fandomhigh | Accelerated Scouting - Week 4

"Good afternoon Campers!" Dale said cheerfully. "For those of you keeping track you have not only earned your Second Class rank you've also received your First Class rank as well. You should be proud of yourselves. After completing these ranks, you should be adept at participating in all of the activities in the Boy Scout program. You are all literally First Class Scouts.

I have merit badges to award all of you:
Bridge Carson: Hiking, Knot Tying, Wildlife Management
Beesly, Pam: Hiking, Animal Hydration Management
Bennet, Claire: Hiking, Wildlife Management, Swimming, Canoeing
Blaze, Johnny: Hiking, Wildlife Party Management, Underwater Basketweaving
Bolton, Troy: Hiking, Swimming, Theater
Casablancas, Dick: Hiking, Tobacco enabling Wildlife, Swimming, Canoeing, Dancing, Arranging Flowers, Vulgarity,
Delgado, Elizabeth: Camping, Multi-tasking, Swimming, Canoeing, Underwater Basketweaving
Ellison, Jim: Hiking, Wildlife Management
Harvelle, Jo: Hiking, Supernatural Animal Care, Swimming
Hood, Gwynn: Swimming, Canoeing, Underwater Basketweaving
Mizuno, Ami: Hiking, Wildlife Management, Swimming, Canoeing, Underwater Basketweaving
Namine: Hiking, Animal Skin Cancer Prevention, Swimming, Canoeing, Underwater Basketweaving
Pevensie, Peter: Hiking, Animal first aid, Nudity Hermitage, Theater
Robin: Hiking, Knot Tying, Wildlife Management, Swimming, Underwater Basketweaving
Sheppard, John: Hiking, Wildlife Management, Swimming, Canoeing, Underwater Basketweaving, Kamikaze Dating
Sherman, Liz: Hiking, Wildlife Management, Swimming, Canoeing
Tam, River: Hiking, Wildlife Management, Swimming, Aviary Studies, Skeleton Care
Wexler, Tabitha-Ruth: Hiking, Wildlife Management, Swimming, Canoeing, Underwater Basketweaving, Kamikaze Dating
Whistler, Abigail: Hiking, Wildlife Management, Swimming
Winchester, Dean: Hiking, Orienteering, Swimming

"Now today we're going to have a special treat for you all. Today we will be focusing on your citizenship merit badges and for that I thought I'd bring in a few guest speakers to discuss what it means to be a citizen in your community, your nation and your world."

"So let's give a hand for our speakers, first up..."

[OOC: OCD is coming]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Citizenship," Steve began, "carries with it several responsibilities. We have to obey the law, pay taxes, not dodge the draft. But citizenship also carries the right to political participation, and it is therefore the duty of a good citizen to take advantage of this right. Don't just stand by and let others make decisions for you. Get involved. Ask questions. Write letters to your congresspeople. Once you're old enough, vote, for the love of God--if your nation has voting, that is. If not, your citizenship mileage may vary. As citizens of any nation, you have a privileged status that has been denied to a lot of people throughout history. Use it."

Naminé raised her hand, pleased to see her former Arts and Crafts professor. "Mr. Rogers, hello again. If we aren't citizens of any nation exactly, how do we become one?"

"Hi, Namine," Steve said with a smile. "It's very nice to see you again, as well. It depends, requirements vary from nation to nation. Frequently you will have to live in the country you intend to become a citizen of for a certain length of time, then take a test to show that you know about the country. Or you can just marry a citizen. Don't do that just to get citizenship, please, as your life should not be a sitcom plot."

"I'm sorry I'm not in your class again," she smiled. "It was a delight, last term. Do you think that this is a country one should try to become a citizen of? You've mentioned before that it has a great deal more for it than against it, to your mind at least."

"Absolutely," Steve said. "In fact, my parents immigrated to this country from Ireland to make a better life for themselves and, eventually, me. America is still a country where anyone can make something of themselves."

"I've noticed as much, just here on this island," she said. "Thank you, sir. And do feel free to stop in at the Café now and again."

"Is citzenship during wartime different than during peace?" Peter asked. "How do you think one's duties as a subject change?"

"In ways it is, and then in ways it isn't," Steve said. "As I said, part of being a citizen is asking questions, so I would never expect a good citizen to support a war they feel is wrong. They should speak out--within the framework of what is acceptable. Treason is unacceptable. Draft-dodging is also unacceptable, because you are consigning someone else to take your place, someone who doesn't choose or have the choice to, say, flee to Canada.

"And I'm confused by your second question. Are you conflating being a subject in wartime to being a citizen in wartime, or are you asking the difference between the duties of a subject and a citizen? I'm afraid that in either case, I've never been a subject, and a subject is an entirely different thing than a citizen, so I'm not sure I'm qualified to discuss that."

Robin pondered, then raised his hand. "Sir, about the draft, what if the war in question is, well of questionable morality and motivation? What if you feel quite strongly that the war is wrong?"

"Doesn't matter," Steve said, crossing his arms. "The draft is fair and impartial, and if your number comes up, you serve. Because if you don't, someone else will be chosen to serve in your place. You could send someone else to die in your place. And that is unacceptable for any good and decent person."

Cowed, Robing nodded meekly. Though he didn't quite agree, he couldn't think of a proper argument.

River folded her arms. "The elected goverment may still chose to act in ways which risks the lives of the citizens."

"Yes, they can," Steve agreed. "I don't pretend any government is always right. Or even always good. That's why a good citizen has to ask questions, challenge the government. Maybe even stand against the government, if the situation is bad enough. The government is not the nation."

Accelerated Scouting - Week 4 - Tuesday, Period Five

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers

Re: Second Speaker: Steve Rogers