Last night, I watched "Scout's Honor" which is the story of Steve Cozza who started a campaign to prompt the Scouts' to be more accepting of gays. Steve was 12 at the time, and his attempt received an enormous amount of publicity. Tom Shepard, an openly gay filmmaker, heard about the effort, contacted the family and was allowed to film some of the events. Which then became part of "Scout's Honor."

The film also traces the efforts by several Scouts who were ousted for being gay. One of whom was James Dale of New Jersey who sued, and whose case was heard last year before the U. S. Supreme Court. The Court ruled in a 5-4 decision in June of 2000 that such exclusion was not unlawful.

The Boy Scouts of America refused to participate in the documentary or to respond to questions. An odd decision from a PR point of view. At the very least, it makes them appear unresponsive.

It's difficult to understand the BSA's standards since other youth groups have no such policy of denial. The Boy Scouts of Canada accepts gays. An article in the May 22 edition of "Advocate" indicates that the following groups have nondiscrimination clauses: Girl Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, National 4-H Council and YMCA Indian Guides.

In July of last year, "Rolling Stone" ran an expose of the BSA which showed it to be a large business. The article mentions that the BSA has an income of $649 million in 1998 and total expenses of $556 million. It also relates the strong ties between the BSA and the Mormon and the Roman Catholic churches which together sponsor about 22% of the total number of Scouts.

One major conservative group, American Family Association, attempted to prevent the program from being shown. The web site ran an alert on their home page telling members to contact their PBS station if the program was scheduled. The question entered my mind, "If the BSA have nothing to fear, why should the program not be shown." But the AFA apparently view the program as "gay propaganda. (BTW: AFA is also upset about the new animated film "Atlantis." Too new ageish.)

Some years ago I went to a meeting at the local synagogue to discuss "Schindler's List." One person asked the Episcopal priest attending what could an individual do to prevent something like the holocaust. His answer was profound in its simplicity. "Make certain that in every meeting in which you participate, there is someone not like yourself." A simple but very powerful remedy.

The rabbi mentioned that there was a view in Jewish folklore that at any point in time the world is morally held together by 36 righteous individuals. These hidden saints, in Yiddish lamedvovniks appear in times of peril to offer support. His personal theory was that Schindler was such a person.

Is it possible that a similiar context exists in other spheres besides that of Judaism? In this case a psychic orb that encompasses those of us of two spirits with a set of "hidden saints" destined to emerge during periods of danger. If so, then Steve Cozza can be said to be among the righteous.

PAX!