Boy Scouts of America’s top executive is apologizing in the wake of the organization’s National Jamboree, during which President Donald Trump gave a highly criticized speech.
On Thursday, chief scout executive Michael Surbaugh published a lengthy letter online. In it, he offers his “sincere apologies to those in our Scouting family who were offended by the political rhetoric that was inserted into the jamboree. That was never our intent.”
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Surbaugh said the invitation to the president is a “long-standing tradition” since 1937, and assured the public that it was not “an endorsement of any person, party or policies.” Surbaugh reiterated the organization’s non-partisan policy.
He wrote:
For years, people have called upon us to take a position on political issues, and we have steadfastly remained non-partisan and refused to comment on political matters. We sincerely regret that politics were inserted into the Scouting program.
He also admitted that the jamboree was “overshadowed” by the president’s remarks, during which Trump alluded to the possibility of firing the Health and Human Services secretary, referenced his “incredible” election win and derided members of the “fake media.” Trump also regaled the audience with tales from a New York City cocktail party he attended with “the hottest people in New York.”
The Boy Scouts immediately faced heavy backlash online, which the organization can ill afford. Membership has suffered in recent years, and many attribute its struggling growth to the group’s stance on openly gay and transgender members.
In his letter, Surbaugh expressed a desire the Boy Scouts to be a unifying force in a politically divided nation.
He wrote:
While we live in a challenging time in a country divided along political lines, the focus of Scouting remains the same today as every day.
Trustworthiness, loyalty, kindness and bravery are just a few of the admirable traits Scouts aspire to develop – in fact, they make up the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
As part of our program’s duty to country, we teach youth to become active citizens, to participate in their government, respect the variety of perspectives and to stand up for individual rights.
Few will argue the importance of teaching values and responsibility to our youth — not only right from wrong, but specific positive values such as fairness, courage, honor and respect for others.
… In a time when differences seem to separate our country, we hope the true spirit of Scouting will empower our next generation of leaders to bring people together to do good in the world.
The White House hasn’t indicated a need to apologize to the Boy Scouts for bringing criticism to the organization.
In the administration’s only remarks about the jamboree, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said only that the Boy Scouts in attendance “were pretty excited that [Trump] was there and happy to hear him speak to them.”
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