Intel Halts Boy Scout Donations Over Anti-Gay Policy

[Nimzovik]

What’s that old saying? “Beware of Intel bearing gifts.”

 

[Dawnia]

I think that the BSA won’t turn it down, though. A father or a mother of a Scout may have a lover on the side, but their money and participation in Scouting activities won’t be rejected.

Depends whether it’s National level or local level.

 

[fix]

Actions have consequences:

This week, Intel, which was recently identified as the Scouts’ largest corporate funder, announced that it is no longer giving to the youth organization. In 2010, Intel reportedly gave more than $700,000 to local troops and councils.

In a statement to ThinkProgress, Intel clarified its policies, and said that it would no longer give to organizations that were out of step with its nondiscrimination principles. “Earlier this year we revisited our policies associated with the program, and applied new rigor that requires any organization to confirm that it adheres to Intel’s anti-discrimination policy in order to receive funding,” Intel’s Chief Diversity Officer wrote in the statement to ThinkProgress. According to ThinkProgress, those Boy Scout troops and councils that do allow gay troops and leaders, in defiance of the organization’s policy, are still eligible for Intel’s funding.

Source: huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/22/intel-stops-boy-scout-don_n_1905856.html

rossum

Chief diversity officer? Does that mean that the political correct police will not tolerate any dissent from moral relativism?

 

[scipio337]

I think that the BSA won’t turn it down, though. A father or a mother of a Scout may have a lover on the side, but their money and participation in Scouting activities won’t be rejected.

Knowingly? Not so much.

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

scouting.org/sitecore/content/scoutparents/scouting%20basics/what%20scouting%20is/scout%20oath%20and%20law.aspx

Sincerely, an Eagle Scout.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Sincerely, an Eagle Scout.

I never rose above 1st Class Scout, but my one son was an Eagle, Order of the Arrow. The other two boys didn’t care for Scouting.

 

[ahaley]

Not at all. The BSA is not interested in its donors’ living arrangements, whether married or living in sin.

I can assure you that if one of my Cub Scouts (or, more likely, Mom or Dad) started making a huge deal at meetings about how we should all just embrace divorce on demand or that’s it’s OK that a married person have a lover on the side, there would be a conversation involving Council. Fortunately, this has not ever come up.

I did have one mom tell me that her son can’t join Scouts because of BSA’s position on homosexuals. A couple of months later, their family joined our parish and put the boy in Catholic school. I’m still puzzled on that one…

Alan

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

I can assure you that if one of my Cub Scouts (or, more likely, Mom or Dad) started making a huge deal at meetings about how we should all just embrace divorce on demand or that’s it’s OK that a married person have a lover on the side, there would be a conversation involving Council. Fortunately, this has not ever come up.

They’d be unbelievable fools if that did come up. There’s the Royal Navy toast. “Here’s to our wives and to our sweethearts!..May they never meet.”

 

[sedonaman]

…
If the company has money to give away, it should be reinvested in the company, paid to employees, or paid to stockholders in the form of dividends. …

Or lower the prices they charge for their products.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Also ironic is that the CEO of Intel is Catholic and his brother is a monsignor in the Diocese of San Francisco, and that the Catholic Church does, as we know, state that homosexual behavior is a sin.

I also note that the Intel Corporation actively supports the Islamic University of Gaza, even as they cut off grant funding to the BSA:

"Intel is thrilled to be working with ANERA on this important new educational project in Gaza. ANERA has a remarkable track record in meeting the needs of communities in the Middle East by both expanding the local universe of IT professionals and providing them with the skills they need to find good jobs,” remarked Aysegul Ildeniz, Intel regional director for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa. “The services and training offered at the Intel IT Center of Excellence will help provide critical building blocks in advancing the adoption of technology in the Palestinian territories. In addition, this new center will offer new opportunities for Palestinian women and help bridge the IT gender divide. The investment in the center underscores Intel’s long-term commitment to accelerate the development and adoption of technology, contribute to the improvement of the regional economy and improve the lives of those living in the region.”

