Letter: All groups should applaud Scout ruling

Monday, July 10, 2000 | 9:18 a.m.

The ruling was not about who can be leaders in the Boy Scouts -- it was about the right of an organization to set standards of membership. In the Scouts' case, morality is one of their bench marks, and homosexuals were extremely vocal about their disagreement with the policy.

Across America, though, members of all groups should breathe a sigh of relief. This includes those who belong to homosexual clubs and groups, because they can continue to exclude those who disapprove of their behavior from being members. In less emotional examples, Chevy Truck Club members can continue to ban those with Ford trucks from joining, and the Mensa Society can continue to discriminate against those who do not score highly on IQ tests. Even the Sierra Club can continue recruiting tree-hugging environmentalists while sawing pro-logging lumberjacks off at the knees.

Did you hear that the vote was only 5 to 4 in favor of the Scouts? I read that one justice argued the wisdom of allowing the First Amendment to trump a state anti-discrimination law. Funny thing about that comment.

Isn't it the states that aren't allowed to override the Constitution, which gives people the right to freedom of association? Thank goodness at least five justices figured that out. There would not have been much to celebrate this Independence Day had the vote gone the other way.

MIKE MILLER

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