Some things never change
In yesterday's post I talked about girls in scouting. I thought I'd follow that up with some thoughts about why scouting has not just stayed popular but is increasing in popularity year after year. And we're not the only ones. The Guides, Cadet Forces and various others are all still consistently popular. I thought about this because to read or listen to some of the mass media such organisations are an irrelevant anachronism that ceased to be relevant long ago. Yet no matter what those people say the kids keep on coming, and they are staying as well.
So what is it about these organisations that keeps them coming? Well the scouts have obviously done themselves a favour with recent changes. The introduction of the Explorer Scout section, the changes in the uniform and the introduction of professional PR staff at HQ has certainly helped, all those things have helped shake off some the geekier side of the image, but that can't be the full story. There must be something more fundamental than that.
And I think it's quite simple, kids love it! They like being outdoors and having an adventure. For different age ranges that will mean different things. For a 7 year old beaver it will mean being away from home for the first time. For a 9 year old cub it might mean abseiling for the first time, for 12 year old scout white water canoing, a 16 year old explorer may be in the middle of Africa building a new school. Yet for all of them it means getting out doors, meeting new people, doing new things, pushing themselves and achieving something.
You can give kids all the play stations and x boxes that you want, you can give them face book and Bebo and satellite tv, but none of them provide that adventure that kids love. On top of that none of them provide that same team spirit that something like scouting gives, that same sense of pulling together, of looking out for your mates and knowing that they will look out for you. And I don't think it's any surprise that those kids not into scouting or cadets etc tend to be in sports teams or bands or something else that is about pushing yourself with a group of friends alongside you.
So the nay sayers can sneer all they want, some on the left will wring their hands, some on the right will claim that kids just haven't got it anymore but the fact is that kids want and adventure and they want a sense of belonging. These things don't change because they are basic human instincts. Long may it continue.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Moving with the times
It's a good day to be a scout. The latest census by the UK scout association shows numbers up across the board and, for the first time, new members are roughly equal in terms of boys and girls. Media coverage has been limited. Last year it was a slow news day when the figures were released and we got wall to wall attention, this time round they are competing with swine flue. Such is life. But you can hardly complain at 7 years of growth now can you?
In what media coverage there has been though it is interesting to look at the commentators, the largest number of which can be found in response to this article in the Scotsman.
I have to be honestly surprised not so much at those who are surprised that scouts now accept girls but at the proportion who seem actively opposed to it. Many seem to think that the scouts should stay all male.
These people are wrong, completely wrong. And here's why.
The scouts are a "movement". It's an important distinction from other forms of organisation and to understand why you need to look at the history of things. Baden Powel organised the first scout camp in 1907 and subsequently published Scouting for Boys. He never intended to form the scouts from that, he intended the book to be used by the Boys Brigade! What happened was that boys started reading the book and wandering around catching rabbits and camping farmers fields. They upset enough adults that eventually those adults took charge of them and formed organised scout troops to keep them under control.
The kids, in effect, founded the scouts en mass. Hence it is a movement because the kids did it for themselves.
Given that history it is only right that the scouts move with times and provide what the kids want and need. Times have changed. Women are, in theory at least, equal in society in a way they were not in 1907 (in practice an awful lot of men need a good kicking to realise that). Men and women have platonic relationships in a way that in 1907 they didn't. And scouting simply has to reflect that.
Times have changed, the scouts have changed, and so much the better.
It's a good day to be a scout. The latest census by the UK scout association shows numbers up across the board and, for the first time, new members are roughly equal in terms of boys and girls. Media coverage has been limited. Last year it was a slow news day when the figures were released and we got wall to wall attention, this time round they are competing with swine flue. Such is life. But you can hardly complain at 7 years of growth now can you?
In what media coverage there has been though it is interesting to look at the commentators, the largest number of which can be found in response to this article in the Scotsman.
I have to be honestly surprised not so much at those who are surprised that scouts now accept girls but at the proportion who seem actively opposed to it. Many seem to think that the scouts should stay all male.
These people are wrong, completely wrong. And here's why.
