I was a Boy Scout for many years. I almost made Eagle Scout, but then I started High School and joined the drama club, and they had girls. I had some great times in the Scouts and think it was an important part of my childhood.

Some of my liberal friends have criticized the Boy Scouts for their recent decision to allow gay scouts but not scout leaders. These friends don’t think the Scouts went far enough.

As you may be aware from previous posts, my attitude is always that I would rather get 50% of what I want than be the stubborn Angry Young Man and get 0%. So I welcome this change.

I think it’s better to congratulate people for heading in the right direction rather than criticize them for not making the entire trip all at once. Encouraging people to do the right thing is far more successful than being angry at them for not doing enough.

It will come. All great political change is gradual. Some moves faster than others. The gay rights movement, for instance, has moved slowly since Stonewall but has really picked up steam lately. It is inevitable.

Ironically, the change only angers the bigots, who demand strict adherence to their intolerance, unwilling to give even the slightest compromise. If we’re the ones welcoming compromise and acceptance, we will win in the end.