more on New Merit Badge, Brought to you by the letters R, I, A and A

Begin forwarded message:

From: "David P. Reed" <[email protected]>
Date: October 23, 2006 2:49:45 PM EDT
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [IP] more on New Merit Badge, Brought to you by the  
letters R, I, A and A

Caveat: about 40 years ago I earned the Scout rank of Eagle Scout;  
the goals of the scout program have always been pretty admirable to  
me (though their stances against gays and against atheism have always  
troubled me).  I don't remember all of the 20+ merit badges I earned,  
but I'm pretty sure none of them were focused on presenting one side  
of a controversial subject with content developed by interested  
parties on one side of a debate. For example, my First Aid merit  
badge was not sponsored or designed by Johnson and Johnson, and did  
not require that I learn J&J's product line of bandages and splints.

What need is met by the creation of this merit badge?   Why is there  
not a merit badge focused on, for example, the skills of musicianship  
and how to survive and prosper in the music business?   The latter  
would be far more relevant and constructive.

Next there will be a merit badge that requires Scouts to learn  
Intelligent Design.