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Show I ti Free Press - Wednesday, February 5, 1992 - Page 2 Editorial offers opportunites to young women Pageant ' vou'ea Scouting fetes 92 years of teaching boys values In 1909, William Boyce, a Chicago publisher who was traveling in London became lost in a London fog. A young boy offered to help him, and led him to his destination. Boyce thanked the lad and offered him a tip, only to have it refused. The boy explained that he was a Boy Scout, and it was his duty to help others. Robert had originated the Scouting movement two years earlier in Great Britain as a means to help teach boys the principles that would help them become great men. Impressed with the Scout's actions, Boyce met with Baden Powell during his London visit, and the two laid the groundwork to bring Scouting to the United States. A year later, on Feb. 8, 1910, Boyce established the Boy Scouts of America, with the help of and other early scouting leaders. Saturday marks the 82nd birthday of Scouting in America and throughout this Scouting Anniversary Week, the date will be marked with ceremonies and recommitments to the Cub Scout Promise, the Boy Scout Oath and the Explorer Code. Scouting was founded to provide values for young men values largely based on honor and duty. And for the past 82 years it has done exactly that. Scoutinghas seen some difficult times recently in part because of its dedication to its original mission as envisioned and as brought to by Lord the United States by William Boyce. Some feminist groups and gay rights activists, which have made it their mission to challenge traditional values have, as a matter of course, challenged Scout Baden-Powe- ll Baden-Powe- Baden-Powe- ll ll Sometimes our local lovelies have to be coaxed to enter the Miss Lehi Pageant and I for one have wondered why our young ladies are so reluctant to join ranks and compete for the prestigious title. Being a pageant contestant is one of the most positive experiences a girl can have. Consider this: Thousands of young women throughout the nation have committed themselves to pageant competition just for the opportunity to earn scholarships to the college or university of their choice. I know of one girl who paid for her own college education with scholarships earned at Miss Pageants. She admits that, even though she had to lose weight, and had to "sacrifice" prepare a talent, every was not a sacrifice, but a huge benefit in her ing as well. It was bound to happen. There were no girls in the Boy Scouts, argued the feminists. And homosexual men were rejected as potential scout volunteer leaders. In addition, a handful of unscrupulous adults in recent years have used the Scouting program to gain the trust of the boys, and then betrayed that trust with contemptible practices. The resultant fallout has hurt the program as well as the young men. And the program has responded. An increased emphasis on trained scout leaders from scout masters to merit badge counselors has helped to weed out unscrupulous volunteers in the program. And a program for girls sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America has helped head off some of the opposition of feminists. But the program can expect continued opposition from some sources. Nevertheless, through all the turmoil, Scoutinghas remained faithful to its roots. Scouting continues to provide a strong, youth program for boys doing exactly what the program was set up to do. It plays an important role in our communities and leaves a lasting impression of the importance of duty, honor and "helping other people at all times." It is now doing this for some 4.3 million youth members and more that 1.5 million adult volunteers. In the past 82 years, an incredible 88 million young people have been involved in Scouting, and it has left a lasting impression. It is important that Scouting remain true to its roots. Without this strong orientation to traditional values, Scouting just wouldn't Scouting. - life. What I've always feared has happened. And I suspect you'd expect to hear this from value-base- d hand-me-dow- a woman. But I'm afraid I'm becoming my mother. And that's scary. Not that old Mom wasn't a good sort. She was the best. But she was a bit of a worrier, perceiving danger around every corner. "Look out for this," she would say, or "Watch out for that." Mom prided herself on her driving ability, but she always drove slowly. And now I look at the things I say and do, and I see my mother. I've already been accused of driving too slowly, by all sorts of people. Fellow workers who have passed me on the freeway comment on my lack of speed. Of course, I drive a Metro, designed for economy rather than velocity. But even that can't explain how Kaye's ancient Volkswagen bug could leave me in when I thought I was going the dust on the speed limit, and maybe then some. My daughter's boyfriend passed me in November comingback from the band competition in Pocatello, and turned my on the interstate into something of an apocryphal story. Tom, the ad man, makes fun of my driving since he passed me when we were both headed to Lehi, he at the normal speed and me on turtle mode. My wife is hardly sympathetic. "You don't always drive slowly," Sharon tells me. "You only drive slowly when we are in a hurry." I did not know I did that. But my mother did the same thing. However, it wm't driving that made me certain I was becoming in my old age. It was a trip to Tibbie Fork to go sledding. