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The Meaning of the
Boy Scout Oath
Excerpted from page
45-46, Boy Scout Handbook, 11th ed,
(#33105), copyright 1998 by BSA, ISBN 0-8395-3105-2
and from page 420-421, Webelos Scout Book, 1998 edition,
(#33108), copyright 1998 by BSA, ISBN 0-8395-3108-7
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Before you pledge yourself to any oath or
promise, you must know what it means. The paragraphs that follow
will help you understand the meaning of the Scout Oath.
On my honor . . .
By giving your word, you are promising to be
guided by the ideals of the Scout Oath.
. . . I will do my best . . .
Try hard to live up to the points of the Scout
Oath. Measure your achievements against your own high standards
and don't be influenced by peer pressure or what other people
do.
. . . To do my duty to God . . .
Your family and religious leaders teach you
about God and the ways you can serve. You do your duty to God by
following the wisdom of those teachings every day and by
respecting and defending the rights of others to practice their
own beliefs.
. . . and my country . . .
Help keep the United States a strong and fair
nation by learning about our system of government and your
responsibilities as a citizen and future voter.
America is made up of countless families and
communities. When you work to improve your community and your
home, you are serving your country. Natural resources are
another important part of America's heritage worthy of your
efforts to understand, protect, and use wisely. What you do can
make a real difference.
. . . and to obey the Scout Law; . . .
The twelve points of the Scout Law are
guidelines that can lead you toward wise choices. When you obey
the Scout Law, other people will respect you for the way you
live, and you will respect yourself.
. . . To help other people at all times; . . .
There are many people who need you. Your
cheerful smile and helping hand will ease the burden of many who
need assistance. By helping out whenever possible, you are doing
your part to make this a better world.
. . . To keep myself physically strong, . . .
Take care of your body so that it will serve
you well for an entire lifetime. That means eating nutritious
foods, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly to build
strength and endurance. it also means avoiding harmful drugs,
alcohol, tobacco, and anything else that can harm your health.
. . . mentally awake, . . .
Develop your mind both in the classroom and
outside of school. Be curious about everything around you, and
work hard to make the most of your abilities. With an inquiring
attitude and the willingness to ask questions, you can learn
much about the exciting world around you and your role in it.
. . . and morally straight.
To be a person of strong character, your
relationships with others should be honest and open. You should
respect and defend the rights of all people. Be clean in your
speech and actions, and remain faithful in your religious
beliefs. The values you practice as a Scout will help you shape
a life of virtue and self-reliance.
Note that the Boy Scout
Oath has traditionally been considered to have three promises.
Those three promises are delineated by the semicolons in the Oath,
which divide it into three clauses. The three promises of the
Scout Oath are, therefore:
- Duty to God and country,
- Duty to other people, and
- Duty to self
DUTY TO GOD AND COUNTRY:
Your FAMILY and religious leaders teach you to know and serve
God. By following these teachings, you do your duty to God.
Men and women of the past worked to make America
great, and many gave their lives for their country. By being a good
family member and a good citizen, by working for your country's good
and obeying its laws, you do your duty to your country. Obeying the
Scout Law means living by its 12 points.
DUTY TO OTHER PEOPLE:
Many people need help. A cheery smile and a helping hand make life
easier for others. By doing a Good Turn daily and helping when
you're needed, you prove yourself a Scout and do your part to make
this a better world.
DUTY TO SELF:
Keeping yourself physically strong means taking
care of your body. Eat the right foods and build your strength.
Staying mentally awake means learn all you can, be
curious, and ask questions. Being morally straight
means to live your life with honesty, to be clean in your speech and
actions, and to be a person of strong character. |
