The Most Influential Conservative Book Ever Produced in America
February 9, 2010
Joe Carter
Yesterday marked the centennial anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, an offshoot of a movement which began in Britain under the leadership of General Robert Baden-Powell and was brought to America by publisher William Boyce.
It's fitting that a publisher established the institution since it produced what is arguably the most influential conservative book ever published in America.
Of course, the Boy Scout Handbook is rarely regarded as being a conservative book. That probably accounts for why the Handbook has managed to continuously stay in print since 1910. If it were widely known how masterly the the book inculcates conservative values, it would, like Socrates, be charged with corrupting the nation's youth.
Cultural critic Paul Fussell once wrote that the Boy Scout Handbook is "among the very few remaining popular repositories of something like classical ethics, deriving from Aristotle and Cicero." Indeed, it is literally a vade mecum on virtue ethics. Consider, for example, the Scout oath:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
And then there is the Scout Motto ("Be Prepared") and the 12 point Scout Law which includes the politically incorrect admonition to be reverent: "A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others."
Such an earnest and irony-free worldview is naturally antithetical to the South Park-style mock-the-world moronity that pervades the culture. In a society that combines libertarian Me-ism with a liberal nanny state that suckles "men without chests," it is not surprising that the ranks of Boy Scouts are dwindling (Scouting is down 11 percent over the last decade). But we should be cheerful that an institution where self-sacrifice and manly virtues are encouraged manages to survive at all.
Fortunately, Scouts and their handbook remain what good conservative institutions should be: deeply, irredeemably, and unapologetically anachronistic.
Joe Carter is the web editor for First Things
Comments:
2.9.2010 | 2:08pm
Joseph White says:
As a scoutmaster enjoying the centennial celebration of scouting, I found this article to completely miss the mark of the Spirit of the Scouting. The survival of scouting as a social movement over the past century is directly related to its ability to resist such political ideological sequestration as you have presented. As we scouts abide by both the Scout Oath and Scout Law, we ritually inculcate the ideals of democracy in these young men. We are truly conservative in our approach to using natural resources and liberal in our respect and acceptance of the beliefs of our fellow men. Politcal ideologues from all parts of the spectrum always attempt to capture righteous ideals for their own purpose. The decline of scouts in the past years is partly due to a loss of social values characterized by the television shows you mentioned in addition to other false gods such as our additive religion of youth sports. Republican Govenor Rick Perry of Texas indicated that scouts had been "wussified," which has resulted in its deminse. Perhaps he has not seen these young men put up tents in driving cold rains, pack 25 miles with 50 pound packs, or endure hours of scorching heat climbing 2000 feet of desert elevation. What I've learned from scouting is that every young man has his own trail to Eagle and no one does it alone. Scouting is not anachronistic, however this article is.
2.9.2010 | 2:23pm
FRANK IMOSSI says:
It does not take long for a new Boy Scout to learn the most important things a human being needs to learn. These are the four entry requirements: The Scout Promise. the Scout Law, the Scout Motto and the Scout Slogan. These point to a way of life based on eternal and immutable truths about mankind found in the teachings of all true religions and self-evident to all critical thinking seekers, religious or not. I would therefore not consider the Scout Handbook as conservative since its source precedes conservatism. A new Scout who does his best to learn and apply these principles in his Scouting career and in his entire life has been given an great treasure indeed!
2.9.2010 | 2:58pm
Jim Ryland says:
I have trouble understanding how scoutmaster White could have so misread both the spirit and the intent of the article above. The ethical and moral values embodied in Scouting, both Boy and Girl, are timeless, but definitely out-of-step with the mainstream current culture. Scouting is no more, nor less, anachronistic than our Judeo-Christian faiths and values. To be labled as such is a badge of honor in the current world.
2.9.2010 | 5:16pm
Michael Ortiz says:
As a scout, I was always taught to respect the beliefs of my fellow men, but I was never required to accept them. For that matter, the reverence upheld by the Boy Scouts seems to be specifically monotheistic. For instance, I recall that the Handbook used to contain the Philmont grace ("For food and for raiment, for life and for opportunity, for friendship and fellowship, we thank Thee, O Lord") though I'm not sure that it does now. But the language everywhere employed is implicitly monotheistic. Amazingly, within this monotheism, the scouts manage be respectful of differing beliefs without conflating religions.
