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What Are Your “Little Platoons” Up To?
Exploring the differences between the various factions on the Right is one of our favorite pastimes on Ricochet. Libertarians vs. SoCons. Establishment vs. Tea Partiers. Everyone vs. Mike Murphy!
But deep as these divisions go, all conservatives agree that society best organizes itself from the bottom-up and that the most interesting and important stuff happens at the bottom. Individuals, families, churches, and organizations aren’t just part of society, they’re what society is about and what it’s for. They don’t need to be coordinated or corralled toward some singular purpose defined by the government, nor do they exist at its pleasure. Rightly understood, government’s purpose is to provide the basic infrastructure and rules necessary to allow its citizens to live, work, trade, and self-organize and then to get out of the way so they can get about life’s real business.
So what (non-political) little platoons are you part of and what are they up to? I’ve managed to miss the last few meetings, but I’ve been involved with South Shore Astronomical Society, on and off, for a number of years. Besides giving enthusiasts a place to geek-out at lengths that might otherwise endanger domestic peace — though it serves that function, too — the group provides free educational programs for families, camps, and scouting organizations. There’s nothing more fun than showing someone the Galilean Moons, the rings of Saturn, or the Hercules Cluster for the first time, and knowing that you’re giving parents something fun and edifying for the whole family for the price of of gas money is incredibly gratifying. I’ve also been a co-leader with the Appalachian Mountain Club, though it’s been a few years since I last led a hike.
My wife’s efforts are far more impressive and substantive. Through our church, she’s helped organize multiple fundraisers for human trafficking victims and launched an awareness campaign in our city on the subject. More impressively yet, she designed, wrote, and taught a multi-session program for recent graduates on the basics of resume-writing, professionalism, and how to build useful and remunerative carer. Its second series starts up next month.
Many Ricochet members live even busier lives yet somehow get even more done, and have even organized to help each other. What’s keeping you and your communities busy?
Image Credit: Flickr user Daniel Thornton.
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You can add my pastor, a Rico member (though a lurker). We were the leaders who took the pack to resident camp. In fact, his older son will make 1st class soon…turned him on to Trail To Eagle camp for next summer.
Oh, Annefy: while you may not have been as directly involved in Scouting as your husband and it is your sons that get the recognition of the Eagle rank, you sell yourself too short. Scouting is a family vocation and mothers are indispensable, so, good on you.
I am not happy about the emergence of female Scoutmasters. The rationalization given is that men aren’t stepping up, but that’s not an excuse nor do I believe that’s correct.
My take is that more and more female Cub leaders wanted to follow their boys into Boy Scouts, put pressure on the BSA, then the BSA caved.
I think you are right, FG. And one of the reasons men aren’t stepping up (at least in our troop) is because there are so many mommies involved. I had hoped my sons would remain involved after they’d “Eagled out” but to a one the moms were mentioned as a reason they were glad to leave it behind.
Boys Scouts is a wonderful organization, but I worry about its future.
My wife makes baby quilts for the neonatal units of local hospitals, and full size quilts for the Wounded Warriors Battalion of the US Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, CA (each Marine who goes through extensive rehabilitation at the battalion’s center at Camp Pendleton is provided with a handmade quilt for their rehabilitation, which quilt they take home with them).
Not me personally, but our church (in western New York state) has several platoons in action: