Wonderland Of Wonderlands: The U.S.A
York Adams Area Council.
As we think about
tonight’s theme, Winter Wonderland, we should also think about the
other wonderlands that we have been blessed to know and experience. Here are
some thoughts to ponder…
If we
could shrink the Earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with
all existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look like this:
There
would be 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 from the Western Hemisphere (North and
South) and 8 Africans.
51
would be female; 49 would be male.
70
would be non-white; 30 white.
70
would be non-Christian; 30 Christian.
50% of
the entire world's wealth would be in the hands of only 6 people and all 6
would be citizens of the United States.
80
would live in substandard housing.
70
would be unable to read.
50
would suffer from malnutrition.
1 would
be near death, 1 would be near birth.
Only 1
would have a college education.
No one
would own a computer.
When
one considers our world from such an incredibly compressed perspective, the
need for both tolerance and understanding becomes glaringly apparent. So look
around you and embrace your fellow citizens of the world, all members of a
village called humanity, who breathe life into this planet each in a unique
manner and for only a miniscule moment in time - then leave their individual
legacies to form, molecule by molecule and compound by compound, the history
of the human race. We are one. Let's love one another, living and working
together in peace and shared prosperity.
Helpful To Others
York Adams Area Council
Lord Baden-Powell,
the founder of Scouting said this to Scouts everywhere: "I often think that
when the sun goes down, the world is hidden by a big blanket from the light of
heaven, but the stars are little holes pierced in that blanket by those who
have done good deeds in this world. The stars are not all the same size; some
are big, some are little, and some men have done small deeds but they have
made their hole in the blanket by doing good before they went to heaven. Try
and make your hole in the blanket by good work while you are on earth. It is
something to be good, but it is far better to do good". Think of
Baden-Powell's words when you promise "to help other people".
Scout’s Act Of Kindness Closing
York Adams Area Council
Cubmaster: To
end this evening, I’d like to tell you a story.
A crowded bus
stopped to pick up a bent old woman. With great difficulty she struggled up
the steps with a large basket of freshly washed laundry.
“You’ll have to put
your basket in the rear of the bus,” the bus driver said impatiently.
“I do not dare. They
do not belong to me.” The woman replied.
The driver was firm.
“You and that basket are in the way. Either stow it or get off.”
The old lady was
almost in tears when a young man arose. “You sit here, Ma’am,” he offered.
“I’ll take your basket to the back and watch it until your stop.”
The woman was
doubtful, but the bus driver was about to put her off. A second lady, sitting
nearby, said to the old woman, “That boy’s all right. Can’t you see his
uniform? I’ll vouch for him.”
The woman soon took
a seat, and the basket of clothes carried to the rear.
At her stop, the boy
gently set the basket down by her, then returned to the bus and continued on
his way.
“Who’s the kid?”
asked the driver to the second woman.
“I do not know the
kid,” was the reply, “But I do know the uniform, and you can trust it every
time.”
In this season of
giving and helping, let’s make certain we remember what our uniform means to
others and to ourselves.
Closing Ceremony
National Capitol Area Council
Cubmaster:
This is the season of lights. It is a time when the days are shorter so the
nights are longer, yet somehow things are brighter. Stores and homes are
bright with holiday lights. Thousands of homes have a single light to show the
way for the Christ child, others have candles burning to commemorate the
miracle of Hanukkah, and some light candles to honor the heritage of Kwanzaa.
Even the stars in the winter sky seem brighter at this time of year. But the
most important glow is from the spirit of goodwill that We live with
year-round in the Cub Scout Promise and the Law of the Pack. Before we all
leave to get on with our holiday celebrations, let's stand and repeat the
Promise and Law together. Happy Holidays!