The scouts are a "movement". It's an important distinction from other forms of organisation and to understand why you need to look at the history of things. Baden Powel organised the first scout camp in 1907 and subsequently published Scouting for Boys. He never intended to form the scouts from that, he intended the book to be used by the Boys Brigade! What happened was that boys started reading the book and wandering around catching rabbits and camping farmers fields. They upset enough adults that eventually those adults took charge of them and formed organised scout troops to keep them under control.
The kids, in effect, founded the scouts en mass. Hence it is a movement because the kids did it for themselves.
Given that history it is only right that the scouts move with times and provide what the kids want and need. Times have changed. Women are, in theory at least, equal in society in a way they were not in 1907 (in practice an awful lot of men need a good kicking to realise that). Men and women have platonic relationships in a way that in 1907 they didn't. And scouting simply has to reflect that.
Times have changed, the scouts have changed, and so much the better.
Friday, April 24, 2009
One step forward, two steps back
While not wishing to blow my own trumpet I do appear to be somewhat unusual in being both Christian and of a liberal/leftwing persuasion. Being that way is, at times, likely to try the patients of a saint, so what chance do my patients have when I see things like this? Yes, we have yet another attempt by a Christian group to "cure" gays.
*Pauses for a moment to hit head repeatedly against keyboard*.
Let's not dwell too much on the theology side of all this but let's not ignore it either. There are precisely 6 verses in the Bible that deal with same sex relationships. As we all know though none of the Bible was originally written in English, the various books were written in different languages at different times and have been translated many different times. Hence it is not surprising that those same verses can equally be read as dealing with abusive sexual relationships or even be dealing with priestly codes of behaviour.
This whole episode is particularly personal to me, I'm not gay myself but the attitude of many main stream churches to homosexuality is one of the reasons why I am not a regular church goer. It, along with a number of other issues, has put me off somewhat. And I'm not the only one. There are plenty of left/liberal Christians out there who are as uncomfortable with the church as I am. And yet, in recent months I have started to feel the urge to return to church more often and be part of something a little more communal and not just keep my faith to myself. I have been encouraged by people like Rowan Williams and his views on the environment and by John Sentamu and his criticisms of the BNP. The Main stream church has seemed, recently, to be increasingly reflecting views that I share and passionate about.
Yet we then come back to things like this conference and the constants obsession with gays. In some ways it is like the conservative party. I know a number of people who are believers in the free market who simply can't bring themselves to vote conservative because of their obsession with Europe. I'm struggling with the church because of it's obsession with gays.
The fact is that some people are gay. That's the way they are. It harms no one and there is no solid theological basis for opposing it. So can't we all just grow up and let it go? If the church want to get the likes of me back through the door then in taking a step forward in recent times they have just taken two steps back.
Anyway, Akela is off to camp with his tribe of horrors this evening. I may knock out some kind of anti Daily Mail rant before I go but other than that I'll see you all Sunday night!
While not wishing to blow my own trumpet I do appear to be somewhat unusual in being both Christian and of a liberal/leftwing persuasion. Being that way is, at times, likely to try the patients of a saint, so what chance do my patients have when I see things like this? Yes, we have yet another attempt by a Christian group to "cure" gays.
*Pauses for a moment to hit head repeatedly against keyboard*.
Let's not dwell too much on the theology side of all this but let's not ignore it either. There are precisely 6 verses in the Bible that deal with same sex relationships. As we all know though none of the Bible was originally written in English, the various books were written in different languages at different times and have been translated many different times. Hence it is not surprising that those same verses can equally be read as dealing with abusive sexual relationships or even be dealing with priestly codes of behaviour.
This whole episode is particularly personal to me, I'm not gay myself but the attitude of many main stream churches to homosexuality is one of the reasons why I am not a regular church goer. It, along with a number of other issues, has put me off somewhat. And I'm not the only one. There are plenty of left/liberal Christians out there who are as uncomfortable with the church as I am. And yet, in recent months I have started to feel the urge to return to church more often and be part of something a little more communal and not just keep my faith to myself. I have been encouraged by people like Rowan Williams and his views on the environment and by John Sentamu and his criticisms of the BNP. The Main stream church has seemed, recently, to be increasingly reflecting views that I share and passionate about.
Yet we then come back to things like this conference and the constants obsession with gays. In some ways it is like the conservative party. I know a number of people who are believers in the free market who simply can't bring themselves to vote conservative because of their obsession with Europe. I'm struggling with the church because of it's obsession with gays.