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Well, everyone else had a good time, even Lauren, who at times has proved to be something of a scaredy cat. Everyone, that is, except myself. I had never been sledding at Tibbie Fork when the path across the reservoir was frozen over and there was good access to the tubing hill on the other side. But when we arrived a few Saturdays ago, the path was three-cylind- er 5, slow-pokine- ss old-ladyi- By TOM GRIFFITHS I went inside and was met by a handsome young woman. She acted a bit snob- bish. "Yes, lad," she said, "is there something you want?" "Aye, now, there is something I want. I want to buy that blazer in the window." She gave me a look like you would give a tramp asking for food. "We have a sale on Welsh flannel shirts," she said, without a smile in her voice. "We have your size for two shillings, 11 pence." I suddenly felt grown up. "It's the blazer I want and I've the money to pay for it." She went to the window and reached in and fetched out the blazer. "It's a bit dear," she said. "It will cost you four shillings and sixpence." I reached into my pocket and brought out five shillings which I laid on the counter. She put the blazer in a bag and gave me my sixpence change. She also gave me a queer look as I left the shop. I took the blazer home and showed it to Mam. "It's for the Whitsun Celebration," I told her. She gave me a look that only mothers can give. "It will be a wonderful Whitsun," she said. school-ager- - - kee, Wis.! Most political, religious and business leaders of Milwaukee are seconding the notion of everybody dressing like bums if-T- lil 1991 Los Angeles Times Syndicate because, they say, they don't know what else to do. Recently Shanika Diggs, 13, an eighth-gradon the south side of Chicago, was murdered for her jacket. When columnist Bob Greene mentioned er Shanika, he received numerous calls and letters blaming the girl. They said' she should have known better than to wear a jacket that other young people might admire. The columnist, at first indignant, evenshould tually acquiesced: "A school-age- r not wear anything that might cost him his life." And it's not just Anybody wearing a gold neck chain on public trans school-ager- s. believe iG By BETTY FOWLER Instead of the attitudes that sometimes emerge in contests, the girls help each other, support each other and cheer for each other. The comraderie that develops between the girls is beautiful to dog-eat-do- g see. The Miss Lehi Chairman and committee people are "there" for the girls all the way. - They help with talent selections; they help',' they put pageant wardrobes together, and afterl-thwork with the contestants before and pageant. The pageant contestants are never alone ' in this worthy endeavor. Once the decision'' has been made to enter pageant competition and the contract has been signed, each' girl will be assigned a mentor, or a pageant friend who will aid, advise and assist the' girl every step of the way. If the girl is nervous about preparing a talent, help is available; if the contestant is worried about the cost of being in the pag-- i eant, she need not worry, her pageant friend, or mentor, willhelp with costumes, lessons, or advice. Winning should not be the main criteria; not trying is the role of a quitter. If you enter, you are immediately a winner you've set a worthy goal, one which' will net you many positive experiences. e r . . knocking them down and brushing them' aside as the tube followed its inevitable' course.' "Sorry," laughed the insincere kids on the tube, who were having a wonderful time and really didn't care who got killed in the" process. "That'sokay,"laughedmywifeandchild, who were also having a wonderful time and ' really didn't care if they got killed in the process. "Why don't you watch where you're go- The - Editor's Column " By MARC HADDOCK ing?" I hollered. Dirty looks were shot my way from all open and the tubing hill was very active. It looked like everyone was having so much fun, we just wanted to join in. So with everyone grasping onto their plastic sleds, we made our way across the frozen lake, enticed by the sounds of fun coming from the other side. It must have been like this when the sirens tried to lure Ulysses and his ship onto the rocks. Only Ulysses had his men cover their ears so they couldn't hear, and he had them lash him to the mast so he could hear the siren's call, but do nothing about it. We had no such protection; and we were lured over the frozen water and into the madness. Our group reached the other side and started climbing the hill, up to where the sledding looked and sounded exciting. My wife and daughter were ahead of me, as I was bringing up the rear and making sure no one broke through the ice, fell into the water, got trapped beneath the ice and drowned. But I wasn't very worried. Then ahead of us two irresponsible kids on a tube came shooting out of the tubing area and directly towards us. They were going fast and following the path of least resistance. You can't guide an innertube you simply let it go and let nature and gravity determine its course. "Look out!" I yelled at my wife and children. I leaped deftly to safety at the same time and watched as my wife looked at me and tried to figure our what I was talking about. It was while she was looking at me