In the news

0? I guess? Those were probably all purged by Johnson. Career over country and all that.

I have no love for the Conservative party. But this culture war harms us all, so I wish people from that sort of background would speak up, but who would do it?

If you compare pre WW1 to Post WW1 versions of Scouting for Boys you will see a change in focus from preparing boys to administer an Empire to International friendship. International Jamborees and Kanderstag for example.

I'm a Scout Leader BTW happy to talk about the reality of the Association today which, in my experience is not racist or homophobic.

I'd guess if you look at most pre-WW1 statues, the people they feature are somewhat problematic given they weren't usually handed out for being civic minded. Usually you had to exploit a lot of people, kill a lot of people, or both to have your likeness shoved on a plinth. Someone like William Wilberforce (I grew up in Hull so one of the first to come to mind) is an exception rather than the rule.

There's plenty of people who are somewhere in the grey area but perhaps getting rid of all the outright evil bastards would be a start.

I was in the girl scouts in the Netherlands years ago, wasn't for me, but generally seemed friendly enough. But I say that as a white person in a then very white town membership was not varied.

It is more the general discussion if historical figures that did a good thing (scouting) deserve a statue because they also did problematic things (fighting colonial wars) and had some views that are now not ok.

I think not, but it doesn't mean I think negatively about modern scouting :)

Exactly what I was thinking. One of the few pubs within a two mile radius of home I definitely have no intention of frequenting. (My "local" is the Sun in Sands, Blackheath. Eek! They've probably got a statue of Enoch Powell next to the pool table.)

I have a pint in there every now and again. Probably a bit harsh to tar all patrons with that particular brush.

Fair enough. Doesn't always appear that welcoming but maybe I'll pop in.

Do you educate your scouts about Robert Baden Powell in full?
I grew up near Poole and was a scout, this was the first I knew.

https://www.scout.org/node/52292/introduction would suggest the organisation as a whole doesn't

tar all patrons with that particular brush.

More blackface?

Farage booted from LBC. More time to focus on saving the white race.

My defining memory of being in the Scouts was being made to feel very unwelcome (until I left) because I hadn't been christened

Its a rough around the edges South East London boozer. I'm not saying there aren't cunts in there, but there's a lot of nice people too.

In your defense, that pub has been associated with criminality for centuries. It used to be a proper highwayman hangout and more recently was a location indirectly involved in the largest robbery every to take place in the UK. It has history.

I lold

More time, but with less reach, I would hope. Maybe he’ll, finally, move to America to be nearer his saviour..?

They have chilled a bit and you don't have to believe in god anymore (although how much this is discussed with the typical new beaver I don't know) but you aren't allowed to be a republican.

Someone needs to tell them there is no such thing as a British Subject anymore:

British subjects must promise to do their „duty...to the Queen‟.
https://members.scouts.org.uk/documents/AdultSupport/Promise/FS322016.pdf

I mention Baden Powell less than once a year , normally only pointing out he was actually left handed but Victorians made children write right handed.

I tend to miss out the Nazi bits, the desperately social climbing mother, his early views on masturbation, the looting and his repressed Homosexuality.

OK, I'm warming. Any decent ales on tap or is it all Fosters and John Smiths? :)

That's not The Scout Association website?

I would love to say yes but I'd be a liar. They do have some drinkable ales that are well kept, but nothing fancy.

I did 6 years as a Beaver Leader and would discuss with the Beaver and their parent which version of the promise they wished to make, I've used most variations.

British subject etc...…..it's our club and our rules pinko commies like you are probably welcome in The Woodcraft Folk or restart the Kibbo Kift https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibbo_Kift

Not the UK one, no. It's the World Scout Bureau which is apparently secretariat for the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

I think The Scout Association is a member of World Scouts but the page seems to be broken so I'm not sure.

Sounds like you are missing out the good bits.
But in seriousness perhaps there are important lessons there.

Finally!

What took them so long.

pinko commies like you are probably welcome in The Woodcraft Folk

They are. I've been involved with Woodcraft Folk on an off for 35 years or so. Chosen mostly for the boys and girls together although Scouts seem to have caught up with that now. Daily Mail readers are also welcome in the folk and it makes for much more interesting fireside chat when you have a spread.

The bits I think are important are kids getting to be outside (eg camping but not exclusively) with their mates which I think is common to Scouts, Woodcraft Folk, Guides and a bunch of other organisations.

restart the Kibbo Kift

There are rumours it is still active.