Customer Reviews

Get Off My Honor!: The Assault on the Boy Scouts of America

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I am a 48 yr old Arrow of Light and Eagle Scout, Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, current Den Leader and District Trainer, former Unit Commissioner and COPE Instructor, with approaching 20 years in the program. (Which only means I been around a while and may have something to say worth saying.)
I like much of what I read in this book.

1. I agree with Jay Malmstrom that Scouting is not and has never been a Christian organization. However, the BSA has _always_ insisted that all Scouts acknowledge a Higher Being. It does not have to be God as I understand God to be (a great relief to the Christian Scientists, I am sure.) Our Promise and our Law require at least a superficial statement of belief in this Higher Power and at least token participation in some form of religion. Let us not be carried away on the wings of conservative religio-political fervor. Scouting is not an Evangelical Christian nor Conservative Republican movement. It may, at times, share common goals with either, but it has room for my Jewish, Muslim, Hindu brothers and even Roman Catholic, Baptist, and Lutheran neighbors. The point is that with regard to faith, there is room in Scouting's big tent for all people of good will. However, militant Athiests have started to pick a fight with us. They would assert their right to be free of religion to the point that we who believe anything can no longer feel free to practice and discuss our faith in public.

2. Our disagreements over homosexuality are more complex than can be presented in a book such as this. Hans does as good a job as he can to lay out the issues. Reviewer Jay Malmstrom would draw the distiction "between homosexuality and pedophilism" and complain that the BSA is alone in it's confusion about the two. I would disagree, but it is beside the point. The bitter truth is that those men who sexually abuse boys are by definition homosexuals or bisexuals, even if most homosexuals are not pedophiles. Just as I would not have a troop of Girl Scouts go camping with a heterosexual man, I would not knowingly send a troup of boys camping with a homosexual. I AM disturbed when I hear people accuse the Scouts of thereby teaching hatred. (And I have often heard this.) I was never taught in Scouting to hate or to show disrespect to others. On the contrary, I was always taught to be friendly, courteous, kind, and cheerful towards others - to be helpful to those who needed help and not just the ones like me. Though I believe that homosexuality is wrong - I have friends who are homosexuals. If my friend called me in the middle of the night to say his car had broken down on the highway 50 miles away and could I come to get him, I would go get him if I could. I think he is wrong. He thinks I am wrong for thinking him wrong. We are friends and still struggle with each other to understand and be understood. We do not hate each other, even if I am intolerant on this issue regarding Scouting.

3. Our (Scouting's) alignment and entanglement with government and other public institutions is the result of a long process of working together to the benefit of all. Those who would force Scouts out of the public places they have used, served, and often maintained for many decades are naive. The value that Scouting offers the community is considerable. In 2004 our council officially recorded over 300,000 Hours of Community Service performed, 250,000 Pounds of Food collected during Scouting for Food Campaign, and over 3,000,000 Hours of good old-fashioned Camping. My Cub Scout Den (7 boys aged 9-10) did at least 70 hours of unreported service projects last year. Are they saying this program is bad because of our stand on religion and homosexuality? Then where are the Athiest and homosexual-freindly groups that are providing this level of service to our communities?

My biggest complaint about the book is it's "in-your-face" title and cover, which I feel is antagonistic. Now, I am not asking to build a bridge, that was not the purpose of the book, but the title is a bit harsh.

ALSO I felt it's conventional conservative viewpoint was a weakness. It is a classic apologetic(apologia or defence of one's beliefs, not apology) document and skillfully written. (No, I was not expecting "It Takes a Village"!) It marshals most, if not all, of the arguments we in Scouting have been kicking around for the last decade or so, and integrates them with the views of religious and social conservatives. Though written last year, it does not reflect the more recent failures of the Far Left, such as increasing United Way Support rather than dwindling to nothing. And while the last section on what we can do is interesting, I had hopes that there would be some spark from this new flint and steel that would light a fire to illuminate some of Scouting's critics. But I cannot fault Hans for failing to do what none of the rest of us has been able to accomplish.

Zeiger, a 19-year-old college student has done a splendid job of tracing the liberal assault on the Boy Scouts of America. He points out that all other scouting programs that have allowed themselves to be separated from the guiding principles and morals present when they were founded have floundered and ceased to be a dynamic force in building tomorrow's leaders out of today's youth. I love his references to Churchill on the place of Scouts in the future of Western Civilization.