that the tube hit her and my daughter, . sides. We kept climbing, got to the first level of sliding fun, and it was all downhill from' ' there. kids a had ball.The little the Oh, down low, holding tightly to their sleds and zooming down the mountain. The older ones went to the top of the. tubing runs and they were way up there,' and took these steep and treacherous tub- -' ing runs sliding on their plastic sleds. Sharon had fun, too, enjoying trip after; trip down the hill, and even taking one ' the very top. But I found myself compelled to stay" near the little ones and direct traffic. "Watch out!"Fdyell atone as a tube came' near. "Move!" I'd command as I was certain the train of six tubes was bound to run one ofmy precious ones down and leave little more than a bloody spot in the snow. "Come here!" "Don't move!" "Get out of ;? the way!" "Look out for that tube!" By the end of the sledding session, I was exhausted, and I hadn't climbed a single hill, but emotionally I had exhausted my- v ones-staye- - run-fro- self. I had just stood around for two hours at the bottom of the hill yelling warnings to friend and foe alike, and only garnering' dirty looks and scorn for my efforts. I can't really explain it. I'm not afraid of the snow. In fact, I'm a speed-demo- n on . i ' pair of skis. But here I was, a man acting just like my mother. That doesn't bode well for the future. And what would my father have said?! ? ld Promote literacy, urges Relief Society You're never too busy to promote literacy, says a very busy woman, Elaine L. Jack, president of the Relief Society, the international women's organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints. A good place to start is your own home, she says, then expand your efforts to the community. To help celebrate the Relief Society's 150th anniversary during 1992, its three million members will initiate community service projects around the world. Many of these projects will focus on literacy. "We are sadly mistaken if we think the ability to read and write is only taught at school," Mrs. Jack says. "Just as other important attributes like honesty and dependability are learned within the family, the seeds of literacy are best sown in the home." Parents play an important role in influ- - No punishment makes crime easy Paul Harvey News If you ask our State Department where you should vacation, you will be warned about Guatemala. even if you are In Guatemala City careful to stay in the "nicest" part of town your car is likely to be stopped and stolen by armed men. Robberies and assaults are double what they were a year ago. Nobody knows precisely how many becausefew people trust the police enough to file complaints. But holdups and attacks on tourists have soared. A terrible place to visit and you'd certainly not want to live there. And yet... In another city an organization of par-- . ents concerned about violence is advising s to dress as shabbily as possible. "Don't wear anything anybody would want." Because in that city so many youngsters have been robbed, beaten even killed by somebody determined to steal a watch, a purse or a jacket. And "Guatemala City USA' is Milwau- a. -- What can turn a man into old woman? Clothes makes the man? Browsing It was many, many years ago yet I remember it so well. It was a summer morning with the sun just over the top of Rysog Mountain. Rowland Davis and his mother were walking down the street on the way to church. Mrs. Davis was abit of lovely with silk stockings and high heel shoes. But it was Rowland who caught my eye. He was dressed to perfection. His father was the manager of the steel mill in our city and could afford nice things for his family. Rowland was dressed in long trousers with a perfect crease down the legs with black oxfords that shone as the sun touched them. But it was the blazer he was wearing th at got my attention. It was white trimmed with blue cricket bats embroidered over his breast pocket. I watched them until they turned the corner by Judge Mathews' home then I thought of myself. I wore knickers that buttoned below the knee, an d m ine were baggy from long wear. My shirt was gray Welsh flannel. Mother made them with long tails so we could wrap them around our backsides to keep us warm. My shoes, if you want to call them that, from my father. He were had resoled them and installed a good supply of hobnails to help them last. I must admit that what I saw this morning had a lasting effect on my life. I resolved that someday I would have long trousers with creases and oxfords that reflected the sun's rays. But this was like wishing for the stars. We were poor and such things were out of the question. But time can change things. In a year or so I went to work and started to earn some money and father gave me some spending money. Instead of spending it, I saved it, and there came a day when I had enough money to buy a blazer. One Saturday morning I went down to the village shopping center and stopped at the men's clothing store. There in the window was a blazer just like the one that Rowland wore. , Girls benefit in other ways, too. The friendships that flourish when contestants have a common goal are lifetime affairs. jl portation in Chicago is almost certain to get robbed or worse. In the most fashionable beauty salon in Chicago, clients are warned not to wear jewelry and to keep their coats and scarves and gloves in sfght. Irma