Comments
by Java Mann 
Irony is one of my favorite
things. It’s hard to define, but I have it on good authority that nothing
Alanis Morissette lists as an example of irony in her song "Isn’t
it Ironic…" is in fact an example of irony. Ironic isn’t it? The following
however, is a wonderful example of poetic irony.
Consider please, the Boy
Scouts of America who, despite the fact that they receive hand-outs from
all level of government, have just received affirmation from the US Supreme
Court that they are a private organization free to practice discrimination
at will. One would imagine that this history making decision would have
the Boy Scouts, along with any other group that practices discrimination,
chortling with glee. But victory comes with a price.
Because the Boy Scouts is
a private organization, and because they do practice discrimination,
the state of Connecticut’s Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities
has decided (unanimously) to cut the purse strings. The Boy Scouts will
no longer receive contributions from Connecticut State employees in the
form of direct payroll deductions. It appears that Connecticut (a forward
thinking state in my humble opinion) extends civil rights protection to
gays and lesbians. Andrew Norton, the state commissioner summed it up nicely.
"The
state can’t discriminate, businesses can’t discriminate and further, the
state cannot associate with groups that do."
Needless to say, the Boy
Scouts are suing. They filed a federal lawsuit claiming they are being
discriminated against based on their views and asserting their right to
freedom of association. Translation: We are being discriminated against
because we practice discrimination.
Admittedly, the Boy Scouts
are not feeling the pinch yet. The US district Court judge who is hearing
the case has stated he will be granting the Scouts an order to return them
to the payroll deduction rolls for the duration of the case.
In their defense, the Boy
Scouts are attempting to say that they are not the only group participating
in the payroll deduction plan that practices discrimination, siting Services
for the Elderly, the National Black Child Development Institute, and Catholics
for a free Choice as other discriminating organizations. The fact remains
that the Boy Scouts are the only group that has refused to sign
the anti-discrimination statement the state requires. This makes perfect
sense to me, as members of their group are required to be honest, and signing
the statement would be a lie.
What this all boils down
to is that the Boy Scouts wanted to be declared a private group, and they
wanted the rights to practice discrimination. They got what they asked
for, and now they find they don’t like it. Private groups do have the right
to free association. They don’t have the right to expect special treatment
from the government, and when their by-laws conflict with state laws they
can expect a heapin’ helping of grief.
It could be argued that the
Supreme Court's decision in favor of the Boy Scouts is a victory, but this
is wrong. The Boy Scouts may have won the war, but they are losing battles
every day. They will lose their privileged stature and be forced to pay
to use public accommodations that they once got for free. Any government
handout they receive will be scrutinized. Their reputation will be tarnished
for years.
In the end, can this really
be claimed as a victory? .
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