Source: arabnews.com/node/275959

The last I heard, homosexuality was condemned by Islam (and the Islamic University of Gaza is an expressly religious organization), and some Islamic nations (including Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, North Sudan and Yemen) punish it with the death penalty, the more “moderate” states may just flog gays, yet here the Intel corporation is donating to an Islamic religious university. Gay “marriage” or civil unions are not recognized in the Palestinian territories, and same-sex acts between men are punishable by imprisonment.

Intel’s website states that they will not provide grants to:

• Sectarian or denominational religious organizations, such as churches, temples, missionary groups or funds which benefit members or adherents, unless grant is being sought for a community outreach program to benefit the community-at-large and offered to without discrimination or restriction
• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or disability status.

Unfortunately, the Intel Foundation’s contributions funnel money (via ANERA) towards an “educational program in Palestine” that is not exactly a community college, but which is a religious institution that is closely tied to HAMAS, a Palestinian terrorist group that seeks to impose sharia law on the world, as well as conquering the Vatican for Islam. The Dean of Quranic Studies at Islamic University of Gaza said,

"We place our hopes in Allah and trust that the day will come when our triumph will not be restricted to Palestine. Our hopes go beyond that – to raise the banner of the Caliphate over the Vatican, the “Rome” of today, in accordance with the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad: “Constantinople shall be conquered and then Rome.”

(You can watch the clip here: memritv.org/clip/en/3450.htm).

16 of their professors are HAMAS representatives in the Palestinian Assembly, and the University has been used to store weapons directed against Israel. The university has called for the destruction of the state of Israel, and also doesn’t like homosexuals too much, either. Mahmoud al-Zahar, a HAMAS terrorist who helped found the University in 1978 and is still on board of directors, has called for the execution of homosexuals in the Gaza Strip (many of whom have fled to Israel, where they are safer.) al-Zahar declared same-sex marriage in the Palestinian strip to be anathema, stating, “Are these [allowing for same-sex marriage] the laws for which the Palestinian street is waiting? For us to give rights to homosexuals and to lesbians, a minority of perverts and the mentally and morally sick?” al-Zahara also said, “You in the West do not live like human beings. You do not even live like animals. You accept homosexuality. And now you criticize us?" It is the stated goal of the staff of the Islamic University of Gaza to extend Sharia Law over the middle east and the world, which calls for the execution of homosexuals.

Christians (and most Boys Scouts and Scouters) may believe that homosexual behavior is a sin and should be condemned, but they teach that we should love the individual and treat him or her with compassion. The staff of the Islamic University of Gaza, to whom Intel funnels funds through ANERA, makes the BSA look like the ACLU in its treatment of homosexuals.

Any bets that Intel won’t stand up to the Islamic faith and demand they change their doctrine to accommodate the sensibilities of the editors of The Advocate?

 

[Arizona_Mike]

We all understand that Intel is perfectly within its rights to extend grant funding to whichever organization it likes. Just as we are free to boycott Intel or to criticize it for corporate hypocrisy.

Don’t. Buy. Intel. Pass it on.

I think it would be appropriate if you are a user of Intel products and you find this action by Intel’s Chief Diversity Officer and Global Director of Education & External Relations for Intel Corporation, Rosalind Hudnell, to be objectionable and discriminatory against personal religious faith, to send a polite, reasoned letter to to the Intel Corporation. I would suggest you keep it polite, professional, and courteous, but explain why you find this action offensive, and if it would impact your decision to purchase any of Intel’s product line. If your stock portfolio includes Intel stock, or you are considering a purchase of Intel’s stock, it would be appropriate to express your concerns as a shareholder, by writing a letter to the Intel Investor’s Relations Department or calling them. I’m sure someone there would be willing to listen to your concerns:

