RUNNER DEFENDS SCOUTS ASSEMBLYMAN ASSAILS FELLOW LAWMAKERS.Byline: Amy Raisin raisin, in botany and cooking raisin, dried fruit of certain varieties of grapevines bearing grapes with a high content of sugar and solid flesh. Although the fruit is sometimes artificially dehydrated, it is usually sun-dried. Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - On the same day that local Boy Scouts helped kicked off the annual scouting jamboree in Virginia last week, the state Assembly defeated a local legislator's resolution to honor the Boy Scouts' 85th anniversary. Caught in the middle are the boys and young men who learn independence and leadership in the program - an American staple placed at the heart of a constitutional debate a year ago when the Supreme Court ruled the private organization has the right to bar homosexuals. ``It's a shame that Sacramento is becoming so liberal that lawmakers cannot pass a simple resolution recognizing the tremendous contributions the Boy Scouts have made ...,'' said Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. George Runner George C. Runner, Jr. (born March 25 1952 in Scotia, New York) is a Republican California State Senator, who represents the 17th Senate District, which includes portions of Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County and Ventura County. , R-Lancaster. Runner, who is a former Scout, blasted colleagues and ``liberals'' last week for defeating the resolution on the grounds that the Boy Scouts discriminate against homosexuals. ``The Boy Scouts are young boys being taught to be good citizens,'' he said, citing the court's ruling to uphold the group's policy. ``They should not be pawns in a philosophical war.'' While the ruling has splintered some scouting troops across the country who view the organization as discriminatory and intolerant in·tol·er·ant adj. Not tolerant, especially: a. Unwilling to tolerate differences in opinions, practices, or beliefs, especially religious beliefs. b. , scouting leaders in the Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. said local troops are thriving. ``Scouting is alive and well here, where there are families interested in teaching their youths the values scouting provides,'' said Barbara Myler, chairwoman for the Boy Scouts Bill Hart district. ``The defeat of George Runner's resolution is really a political statement on other issues,'' she said. ``(Politicians) are using the Boy Scouts to springboard other agendas.'' Tom Frohling, scoutmaster of Troop 609 in Newhall, acknowledged the politicalization of the Boy Scouts in terms of the homosexuality issue, but he stressed the fundamental purpose of scouting. ``It's a safe haven 1. Designated area(s) to which noncombatants of the United States Government's responsibility and commercial vehicles and materiel may be evacuated during a domestic or other valid emergency. 2. where boys and young men can learn to be leaders. That's what boy scouting is all about,'' Frohling said. ``Not the political question of are you or aren't you.'' A self-described left-wing liberal, Frohling said it's important for people to remember that scouting is about exploration and freedom. ``Scouting is supposed to be about the boys ..., helping them to be leaders,'' he said. ``Not helping them to be discriminatory.'' |
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