The book is sobering in that it paints the stark reality that BSA programming is being injured because of the costs required to defend themselves on two simple matters of self-determinination, including reference to "God" in their motto.

I would almost get a little discouraged were it not for two facts: (a) Zeiger gives practical ways we can support the BSA and (b) the fact that an intelligent and articulate 19-year-old is sounding a clarion call for America to return to its moral roots in all areas of public life! Very encouraging.

In this wonderful book, author and Eagle Scout Hans Zeiger explores the Boy Scouts of America, their history and principles, and the assault that they have come under from the modern American Left. Now, this is not a scholarly and unbiased look at the Scouts. Instead, what it is is an impassioned defense of the Scouts and the ideals that they hold, ideals that are increasingly out of step with the modern world - ideals like loyalty and honor.

I must say, this is a great book, one that makes an excellent case for the Scouts. Indeed, the very fact that the BSA still turns out such well-reasoned and articulate young men as Mr. Zeiger is a source of great encouragement. If you are a supporter of the Boy Scouts, and want to read about them and the assault on them, then this is a great book to get. (Indeed, if you are a supporter of the Scouts, turn to the last chapter of this book, which includes seven things you can do to support them.) I highly recommend this book to everyone!

Hans Zeiger, a 19-year-old Hillsdale College student, writes a fascinating history and social commentary on the Boy Scouts. Documenting the unchanging, solid values upon which the Scouts were established, he delves into the honorable past and current attacks on the Boy Scouts.

In the face of a modern-day assault, he writes, "honor has been nearly forgotten by a generation of Americans...products of a morally relativistic culture." Though never a Boy Scout myself, I can see where Zeiger is coming from. He makes a good argument about the necessity for the Scouts to retain their traditional honor, which he believes has been thrown by the wayside by a current "relativistic" generation.

As a fellow Seattleite (Hans Zeiger is too), I have read the attacks by the gays, atheists, and even the Seattle Times (though masked) against the Boy Scouts. Their policy is to constantly criticize and whine about the Boy Scouts in hope that they will someday give in to their demands for gay and atheist Scout leaders. Living here in Seattle, I have already heard enough of their "progressive" opinion. But Hans Zeiger writes from a different perspective. Even if you are in disagreement, it is refreshing to hear the other side of the argument.

Yes, he may be unabashedly conservative, but at least he doesn't try to hide it and feign neutrality. I like his honest, upfront style of writing, and it makes for a very good read in "Get off my Honor".

First off, while I am a long time scout and scouter, and do not like how some groups have been attacking the BSA, I don't fully agree with the author.

One glaring issue I have with the book is that the author needs to do better research. Too often he used second/third hand works instead of going to the source. If you're going to quote B-P, read his works and cite them, not someone else who quotes him from another source. I also saw several area in which the author is not knowledgable about something (he is very ignorant of the originals of Girl Scouts/Girl Guides) and should have done his home work.

While not quite eloquent Hans clearly follows the various California courts that the led to the Supreme Court decision giving control of Scouting to the leadership in Scouting.

Being a Democrat and involved in Scouting I sympathize with many of the issues that Mr. Zeiger deals with. The Scout Troop that my son is involved with has come to the determination that males that are attracted to males cannot go off alone with boys, whether Scout leaders or other Scouts. As a liberal though I am not alone... at an even lower level Michael Moore states in Dude, Where's My Country? that "pre-marital" sex is "more than probably wrong." So why can't an organization exist that 'puts on hold' kids exposure to sexuality until they are 18? Though obviously very conservative Mr. Zeiger makes his point that this is about the right to be different and that being honest from all sides of the fence should not be relative to what you "wish" to see happen.

This book is a short and fairly well written read, especially from a 19 year old.

If you feel that the Boy Scouts of America has been wronged because organizations and state agencies no longer want to subsidize it, then this is the book for you.

If you feel that the Boy Scouts of America is trying to have it both ways -- by being a private organization that can legally discriminate and yet receive public privileges -- then you will find this book to be a long, and often exasperating whine.

As you might guess, I fall into the latter category. While I was prepared that Hans Zeiger would have a pro-Boy Scout slant, he never looks at the organization introspectively as to how scout leadership changed scouting in profound and not-so-desirable ways. Instead, he attacks organizations and persons who have left scouting.

