Are You Afraid to Speak?

If you’re reading this and feeling uneasy about commenting, about sharing your concerns with others, about speaking up at your lodge or council – you’re not imagining it. The fear is real. And you’re not alone.

As you read about the proposed ceremony changes, the proposed Ordeal changes, the ideological basis for the changes, and the elimination of Native American heritage, you might be thinking:

“I disagree with the proposed changes. But what happens if I say so publicly?”

That hesitation – that moment of fear before speaking – is not Scoutlike. And it’s not accidental.

This Is Not Appropriate

Scouting was built on principles

• A Scout is Trustworthy – willing and able to speak truth
• A Scout is Helpful – willing to do what is necessary to help others
• A Scout is Brave – not silent out of fear

The Evidence

In the Order of the Arrow

• Experienced OA induction experts submitted thoughtful proposals about ceremonies and programs. They were dismissed without comment or meaningful discussion.
• Lodge chiefs who attended the 2025 National Council of Chiefs (NCOC) presentation came back troubled by what they saw. Huge changes are proposed that will massively change the Order. But most only speak privately about their concerns.
  • They were not allowed to keep a copy of the proposal
  • It is understood that the proposal is being changed
  • There are only a few mentions in online OA discussion groups
    • Serious discussion is blocked by responses that it is undergoing changes
  • There is little local discussion in chapters and lodges, so few even know something major is in the works.
  • The revised proposal is scheduled to be voted on in early January 2026.
    • There has been no attempt to obtain input other than immediate responses at the NCOC.
    • No attempt to obtain feedback on the current version being considered. In fact, it is impossible to give feedback as it is kept secret.
    • Serious open discussion has been suppressed by the lack of information locally.
• When Florida’s Section announced their last Festival of Feathers, twice the normal number showed up. People wanted to say goodbye to something they loved. Yet National claims there’s “no interest” in Native American heritage.

In the broader BSA

• Churches face a choice: comply with policies that violate their beliefs, fight within the system, or withdraw their charters. Most choose a silent exit.
• The LDS completely withdrew in 2019, the largest single sponsor, representing hundreds of thousands of Scouts. Few asked publicly why.
• The UMC dropped from over 10,000 chartered units to about 6,600 in just two years following policy changes. The cause is obvious but rarely discussed openly.
• Parents withdraw quietly rather than object to combined troop policies, gender ideology training, or other policies that cause them concern or conflict with their beliefs.
• The U.S. Military is considering withdrawing support. Scouters complain and hope it will not happen. But no one talks about why.
• District and Council Scouters know not to discuss the real reasons membership is falling, pretending that membership drives can solve issues,

This atmosphere of fear is profoundly unScoutlike. And it reveals something important about what’s happening.

The fears are real

• Question the ceremony changes? → you’re against improvement
• Defend the Ordeal? → you’re not modern
• Support traditional Scouting methods? → you oppose progress
• Concerns with mixed gender situations? → you’re against girls in Scouting
• Challenge broken promises by National? → you’re a troublemaker
• Speak about declining membership? → you’re part of the problem
• Many privately agree there are issues, but won’t discuss them publicly

The pattern is clear: dissent is not welcome. It’s suppressed.

Why This Matters

• Bad decisions go unchallenged – the ceremony proposals move forward because nobody dares object
• Problems grow worse – membership collapse continues because the real issues can’t be discussed
• Good people leave – LDS withdrew completely, UMC dropped 4,000+ units, churches choose exit over voice, good Scouters disappear
• Families vote with their feet – rather than fight a system that punishes honesty, they simply withdraw
• Truth becomes “controversial” – obvious facts become unspeakable

Fear-based control is fundamentally incompatible with Scouting’s values.

Scouting teaches young people to think independently, speak truthfully, and stand for what’s right. An organization that operates through fear and silence cannot teach these virtues.

You’re Not Alone

If you’re feeling this fear, understand that many people reading this feel the same way.

They see some of the same problems you see. They have similar concerns. They don’t speak up because they fear the consequences.

The silence isn’t because people agree. It’s because they’re afraid.

• The lodge official who privately informs you that the ceremony changes would be catastrophic but won’t disclose this in meetings.
• The pastor who explains to the church board why they can’t sponsor troops but doesn’t want conflict with the council.
• The parent who pulls their Scout out but gives a polite excuse rather than the real reasons.
• The district or council Scouters who know that discussion is taboo.

They feel it. They’re afraid. And they think they’re alone.

Breaking the Silence

This is why these websites exist. This is why comments here allow pen names. This is why we don’t verify identities.

I have chosen to say it first.

I am willing to stand publicly because I cannot be threatened the way others can. I’m retired. I’ve received my honors. I have direct knowledge from Dr. Goodman that gives me historical authority National cannot dismiss. I created the Elangomat program – they cannot rewrite that history.

But more importantly, I am not willing to watch Scouting be destroyed by an ideology that operates through fear and silence.

What You Can Do

You don’t have to stay silent.

• Comment here using a pen name if needed
• Share these articles with others who need to know they’re not alone
• Speak up in your lodge or troop when you can do so safely
• Document what you’re seeing
• Support others who speak honestly
• If you cannot speak publicly, at least be honest with yourself and those you trust about what you’re witnessing

The Stakes

This isn’t just about ceremony changes or policy preferences.

It’s about whether Scouting will be an organization that teaches young people to think independently and speak truthfully – or one that teaches them to conform and stay silent.

• If we cannot speak honestly about obvious problems, we cannot fix them.
• If we cannot challenge bad decisions, they will continue.
• If we operate through fear rather than principle, we teach Scouts that power matters more than truth.

That is not Scouting. That is not the Order of the Arrow. And that is not what we should accept.

A Final Thought

Dr. Goodman created the Order of the Arrow to develop leaders of character. Leaders who would stand for what’s right even when it’s difficult.

If we’re too afraid to speak about our own organization’s direction, we’ve already lost what the OA was meant to build.

The question isn’t whether speaking up is risky. The question is whether staying silent while watching something you love be destroyed is the kind of person you want to be.

You’re not alone in feeling this fear. And you don’t have to stay silent.

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