and a part of an Army Reserve unit in that state — decided to express his personal opinion about one of the many candidates (did you know that there’s something like several HUNDRED candidates all running for President under the Republican party in 2012? It’s a good thing we only hear, read and see seven or eight of them!!). He’s allowed to do this. There’s nothing that says that he cannot express his own political ideas. He just can’t do it during the military’s “duty day”, on a base somewhere, or…
…IN UNIFORM. The wearing of the uniform implies that somehow the Army, the Army Reserve, or his unit “supports” the candidate, his or her views, or the political party that the candidate or Soldier is a part of. It’s such a big “no-no”, that the Army goes out of its way every year to remind Soldiers of that fact — and that it’s a “bustable offense” under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Put a bumper sticker on your car, van, truck or cycle, sure. Display a lawn item, yeah as long as you’re not living in base housing. Bring a coffeemug with that candidate’s face or stuff about them running for whatever office, nope. You can’t wear campaign or support/against tee-shirts or display pins to work either. That includes the gym, running around the block, and whether they stay in your office or cube or are out there where God and country can see it. Pretty clear, right? Well, that Soldier didn’t “get the memo” and he’s now in a LOT of trouble.
Don’t be spending your Sergeant’s pay any time soon, Corporal. As a matter of fact, there’s a great chance that instead of you saying “Hooah!” you may be saying “Want fries with that?” pretty soon. It’s THAT SERIOUS a MATTER.
Why? Our nation’s military is supposed to be non-partisan in its application and appearance. Those of us in the military know the deal, however: we know that every time a Democrat is in office, our military’s going to shrink. We know that every time a Republican is in office, our military’s going to grow. We have no idea what will happen if we get an Independent in office as our President. The bottom line is regardless of who’s in office or who we would LIKE to have in office, we serve the person in the office NOW. Either way. We know that we can talk about politics with our friends after duty hours; we know that we can send money to a political campaign or issue group without someone forcing or keeping us from doing so. But when we’re wearing that uniform and working on the SERVICE’S TIME, that time needs to be spent doing things to help further the NATION’S CONCERNS…not our own.
What that Soldier did was to basically tell the nation — or anyone who cared — that he’s stupid, has no loyality, and should not be saying anything he said in uniform. The campaign he supported should have also coached him and provided him a teeshirt to wear instead of his battle dress uniform — and he could say anything he felt he wanted to — but they didn’t. It’s a “much better visual” for him to be there in uniform, saying whatever he said. It was the UNIFORM.
Okay. Enough of the Army Reserve dude — let’s talk about you and your youth in Scouting and how does all of this relate to them and you. No, you’re not in the military and Scouting isn’t “junior Junior ROTC”. On the other hand, like the military, the BSA is non-partisan in it’s organization and execution. The BSA has a policy — here it is in case you didn’t “get *that* memo”:
Participation in Political Events and Activities (from the BSA’s Rules and Regulations):
“Uniformed unit members and leaders may participate in flag ceremonies at political events and may lead the Pledge of Allegiance; however, they should retire after the ceremony and not remain on the speakers’ platform or in a conspicuous location where television viewers nor photographers could construe their presence as an endorsement or symbol of support. In addition, photos of candidates with Scouts in uniform or which contain BSA marks and logos are not allowed in political campaign materials of any kind. Candidates for any office may not wear the official BSA field or dress uniform while photographed or videotaped for political campaign materials or while actively campaigning and should refrain from activily campaigning while in attendance at any BSA national, regional or local Council (to include District and unit) activity, event or rally.
This same policy extends to local or regional issues or causes, even those which may seem to be one in which the BSA would “tend to” support or oppose (for instance a new city or state park or the destruction or construction of a landmark or building).”