Walker is founderofMilwaukee's Parents and Youth Concerned About Fashion and Violence. She says, "When I drive by a person on the street who is wearing one of those sports team jackets, my heart goes out to him, because I know at any second another kid could put a gun to his head." She goes around to malls, begging merchants to take those clothes off the racks and put them away. She has erected billboards around Milwaukee that say: "Dress smart, stay alive!" I gave some old suits to the Salvation Army and was told they might be "too nice for any homeless person to wear safely." What's happened to us is the same thing that happened in Guatemala City: "Crime is made easy and almost never punished. In the United States only seven percent ofrobbers are ever arrested and only one in a hundred gets punished. And those punished are in jail for an average of only 5.4 days! encing literacy skills within their families and communities, Mrs. Jack says. The following s iggestions may seem basic, but she maintaij.s that small efforts can reap big rewards in the literacy arena. In the home 1. Parents can set a good example by reading regularly at home. Whether it's newspapers, books or magazines, when children see their parents reading, they have more inclination to read, too. 2. Read aloud to children from the time they are small. Research has shown that reading aloud is the best way to assure that your children will be good readers and good learners. It also builds vocabulary and listening comprehension skills, and stimulates a child's imagination. The cuddling and attention can help forge a powerful bond. parent-chil3. Make reading important in the home. Turn off the TV andregularly set aside time to read together as a family. Whether you read the classics, the scriptures, poetry or the Sunday comics, reading together can be a rewarding adventure for all members of d the household. 4. Have books available in the home which are appropriate and interesting for small children. Children should have books which are theirs to play with, chew on, sleep with. This kind of familiarity creates a solid foundation for a future love of books. 5. Get a library card. Go to your city or county library often and take your children along. Most libraries have a special children's section. Participate in free library activities, story time, etc. 6. Make sure your child is supplied with a variety of interesting reading materials. At first, you can ask the local library staff for suggestions. Or, peruse the children's literature section yourself. If you like the story and pictures a book contains, chances are your child will too. 7. As they get older, let each child read what interests him or her most. Whether the subject is dinosaurs, sports or even comic books, the important thing is to encourage the reading skill. Reading should be fun, interesting and informative. 8. As children begin school, take an interest in the reading they are doing in the classroom. Help children with reading assignments, and give support to your children if they want to read books for extra credit. Praise your children for every effort to read. Let them know you think it is important. 9. If your child is havingtrouble reading; make every effort to find out why. Don't assume a child is dumb or "slow." A child might need eye glasses or might have p. learning disability such as dyslexia. Make sure he or she gets the extra help needed: remedial classes or special tutoring. Remember, reading is simply more difficult for some children. Practice can make a difference and extra supervised practice time at home can be a big help. i 10. Teach your children that reading is V valuable skill, not only for entertainment,' but for practical reasons: so you can drive car (reading highway signs, road maps), so you can compete successfully in the workplace (filling out job applications, or read; ing technical manuals), so you can cook (reading recipes, labels on food packages)! In the community J 11. As a parent, take an interest in the reading program in your neighborhood school. Be active in the PTA or in thd operation of your local school board to assure that your school has a good reading program, enough text books and that the school library is 12. If possible, volunteer your services t4 your local school. Nearly all schools need volunteers who will spend time with the children, giving instruction and encouragement on a basis. 13. Get involved with a literacy program in your community. Most areas participate in this national effort to improve literacy levels. To see how you can help, contact your local library, high school adult educatioij program, or check the phone book under - well-stocke- d. one-to-o- ne J "Literacy." 14. If your own reading skills could use a boost, don't be shy about reaching out te get the help you need. Many communities have the resources to supply free one-oone tutoring to anyone who wants to learn to read and write.. Contact your local li brary, high school or community college, of check the phone book under "Literacy" te learn about the programs available in your nj area. Mrs. Jack says literacy brings long-teradvantages toboth individuals and communities. "Literacy brings opportunities for good jobs and for continued learning and advancement throughout a lifetime," she asserts. "When we promote literacy, we also promote expanded personal possibilities in every area of life." m |