Incredibly, Zeiger accuses many of the mainstream organizations as "reflections of modern culture." On this point, Zeiger gets it right. The Boy Scout leadership's insistence upon religious litmus tests, and that "morally straight" equates to "sexually straight," etc. leaves scouting with a membership body and supporting organizations that are perilously close to the fringe. It is therefore not surprising that approximately 12% of the Boy Scouts of America membership is affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), an organization that espoused racist views as recently as 1974, and continues to profess other controversial positions that bring it under fire. Zeiger never touches upon this obvious dilemma.

That said, this is a nineteen year old boy who wrote this book (albeit a nineteen year old with the heart of an ninety year old curmudgeon). What amazes me is the lavish praise middle-aged adult men are slopping on this tome. One simpleton writes "I had hopes that there would be some spark from this new flint and steel that would light a fire to illuminate some of Scouting's critics. But I cannot fault Hans for failing to do what none of the rest of us has been able to accomplish." No kidding. I would be interested to see how this young man candidly sees his book at age 30; the fact that he can write coherently gives one hope that Zeiger is not the complete fool that many of his followers seem to be.

To its credit, the book does have some warm moments when Zeiger looks back at his years in scouting, and he does provide references sources to support many of his factual assertions. However, this book elicits more of a nervous chuckle about the sad state of conservatism in America as it moves farther and deeper into insanity.

I have never read such a well written, engaging and researched book by an author so young. It covers a very controversial issue in Scouting today. This timely book is a must read for any Scouting family.

I was disappointed. I thought it would be more about why being a Boy Scout reaching for the rank of Eagle is and honorable thing to do and that some values are timeless and why these values are important for or modern society. I believe that is true. Instead, I found it more of a gay bashing and Girl Scout bashing book. I know that Girl Scouts have changed over time, but so have the role of women.

Basically, the Boy Scouts have not changed since their inception, while the outside American culture has gotten worse and worse, morally speaking. This book explains the situation.

The author writes, "The Scouts have been fairly consistent in their views on life and associations with religious groups--the Scouts haven't moved to the right, but the middle has moved to the left."

GET OFF MY HONOR mixes Boy Scout history with recent and current event efforts to destroy the concept of traditional Boy Scout morality. The author points out that the Boy Scouts have loyally adhered to their founding code of honor and values, while the rest of the American culture has been hurtling towards self-destruction and immorality.

The two main issues of contention are atheism and homosexuality, both of which are rejected by the Boy Scouts while being paraded and promoted by the anti-Christian cultural elite of America. Where you stand on these two issues will determine how much you will agree with this book.

Historically, the Boy Scouts have done a lot of good for America, and have become more famous than would be thought possible for a private organization. Their longevity and effectiveness is due to observing their simple, yet important, codes of conduct and oaths; to be morally upright and to be faithful to God. This makes amoral groups, like the ACLU, go nuts--Boy Scout opponents despise those two core values and want to destroy morality and Christianity in the American culture.

This book has a chapter on a parallel group, the Girl Scouts, who have sold out their values under the same pressure points that the Boy Scouts are fighting against. The result for the Girl Scouts is an amoral organization that teaches selfish self-esteem for yourself, instead of selfless self-sacrifice for others. The Girl Scouts teach young girls about sex education--sans morality. The Girl Scouts also now have a huge influence from radical feminists and lesbians. A lesbian wrote a book about how being a Girl Scout is a great way to get in touch with other lesbians. These sick people want to teach America's children that morality is evil, while immorality is good. This is what the cultural battle is all about, and our children are the battleground.

The author, Hans Zeiger, is a 19-year-old Eagle Scout, but he writes like a seasoned adult. I heard the author on a radio interview for this book, and I thought he was thirtysomething. I was surprised to read in the book that he is so young.

He reminds me of Benjamin Shapiro, a young twentysomething, conservative author and political columnist, but Zeiger's writing seems more mature. Zeiger never makes sarcastic remarks about the antagonists in society, which is Shapiro's greatest weakness.

Zeiger remains respectful of people who have different ideas, even when they are wrong in principle. This must be his Boy Scout training showing through!

GET OFF MY HONOR is an important and informative book. We need to get the word out, and rally behind conservative forces, not letting the radical, liberal left to divide us and wipe out conservative thought, one small group at a time.

God Bless the Boy Scouts! God help America to be a moral nation, once again!