October 4th, 2007 by Jemaleddin Cole

The third night at Cub Scouts was relatively uneventful. Nobody said anything about Jesus, though one of the mothers did ask me to be the leader. Since this would be in strict violation of the religious policies, I dodged out of it. I will be leading a trip to either a fire or police station early next year, but the funny part is that cub scouts outings are called “Go Sees” just like interviews for fashion models.

The evening’s “classic Jared” moment happened when Jared noticed that the older scouts were playing tug of war. They seemed to be relatively evenly matched, with one team making some slow progress. Until Jared grabbed the other end of the rope with one hand and started booking for the door pulling all of the big kids with him. If I hadn’t stopped him, he would have pulled an entire den out of the school.

5 Responses to “Third Night at Cub Scouts”

1. Until Jared grabbed the other end of the rope with one hand and started booking for the door pulling all of the big kids with him. If I hadn’t stopped him, he would have pulled an entire den out of the school.

   Great kid! What a brute!

   — skank October 5th, 2007 at 7:33 pm #

2. Every geek’s dream kid: smart and a bully.

   Of course it really wasn’t fair - these kids were 9 or 10, and Jared is as big as a 12-year-old.

   — Jemaleddin October 6th, 2007 at 5:02 am #

3. I’ve been busy pondering scouts for a while now and even yesterday I was getting Ian’s hair cut (he’s 6) and some man asked me how old he is and I told him and he asked if he was in first grade, “why yes he is” I responded. He asked me if I had ever thought about scouts. I didn’t respond with, “yes, I have, but i don’t want to raise my kid around people who will judge his mother for not believing in God or to think our gay friends that he sees be affectionate to each other, are wrong.”

   I know this is a little dramatic.I’m teaching my kids about religion, but they can decide for themselves what they want to believe, if they believe at all. Ian knows I don’t believe in God but he says he does which is fine.

   The boys also know its perfectly fine for men to be with me and women to be with women. The only difference is that they can’t biologically create a child together, but otherwise they are no different than any couple.

   So, I wondered what the meetings were like and if they just talk about religion a lot. I wish there was a good alternative because I just feel their stances are SO wrong.

   — ses5909 October 14th, 2007 at 3:14 am #

4. @ses:

   “The boys also know its perfectly fine for men to be with me”

   Oh, really?! I never knew you had such an open relationship! ;-)

   I think the jeebus-quotient is really dependent on the individual scout group. I think we’re going to run into very little of it in this group, but that’s because we’re in blue-as-can-be Maryland and the group is organized through the school. Many scout groups meet at churches, and those are obviously more religious.

   Honestly, I’m probably blowing this whole thing out of proportion because I’m such an ideologue. But I also feel like I have to be protective of the ideas that make their way into Jared’ oh-so-structured mind.

   Lately Jared has decided that people ought to visit New York to see the Statue of Liberty, and he’s been griping at me all morning for us to drive up there. The last thing I need is for him telling me we all have to go to church! :-)

   I’ve never really understood the idea of allowing or encouraging kids to grow up to believe any particular religion they choose. Religious people don’t act that way - why do atheists?

   — Jemaleddin October 14th, 2007 at 2:02 pm #

5. Thanks for pointing out my typo.. I think I’d get my ass kicked numerous times if that was the case.

   re: encouraging kids to believe what they want, I’m a to each his own kind of person. I know what works for me and what my beliefs are but I’m not arrogant enough to think that what I believe is right for everyone.

   And you should get to the statue of liberty, Jared’s a smart boy. When you’re there please send me a postcard so I can check that block off my list :D

   — ses5909 October 15th, 2007 at 3:54 am #