SCOUTS: Don't blur gender roles

Yes, the good old days when boys could be boys — Frogs, Snails, and Puppy Dog tails and girls were girls — Sugar and Spice and everything nice.

In 1910, The Boy Scouts of America was founded in Washington, D.C., and two years later in Savannah, GA., The Girl Scouts of America was founded.

After more than a century helping boys and girls be the best that they can be, the powers that be have decided that boys and girls no longer need separate organizations in which to thrive doing and learning gender specific activities and life skills. This is not to say that boys and girls are not equally capable and adept in all areas of life and work. It is my opinion that preteens and adolescent boys and girls need places where they can grow into their own skin without the stresses of the coed environment. Boys and girls can really thrive in an environment where they can experiment, take risk and stretch themselves to excel in the company of their own gender.

We live in a time when the feminist movement has gone berserk, masculinity is under attack and gender identity has gone over the edge and no matter what you identify as, you are welcomed into the Scouts BSA.

Next year the Mormon Church, which has been the largest participant of the Boy Scouts, will cut all ties with the organization. I think they realize that the blurring of identity and gender roles does not bode well for our future.

WALTER MARTIN

Hayden