The American Spectator

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Another Perspective

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I WAS NEVER A SCOUT myself, but I was active in a rather similar youth organization, and can testify that the value to me and those I knew was incalculably great. As well as teaching valuable aspects of character such as teamwork, self-reliance and friendship, scouting skills and discipline have saved many lives and enriched many more. As early as the First World War, Boy Scouts in Britain were serving as air-raid wardens, and Sea-Scouts are said to have manned some of the boats that went to Dunkirk. They were promoting environmental conservation decades before Greens were heard of.

I don't know if John Smeaton, the Glasgow airport baggage-handler who tacked the burning Jeepster Jihadist and later issued the memorable warning to terrorists: "Coom ta Glasgie an' we'll set aboot ye!" was a former Scout, but I am sure that Baden-Powell would have approved of him heartily.

It is an interesting exercise to imagine the attitude of latter-day world leaders to Scouting. I don't mean just in regard to the obvious Scouting requirement of being clean in thought, word and deed, which might trip up Bill Clinton and certain other politicians, but in terms of an overarching attitude of mind, a kind of innocent adventurousness and idealism. Ronald Reagan, I think, in some ways -- the best of ways -- never stopped being a Scout. I can imagine Australian Prime Minister John Howard taking an interest, even accepting honoury Scouting positions and occasionally donning the uniform.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is much harder to imagine in the role -- he was too concerned with an up-to-date image, and discreet dinner-parties for the likes of "Sir" Mick Jagger were more his speed. Present British Prime Minister Gordon Brown seems too dour (Baden-Powell hated those he described as "Swots," which seems a reasonable description of Brown). George Bush? There is something Boy Scout-like about him, and I don't mean this as a derogation. Vladimir Putin? No chance, I think.

topics:
Education, Vladimir Putin, Bill Clinton, Sports, Environment, Military, Africa