Gordon Barlow

Souvy. This is the sort of comment that keeps me glued to this thread! Thanks for the chuckle.

BristolUK

Male or female horse?

Paul_Shepherd

Nice try Bristol!! im not walking into that minefield!!

morpeth

I guess it is out of fashion to believe in freedom of private organizations to set their own membership policies, and that less government better than more government. Yes I think there are too many laws, and the tendency of those to the left, and to the right to impose their views on others I think very disturbing.

Shard

Thanks for imposing your isolationist view. Not disturbed at all by all it.

morpeth

Yes let's look at the words carefully. I wrote simply that every is entitled to their own opinion whether they wish to joining an organization. Your comment about the Boy Scouts "overuling" someone's opinion about whether they want to join the organization doesn't make any sense whatsoever, with all due respect. By that logic every organization would need to change their rules of membership according to whatever a particular person thinks. That is so absurd I am sure that isn't what you meant.

If a parent doesn't like the Boy Scouts, then just don't join and stop wasting society's time and money on such things trying to force the views of one group on another- I would much rather see time and resources devoted to more serious matters.

Just anecdotal observation locally- yes the local Boy Scout's troop run by people generally of faith, meet in a church, say the pledge of allegiance, and haven't yet had to address all these membership issues. A general observation is that the boys attending , compared to those who don't and whose families have less traditional values, have less problems with drugs and behavior and certainly treat girls better.

As far as the courts yes they are their to interpet the law ( not make social policy), so maybe the law is wrong.

morpeth

Quite the opposite to "imposing". I am not saying that not admitting girls to Boy Scouts is necessarily a good or bad thing ( though my experience with Boy Scouts generally has been favorable), but they should right to determine their own policies in my opinion. If someone doesn't like it, form their own group.

Shard

Yes, agree clubs have a right to determine their own policies. But I don't have a problem with government, actually, I rather like it. Common good and all that.

BristolUK

So there's one organisation that allows girls and boys; another that insists on a minimum age of 11; another 12, another 13 etc

Maybe another that doesn't allow black kids; another that doesn't allow Jews; another blue eyed blonds only; One for left handed kids another for those who swing both ways; A non-smokers group while another is free to smoke and a third for passive smokers; One organisation for 'bright kids' and another for the rest; one group wants the kids of lone parents only while another insists on two parents and throws the kid out if their parents separate and heaven help kids born out of wedlock; another group for kids born the right side of the tracks and another for the kids of blue collar parents.

They want to make their own rules and discriminate according to how they see fit, that sort of thing?

morpeth

If an African-American youth group set up specifically to help young African men, why shouldn't they be allowed to have policies that exclude girls or non African Americans ? If an organization set up specifically to improve math skills in young women and provide encouragement and scholarships, it should be force to admit boys ? If the Daughters of the American revolution have policies about who can be a member, and someone objects that descendants of those of the War of 1812 should be members, should they be ?

The idea that people shouldn't be allowed in a private organization to set their own rules of membership is one that indicates a totalitarian mindset that simply in my opinion shouldn't be encouraged. Sure some organizations we may not like their rules, but isn't that part of believing in a free society ?

Souvy

Careful. She may have one of these.

Home-brew your coffee and your booze: Keurig at work on single-serve alcohol machine - Business - CBC News

BristolUK

It's already been said that the rules still have to conform to laws.

Really, what is the point in having a freedom to exclude whoever the hell you like and have a thousand groups all excluding some sort of characteristic about someone else but each of them only has 6 members? They'd never get a clubhouse built.

Is a practicing paedophiles only group okay?

morpeth

if the law says the boy scouts cant be exclusively boys then the law is wrong. It is absolutely amazing to me how many people feel so comfortable handling over so much control to the government.

Just out of curiosity, which is the law that states a private charitable organization cannot set rules on who or who isn't a member ? Christian Universities require affirmations of faith. If I recall for sports facilities in colleges they can be gender specific but need to be "equal" but isnt that just to get federal funds ? Many patriotic groups such as DAR and Society of Holland Dames have specific rules for admission. So maybe I have missed something, but what is the law that dictates private membership rules ? Or is it IF they wish to be considered a charity for tax purposes that the wonderful federal government in its infinite wisdom decides who does what ?

BristolUK

I'll ask again.

Is a practicing paedophiles only group okay?

You're saying they should be free to molest and have sex with 3 year olds if that's what the members want.

See, if you don't allow them to have that rule then you must have a totalitarian mindset.

Dorothy

I want one. I have room on my desk for it.