Intel Corporation RNB 4-148
2200 Mission College Blvd
P.O. Box 58119
Santa Clara, California
95052-8119
USA

Phone: 1-408-765-1480

Or their general corporate mailing address at:

2200 Mission College Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95054-1549
USA
(408) 765-8080

If you would like to send a letter to your local office, or ask to meet with their staff personally to discuss corporate discrimination against youth programs for religious reasons, you can find the address for your local office here:

intel.com/content/www/us/en/location/usa.html

Remember that both Scouts and/or Catholics are courteous, and that a polite, reasoned letter or in-person inquiry has more credibility than a rant, particularly if you have an existing professional or investment relationship with Intel.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I would suggest that you DO give business to Lowe’s Home Improvement, however. Lowe’s has stepped up to offer $100 cash grants to Boys Scouts to purchase equipment for Eagle Scout service projects, which is the kind of grass-roots charity that is subsidiarity in action:

blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2012/09/24/lowes-nails-it-helps-pay-for-eagle-scout-service-projects/#more-16419

When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window, as we were told by the Mother Superior in “The Sound of Music.” The Boy Scouts will still get by, no matter if a Chief Diversity Officer and Global Director of Education & External Relations throws a hissy fit or not.

 

[Farsight001]

It doesn’t matter. The question is not discrimination, but to whom an organization is willing to donate money. The BSA can’t sue saying “you give money to them, why haven’t you given some to us?”

Well, this remains a question, actually, because by their own admission, they will give to troops with gay members, but not to troops without gay members. One could reasonably argue in the court of law that this is discrimination against straight people, a legally protected group.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Well, this remains a question, actually, because by their own admission, they will give to troops with gay members, but not to troops without gay members. One could reasonably argue in the court of law that this is discrimination against straight people, a legally protected group.

“Straight people” is not a protected class. Regardless, you can’t force anyone to give a donation to any organization.

 

[Farsight001]

“Straight people” is not a protected class. Regardless, you can’t force anyone to give a donation to any organization.

Sexual orientation is a protected class. Straight is a sexual orientation, hence straight people is a protected class.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Sexual orientation is a protected class. Straight is a sexual orientation, hence straight people is a protected class.

Go file a lawsuit on that basis. But, regardless, you can’t force anyone to give you a donation. So, what would the point of filing a suit be?

 

[Farsight001]

Go file a lawsuit on that basis. But, regardless, you can’t force anyone to give you a donation. So, what would the point of filing a suit be?

I can’t file a lawsuit unless I am the victim of said discrimination, which I am not, since I am not a boy scout or a troop leader. I’m just pointing out that it is blatant, potentially illegal discrimination, and, as usual, the media doesn’t care.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

I can’t file a lawsuit unless I am the victim of said discrimination, which I am not, since I am not a boy scout or a troop leader. I’m just pointing out that it is blatant, potentially illegal discrimination, and, as usual, the media doesn’t care.

I can’t see how it’s a big deal. They won’t give donations, but will to troops who allow homosexual leaders and Scouts. Their privilege to support only some Scout troops.

 

[edwest2]

Not at all. The BSA is not interested in its donors’ living arrangements, whether married or living in sin.

Cheap shot, again. Have you read a Boy Scout Manual? I have one. Just like the Church, the scouts have high ideals and are expected to live them out.

Peace,
Ed

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Cheap shot, again. Have you read a Boy Scout Manual? I have one. Just like the Church, the scouts have high ideals and are expected to live them

I’ve been a Scout and I have Manuals all the way back to 1952. Didn’t say that the Scouts are living in sin, but if a parent or donor is, it won’t stop BSA from accepting a donation from them.

 

[JimG]

Chief diversity officer? Does that mean that the political correct police will not tolerate any dissent from moral relativism?

Even having a “Chief Diversity Officer” is a discouraging sign of the times, like having a “ministry of truth.” The position should be renamed Chief Political Conformity Enforcement Officer.