2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

"175! The greatest troop alive!"  This was a cheer that I shouted many times as a Boy Scout in Eugene from 1988-95.  Today I'm a Catholic priest.  Coincidently, yesterday my father and I were speaking of Troop 175 and the scout master's fidelity to Scout policy about interaction between minors and leaders.  Scout Master "Doc" McCready always slept in his own one-man tent and no leader ever slept in the same tent as a youth.  One summer during a 3-week trip one of the youth celebrated his 18th birthday.  As I understand it, an extra tent had been carried for the first part of the trip unused.  On the youth's 18th birthday, despite grumblings, the youth had to move into his own tent because he "was now an adult."

I only caught the tail end of the program but I appreciated Patrick Boyle's commentary, particularly his final comments about the role of parents.  More importantly, I am reminded of the fantastic example of due diligence of my Scout Master Dr. Tom McCready.  May I be as faithful as he in carrying out my duties.

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
view in context