I do not agree with your opinion that since we are a private organization we can discriminate. Society has put much too much of an emphasis on this word "discriminate."

You mentioned our oath (not the Laws). The Laws are: A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. You forgot to mention in your editorial that our oath ends by the phrase "to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight." Morals are a large part of what we teach boys in scouting.

This is a very hard subject to discuss, but let’s take a moment exploring discrimination. In this society, too many people have abandoned moral values. Too many people have an insatiable need to live for the moment, and pay for their actions later — no matter what the situation (crime, sex, you name it). Now that most interest groups are urging people to "come out of the closet," we seemingly are sending a message that all in society should give free and absolute acceptance of lifestyles considered to be abnormal. The issues of same sex marriages, racial inequality, and we can go on … sicken me.

You can turn on CNN every day and hear someone pointing the racial slander finger, sexual discrimination, etc. I see these labels as excuses, tools of incompetence. These groups have cried wolf one too many times in my mind.

I am proud that the BSA took a stand … all the way to the top court in the nation. Unfortunately, we forget that kids that begin to feel they are gay at whatever age are in the minority. For a moment, take a look at the boys in a troop that do not wish to be affected by a gay scout, or by a gay scoutmaster.

Why do we need to think about being honest about sexual orientation? I know that the question of why people become gay is still unanswered. Now we hear that gay couples wish to be married … let’s make it a love issue now, not sex. Unfortunately, it is a sex issue …

The BSA upheld their ethics by going to the Supreme Court and fighting this case … they fought for what they believe in … Maybe we should start a Heterosexual Task Force … or a NAAWP … so that our voices and moral issues can be heard. We’ll have a "normal people parade" …

Bottom line … I love to experience new things. But having my son or daughter begin their training in life by someone who doesn’t embrace the mating ritual prescribed by God and nature is not on my list of "experiences I’d like to have."

It is a choice to be gay, but it is also a choice to be around people who are gay, and I prefer not to be associated with people who are. You cannot liken this to race, color, or creed. I look at this issue as: Johnny is gay, so unfortunately he will never have the opportunity to earn the Eagle Scout Award; Johnny only has one leg, so he cannot play baseball. Maybe, someday, in utopia, we will have a more tolerant world.

Everyone in this country is entitled to certain inalienable rights. One of those rights is for an organization like the BSA to have complete control over who is allowed to be a member.

Respectfully submitted,