The fact is that some people are gay. That's the way they are. It harms no one and there is no solid theological basis for opposing it. So can't we all just grow up and let it go? If the church want to get the likes of me back through the door then in taking a step forward in recent times they have just taken two steps back.
Anyway, Akela is off to camp with his tribe of horrors this evening. I may knock out some kind of anti Daily Mail rant before I go but other than that I'll see you all Sunday night!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Comments Moderation Policy
Hi folks, once again sorry for the lack of postings right now, I will be getting back to fighting the good fight shortly, just got a lot on at the moment, work, camp, buying a house etc. However I thought I'd better come on here and explain for my regulars that I have been forced to turn comments moderation on to full, something I had wanted to avoid.
The reason for this being that one of my older posts has been picked up on by this individual, Mr er.... football crazy. Mr F has accused me of, inter alia, being a "kiddy fiddler", a "gary glitter wanabee" and of hanging around in play grounds in nothing but an unbottoned mack. I fear that he has been reading too much Richard Littlejohn, who knows?
While I am unsure whether or not I should feel sorry for this pitiful individual or just consider him to be a total dick I do know that I would rather not see such things on my blog hence the moderation feature is being switched on for the foreseeable.
TTFN
Hi folks, once again sorry for the lack of postings right now, I will be getting back to fighting the good fight shortly, just got a lot on at the moment, work, camp, buying a house etc. However I thought I'd better come on here and explain for my regulars that I have been forced to turn comments moderation on to full, something I had wanted to avoid.
The reason for this being that one of my older posts has been picked up on by this individual, Mr er.... football crazy. Mr F has accused me of, inter alia, being a "kiddy fiddler", a "gary glitter wanabee" and of hanging around in play grounds in nothing but an unbottoned mack. I fear that he has been reading too much Richard Littlejohn, who knows?
While I am unsure whether or not I should feel sorry for this pitiful individual or just consider him to be a total dick I do know that I would rather not see such things on my blog hence the moderation feature is being switched on for the foreseeable.
TTFN
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Stick that in your pipe and smoke it
When you are an unashamed leftie in a country where the Mail and the Sun shift 8 million copies a day between them you can sometimes feel a little under the cosh. There is that constant feeling that you are having to defend yourself and constantly justify the fact that you might actually give a toss about other people.
In particular I am constantly told by many people, my own parents included, how refugees and asylum seekers bring nothing to this country, how they are just lay abouts and all out to get everything they can out of "soft touch Britain". I keep getting asked to justify my position that this is not the case. I don't think I should have to, if someone is going to state that person x is a work shy lay about arsehole who wants to convert us all to Islam and eat our swans then I am firmly of the opinion that it is up to them to justify their position and not just regurgitate the cobblers they read in the Mail
However today I am going to justify my position, with a story that is very personal to me. This is a link to the latest edition of Scouting magazine which is the internal magazine sent to all scout leaders. Not a particularly reviting read for those of you of a non scout persuasion but if you scroll through to page 32 you will come across the story of Aline Afazali, a refugee from Rwanda. She fled Rwanda during the civil war in the 1994, using many of the skills she had learned a scout just to survive.
She came to the UK as a refugee and is still here. She is now a scout leader with 3rd Potters Bar scout group in Hertfordshire. She, like many others that come to this country, is doing something for her community and giving back what she has taken. And so next time I'm told what a waste refugees are and how they should all just be rounded up and sent home I shall point to this woman and ask why she should be sent home.
And why is this story so personal to me? 3rd Potters Bar is where yours truly was a cub, a scout and a young leader.
Paul Dacre and co, stick that in your pipe and smoke it.
When you are an unashamed leftie in a country where the Mail and the Sun shift 8 million copies a day between them you can sometimes feel a little under the cosh. There is that constant feeling that you are having to defend yourself and constantly justify the fact that you might actually give a toss about other people.