I think it is certainly fair to say that the BSA is a conservative institution in the broad sense of the word "conservative", with respect to its views of right ordering of the human person, of the role of men (as men) in the family and in society, and of man's duty to his country and to God. It is also unabashedly "anachronistic", in the sense that Joe seems to have meant it, namely, resistant to change. I would certainly say that the ideals it inculcates are considered by many or most to be humorously old-fashioned. (So are the neckerchiefs.)
How can I describe what I owe the Scouts? Our school was like The Lord of the Flies, where the norm was a vicious and puerile premature adulthood, and I cracked and buckled under the strain. In the Scouts, though, I was almost a normal boy. I learned something about manly virtue, self-sacrifice, and fellowship. I learned how to use a compass, how to cook over a fire, and how to direct rainwater under a napping scoutmaster's tent without the scoutmaster being aware of it. Perhaps if our public schools were more like the Boy Scouts and less like a dystopian assembly line, I would have been a much happier and healthier young man.
I think it is certainly fair to say that the BSA is a conservative institution in the broad sense of the word "conservative", with respect to its views of right ordering of the human person, of the role of men (as men) in the family and in society, and of man's duty to his country and to God. It is also unabashedly "anachronistic", in the sense that Joe seems to have meant it, namely, resistant to change. I would certainly say that the ideals it inculcates are considered by many or most to be humorously old-fashioned. (So are the neckerchiefs.)
How can I describe what I owe the Scouts? Our school was like The Lord of the Flies, where the norm was a vicious and puerile premature adulthood, and I cracked and buckled under the strain. In the Scouts, though, I was almost a normal boy. I learned something about manly virtue, self-sacrifice, and fellowship. I learned how to use a compass, how to cook over a fire, and how to direct rainwater under a napping scoutmaster's tent without the scoutmaster being aware of it. Perhaps if our public schools were more like the Boy Scouts and less like a dystopian assembly line, I would have been a much happier and healthier young man.
2.9.2010 | 7:48pm
Patrick (gryph_ says:
It was a mistake for the Scouts to get into the whole thing with athiests and gays. They wandered right into the culture war minefields and got sucked up into the partisan age. Notice that the only quote Joe found was from a politician!
Absolutly nothing was gained, and much was lost, by the decision to exclude gay and athiest boys. Really, name one benefit. It made the Scouts intolerant, not merely of belief, but of people. It marred the spirit of generosity that the scouts had been known for.
Absolutly nothing was gained, and much was lost, by the decision to exclude gay and athiest boys. Really, name one benefit. It made the Scouts intolerant, not merely of belief, but of people. It marred the spirit of generosity that the scouts had been known for.
2.9.2010 | 8:42pm
TeaPot562 says:
A good article. Unfortunately, avoiding premarital sex is apparently no longer considered being part of "being morally straight." Somewhere in the last fifty years it seems to have been dropped. (a retired 2nd Class Scout - couldn't pass the 1st Class Swimming requirement.)
TeaPot562
TeaPot562
2.10.2010 | 10:43pm
Bender says:
Not to nitpick -- I'm sure the Boy Scouts are just great (I was a Cub Scout for a while) -- but I guess it is all in how you define "conservative."
Since much of modern conservativism traces it's roots back to the Founding Fathers, who were technically classical liberals, I would think that the most influential conservative book ever produced in America would be Common Sense.
Since much of modern conservativism traces it's roots back to the Founding Fathers, who were technically classical liberals, I would think that the most influential conservative book ever produced in America would be Common Sense.
