Samuel, I thoroughly enjoyed your response to the undignified, self-centered and dark comments by the POTUS. I especially appreciated how you addressed his remarks as an anomaly in an otherwise glorious Jamboree 2017. On a much more personal note, you freed me from the hold that a very negative Scouting experience had on me for over five decades.

I attained the designation of Queen Scout in Canada in the early 60s. As a Cub Scout , I was sexually molested by a pedophile Scout Leader. Several other boys, including my younger brother, were victims of this predator. The man was also a family friend and although my father was a police officer, I kept my silence. The Scout Leader died many years ago and despite the rumors swirling in the community, he passed away without punishment.

The way that you describe how the world of Scouting has changed encouraged me to let go of my own anomalous experience. I kept our two children out of the Scouts but I will encourage them to let their three young children participate because the values of modern Scouting are values that will serve them well in the global community.

Thank you.

    John A. Whitesell, PhD

    Written by

    Organizational Psychologist, Entrepreneur & Writer