Boy Scouts of America: Difference between revisions

Scouting and Boy Scouts are well known throughout American [[Scouting in popular culture|culture]].  Eleven of the twelve men to walk on the Moon were Scouts.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://www.scouting.org/factsheets/02-558.html | title =Astronauts and the BSA | format = | work = | publisher =Boy Scouts of America | accessdate =2006-10-09}}</ref> The "[[Pinewood Derby]]," for half a century "a celebrated rite of spring," has been named part of "America's 100 Best" by ''[[Reader's Digest]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=26667 | title =America's 100 Best: The 2006 List | format = | work = | publisher =Reader's Digest | accessdate=2006-10-10}}</ref> President [[Gerald Ford]] said, "I can say without hesitation, because of Scouting principles, I know I was a better athlete, I was a better naval officer, I was a better Congressman, and I was a better prepared President."<ref>{{cite web | last =Rumsfeld | first =Donald R | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url =http://www.defenselink.mil/speeches/2006/sp20060526-13138.html | title =Speech: Boy Scout National Meeting Breakfast As Delivered by Secretary of Defense <nowiki>[</nowiki>and Eagle Scout<nowiki>]</nowiki> [[Donald Rumsfeld|Donald H. Rumsfeld]] | format = | work = | publisher =United States Department of Defense | accessdate =2006-11-01}}</ref>  For a more exhaustive list, see the [[List of notable Scouts]] and the [[List of notable Eagle Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)|List of notable Eagle Scouts]].

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the largest [[youth organization]] in the United States, has policies which prohibit or restrict certain people from membership and participation. Some of these membership policies are controversial and have resulted in the dismissal of Scouts and adult Scout leaders from the BSA or a [[Scouting]] unit for being an [[atheist]], [[Agnosticism|agnostic]], or [[homosexuality|homosexual]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inclusivescouting.org:8000/bsa/cases/|work=Inclusive Scouting .NET|title=Case Studies|accessdate=2006-08-31}}</ref>