2.11.2010 | 12:33pm
HCSKnight says:
Great article that speaks clearly with the original and correct meaning of words.
re Joseph White: a perspective typical of one who has no true foundation other than what one feels.
re Patrick (gryph_: 100% wrong. It's not by accident that the majority of child sexual abuse cases by priests [over 80% in the recent US crisis], teachers, and others in positions of authority over children are male on male. AND that's when the groups are mixed. Patrick confuses and distorts the meanings of charity, tolerance and generosity. No one was persecuted Patrick. And no one has a right to be a part of a private group that chooses to exclude them.
re Joseph White: a perspective typical of one who has no true foundation other than what one feels.
re Patrick (gryph_: 100% wrong. It's not by accident that the majority of child sexual abuse cases by priests [over 80% in the recent US crisis], teachers, and others in positions of authority over children are male on male. AND that's when the groups are mixed. Patrick confuses and distorts the meanings of charity, tolerance and generosity. No one was persecuted Patrick. And no one has a right to be a part of a private group that chooses to exclude them.
2.12.2010 | 8:32am
Vern says:
Patrick, what was gained is that there is a group that stands up for what it believes and does not let today's Godless society dictate to it. If scouting had done anything other then what it did, it would just be another watered down society.
3.12.2010 | 8:28pm
George says:
I suppose the KKK should let African Americans join? The democratic party should have a republican as its leader? Vern is absolutely correct. Private groups should be able to exclude anyone they wish, whether it is racist sexist or any other offensive discriminatory practice. And dont feed me that line of bull about boyscouts being partially publicly funded, plenty of discriminatory and offensive agencies receive funding.
3.12.2010 | 10:40pm
J says:
A conservative tome? Hardly! A main premise of the scouts is to help others in need. Another is to be respectful of those with different beliefs! The conservative label in this country has been hijacked by those who couldn't work harder if they tried at keeping the down-trodden down and for whom those with moral beliefs other than their own are, at best, wrong and in need of righting and, at worst, evil enemies and the destroyers of "our way of life".
I was a scout for most of my childhood and I believe the erosion of scouting has to do with the quality of leadership at the local levels and the out-right disdain typical scouting families have come to have for the current wave of peoples from cultures other than theirs becoming a part of our society.
I was a scout for most of my childhood and I believe the erosion of scouting has to do with the quality of leadership at the local levels and the out-right disdain typical scouting families have come to have for the current wave of peoples from cultures other than theirs becoming a part of our society.
3.13.2010 | 6:58am
vesey says:
It's interesting how people can take things like the Bible and Boy Scout manual and see either conservatism as the writer and some of the commenters have or
see liberality as Joseph White has. Call it what you want but either you accept the moral code or you don't. If you choose to ignore or pick and choose which of the moral concepts expressed in both sources rather then all of it then you are not a scout or for that matter a Christian. Scouting has tried to stay true to it's moral roots(Bible) so it's reluctance to include atheist and gays is not intolerance
but simply maintaining it's values. In a world so often unsure of what it stands for i find this refreshing.............
see liberality as Joseph White has. Call it what you want but either you accept the moral code or you don't. If you choose to ignore or pick and choose which of the moral concepts expressed in both sources rather then all of it then you are not a scout or for that matter a Christian. Scouting has tried to stay true to it's moral roots(Bible) so it's reluctance to include atheist and gays is not intolerance
but simply maintaining it's values. In a world so often unsure of what it stands for i find this refreshing.............
5.27.2010 | 3:42pm
John O says:
The old Scout hand book. I had this very same copy as a Boy Scout. It was a great book. I've read the entire book many times. By reading and understanding the principles in this book it helped me to become an Eagle Scout. When I was in Boy Scouts, the troops that ran well had good leadership. My favorite Scoutmaster was a liberal. He never revealed his politics, he left them at his home. All that was taught by him, was what was in the Scout Hand Book. Tolerance was one of the great things that was taught through the moral codes of the book. To advance as a Scout, you had to prove you knew and understood the laws and codes of the Boy Scouts.
12.11.2010 | 12:54am
kevin says:
i worked as a camp counselr for 4 years at two seperate camps and in that time i worked with aithist muslim buddist and christian people both men and women and i never found any type of agenda in what we did. what i did find was a group of good hard working people who worked very hard to make a fun and educational camp and a unity that helped through times of extrem stress and danger such as a double stabbing at a nearby gas station and a car that rolled four times through our fence. when we did our jobs right it did not matter. i ran a rifle range with a gun control advocate. while i think that the scouts seen to attact a more conservitve crowd, i dont think that the scouts as a whole are a politically motivated group.