If you’re attending a political rally or event, you have a Constitutionally-granted right to be there. You should avoid being there in a Scouting uniform (field or dress); and should avoid wearing Scouting-related garb (jac-shirt, hat, etc.) during the event. “But nobody took a photo and I avoided the cameras”, you may say…it doesn’t always work out that way. Today, ANYONE can take an image with one of those “eye-phones” or their competitors…and ANYONE can post/upload/provide images to any number of social media, social awareness, or partisan political sites or resources. Just because you’re a Scout or Scouter, doesn’t mean that you’re “automatically” a part of one or the other’s political party or supports/opposes candidates or points of view within a particular party or affiliation. So as long as you’re there representing YOURSELF and your own PERSONAL VIEWS, go for it — just *not* in any way representing Scouting!
If you’re there as part of the color/honor guard, you should perform your duties to the best of your abilities…and then silently MOVE AWAY FROM THE STAGE AREA and be *completely away* from the rally or event. Not just standing behind a speaker (even if that speaker is a minister or mayor or medicine man — by YOU AND YOUR UNIT standing there gives a quiet but powerful “impression” that somehow the BSA or your local Council “backs” or “are behind” the cause or event). You’ve done your civic responsibilties by presenting the Flag of our nation or by standing with the national and/or state flag while others pay homage to our nation and state. Now it’s time for you to go home.
Scouting is designed to be non-political and non-partisan in its operation. We have to be careful not to have Scouting — the movement and individual Scouters and Scouts — “sucked into” being a part of anyone’s political campaign or promotion. Most national and regional campaign directors KNOW the rule about NOT using Scouts and Scouters. The local directors and promoters, trying to get “a good crowd” for their candidate, don’t always think of anything else other than “getting a good crowd”. In the past, Scoutmasters in a town would be contacted by politicial campaigns and asked to “bring all of their Scouts in uniform, and we’ll help you get them to summer camp” or “get you some camping equipment” or something else. All of that is WRONG under BSA policies. Our units are NOT “rent a crowds” or “political backdrops”.
“But I see military people, police and fire personnel behind the President… why can’t we do that too? I think it’ll be really cool to have a sea of Scouts and Scouters sitting or standing behind our President (or behind his or her political opponent).” True, you do see quite a bit of law enforcement, protection or educators (or all of the above) serving as “human backdrops” for candidates and for the President. Yes, even members of our military are seen in the background as the President speaks. One has to remember this: those individuals (except for the miltary folk) are *members of that particular political party who either PAID TO or WAS PAID BY the party to be there*. As far as military members, they are more or less “directed” to be there (and because the President is, after all, the Commander-in-Chief of our land, air and sea forces, very few will say “nah…it’s not my thing…”)
Again, Scouts and Scouters are NOT “political backdrops” for the current or the “last” guy or gal.
No matter if the issue or campaign leans to the left, right, center, forward, backward, down or up — or if something clearly “supports” or “helps Scouting” some way.
Part of being a citizen of this nation is the WILLING ABILITY to attend ceremonies to welcome or say “so long” to the leader of the United States. We’re lucky to live in a nation whereby some jackbooted dude (or duddette) doesn’t hammer on your door and tells you or or your family “you WILL appear in the town square tomorrow at 4pm and warmly welcome our nation’s head of state — or else!! And you WILL smile and you WILL wave the things we give you — or else!!”
If you and your Pack, Troop or Crew is invited to come out to the airfield and wave flags as the President arrives — DO IT — just NOT in Scouting uniforms or teeshirts or carrying Scouting banners, or while making it a Scouting event! Invite those who want to attend, make sure that everyone understands that they are there to see the President (or former President) (or Vice President) (or a cabinet secretary) (or a military general or admiral) (etc.). And have fun at doing it… take photos, shake the President’s hand if you get close enough and desire to, and wave those small American flags proudly.
Volunteers and professionals must be alert to situations that would imply that the BSA favors one candidate over another. Strict observance of our long-standing policy against the active participation of uniformed Scouts and leaders in political events is mandatory. Volunteers with questions concerning their participation in a political event, rally, or dinner should address them to their Council’s Scout Executive for recommendation and resolution.
A timely reminder at a point whereby we are just starting the politics in either retaining the guy or gal we elected or hiring someone new in their place. Good luck, don’t get too big, round and fat, and keep the faith! *smiling*
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