Disbelief Over Response to ‘Good Deed’ Story

Re “A Boy Scout’s Deeds Draws Responses,” Letters, June 3:

Patricia A. Crowell’s letter should make for a great Scouting project: digging up Jewish vets’ graves and testing for homosexuality: Wouldn’t want the Star of David to accidentally land on one of those. Of course, I don’t mean this. Where do folks like Pat get these ideas?

As a Scoutmaster, it fascinates me that Scouts go out of their way to “do a good turn” for so many less fortunate people in our society. James McDaniel, far from the exception in Scouting, is doing a gentle and kind thing for veterans who happen to be of Jewish descent. Does this deserve such a backhanded remark like Crowell’s letter?

Scouters routinely help others in America, as individuals or part of groups, not demanding any repayment; this includes helping with AIDS issues, the pandemic affliction of male homosexuals and other high-risk groups. No one is questioning whether gay/lesbian organizations have the right to decide whom they have as leaders. Yet Pat is upset because the generally parent-run local organizations of Boy Scouts do not want men who have sex with other men to be leaders, and voice it. This is the parent’s “right to choose,” an oft-heard phrase in other circles. After all, these are their kids.

Homosexual groups can start their own voluntary association/scouting-type organizations consistent with their worldview; this is still a free country. However, the best interest of the boys is not their main focus, apparently. Otherwise, they would not be part of such an orchestrated effort by liberal groups and the media to take money from disadvantaged young men across America.

Len Beckman

Anaheim

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Patricia A. Crowell suggests that Scout James McDaniel might not have placed a Star of David on the grave of a homosexual Jewish veteran if he had known the veteran’s sexual preference. Did The Times print this letter to see the volume of disbelief letters it would receive?

Zane W. de Arakal

Irvine