In particular I am constantly told by many people, my own parents included, how refugees and asylum seekers bring nothing to this country, how they are just lay abouts and all out to get everything they can out of "soft touch Britain". I keep getting asked to justify my position that this is not the case. I don't think I should have to, if someone is going to state that person x is a work shy lay about arsehole who wants to convert us all to Islam and eat our swans then I am firmly of the opinion that it is up to them to justify their position and not just regurgitate the cobblers they read in the Mail
However today I am going to justify my position, with a story that is very personal to me. This is a link to the latest edition of Scouting magazine which is the internal magazine sent to all scout leaders. Not a particularly reviting read for those of you of a non scout persuasion but if you scroll through to page 32 you will come across the story of Aline Afazali, a refugee from Rwanda. She fled Rwanda during the civil war in the 1994, using many of the skills she had learned a scout just to survive.
She came to the UK as a refugee and is still here. She is now a scout leader with 3rd Potters Bar scout group in Hertfordshire. She, like many others that come to this country, is doing something for her community and giving back what she has taken. And so next time I'm told what a waste refugees are and how they should all just be rounded up and sent home I shall point to this woman and ask why she should be sent home.
And why is this story so personal to me? 3rd Potters Bar is where yours truly was a cub, a scout and a young leader.
Paul Dacre and co, stick that in your pipe and smoke it.
The Emperor's new clothes
Tell me, am I the only one who will laugh hysterically if Newcastle United get relegated? The whole things is so cliched. They've turned to Alan Shearer based on the fact that he is Mr Newcastle, but what management experience does he have? Absolute zero.
I feel sorry for the Newcastle fans, I honestly do, but the fact remains that the club is suffering from utterly incompetent management at the very top who is bungling from crisis to crisis and it's got to the point where it's actually quite funny.
I'm predicting that this afternoon that Shearer will get the players utterly fired up to the point where they will make enough mistakes that they'll get utterly turned over by Chelsea.
Update
*Smugly watches final score with feeling of superiority*
Tell me, am I the only one who will laugh hysterically if Newcastle United get relegated? The whole things is so cliched. They've turned to Alan Shearer based on the fact that he is Mr Newcastle, but what management experience does he have? Absolute zero.
I feel sorry for the Newcastle fans, I honestly do, but the fact remains that the club is suffering from utterly incompetent management at the very top who is bungling from crisis to crisis and it's got to the point where it's actually quite funny.
I'm predicting that this afternoon that Shearer will get the players utterly fired up to the point where they will make enough mistakes that they'll get utterly turned over by Chelsea.
Update
*Smugly watches final score with feeling of superiority*
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Match Report
England 2
Ukraine 1
Well what can you say about that? Vintage England all over!
*Dodges howls of derision and rotten fruit hurled by readers*
What’s that you say? You disagree with me? You think that eating rusty razor blades while being whipped with lengths of hose pipe for ninety minutes would have provided better entertainment than that? Well I guess your right, but I’m assuming that most of you good readers just endured it from the comfort of your own sofa, I actually saw it unfold before me in the flesh, and trust me, it was a whole lot worse than that.
Nevertheless it was still vintage England, bear with me while I explain.
Players out of position (Gerard, Wright-Philips), inexplicable team selection (Lennon, Lampard), made to look technically inferior by yet another country, star player does best to get sent off (Rooney), turgid performance that was like watching grass grow and yet somehow, by hook or by crook they grind out a result with two big swirling high balls into the mixer, knock down from the big man, goal!
It’s absolute classic stuff.
Play like that against someone like Brazil or Italy and we’ll get murdered.
England 2
Ukraine 1
Well what can you say about that? Vintage England all over!
*Dodges howls of derision and rotten fruit hurled by readers*
What’s that you say? You disagree with me? You think that eating rusty razor blades while being whipped with lengths of hose pipe for ninety minutes would have provided better entertainment than that? Well I guess your right, but I’m assuming that most of you good readers just endured it from the comfort of your own sofa, I actually saw it unfold before me in the flesh, and trust me, it was a whole lot worse than that.
Nevertheless it was still vintage England, bear with me while I explain.
Players out of position (Gerard, Wright-Philips), inexplicable team selection (Lennon, Lampard), made to look technically inferior by yet another country, star player does best to get sent off (Rooney), turgid performance that was like watching grass grow and yet somehow, by hook or by crook they grind out a result with two big swirling high balls into the mixer, knock down from the big man, goal!
It’s absolute classic stuff.
Play like that against someone like Brazil or Italy and we’ll get murdered.
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