Everything I learned in life I learned in the Boy Scouts

My son Jacob and I went on our first Boy Scout camping trip together this weekend. It was an 11 mile canoe trip down the Rappahannock river in Virginia. Perfect days, good companionship and an icy swim in the river when we capsized in the rapids at mile 8.

But I was reminded of my days as a Boy Scouts and what valuable training it afforded me. You see the Boy Scouts are not really a "camping" organization although they teach a great deal of woods-craft. They are not a political organization - although you read a great deal about their struggle in the courts with various charity sponsors and the courts.

What the Boy Scouts of America are is represented by the various pledges and oathes a Scout is bound to uphold and by which he is to live his life.

Take the Scout Motto: Be Prepared!

Simple and yet very profound. Be prepared for a rainy day - save your money. Be prepared for life's hardships - get an education. Be prepared for the unexpected - make contingency plans - rehearse - research - plan. How many of the many mistakes that I have made in my life - both big and small - could have been obviated by a little bit of preparation.

How about the Scout Slogan: Do a good turn daily!

How many of our days go by without our being able to do a good turn? Where is the altruism of our early days? Not the automatic payroll deduction of $25 that goes to the local mega-charity-complex of companies that vaccum money out of our communities only to spend 65% of that money on overhead and other fundraising costs. I'm talking about finding someone to help and then helping them - person to person. I admit that it is virtually absent from my life and all the other people of my generation who are busy chasing their own tails.

How about the Scout Law: A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Revererent!

Driving back from the river this weekend, one of the thousands of drivers jamming the freeway north into Washington, DC cut me off. As I suppressed the urge to lay on the horn and vent my obvious displeasure verbally at this vehicular misanthrope, I had to ask myself - under which category would this act fall? Helpful? Friendly? Courteous? Kind?

In today's world of drive by shootings and road rage, I figured out that it might only be considered Brave - and even then, not very smart.