Help me get a Merit Badge

[Zakama]

For the Citizenship in the Community badge, I need to:

With the approval of your counselor and a parent, watch a movie that shows how the actions of one individual or group of individuals can have a positive effect on a community. Discuss with your counselor what you learned from the movie about what it means to be a valuable and concerned member of the community.

Anyone know of any movies I could watch?

[Vaynor]

Pay it Forward.

[Tirian]

My first thought is "It's a Wonderful Life." Amazon.com puts that at the top of their list of Requirement 5 movies as well, and adds "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", "Remember the Titans", "Follow Me, Boys!", "October Sky", and "Mr. Holland's Opus".

Those are going to be pretty safe shots for being acceptable to your merit badge counselor and are also more or less good movies too. Of course, you can take a risk that your counselor will be swayed by a more popular but perhaps less populist movies like say "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" or "The Dark Knight", but if you don't feel like being a trailblazer just settle in and enjoy "It's a Wonderful Life" in my opinion.

[potatocubed]

Hero or Fearless.

Both films deal with the roles of individuals in communities, and also contain more kung fu action than the average 'worthy' film.

[LCR]

300.
Granted, they were three hundred individuals, but they saved their um ... democratic society from fascist Persia.

On another note: Is this some sort of joke? Handing out badges for watching a film? Sounds like a very shady organization.

[Rawhide]

Awakenings (based on a true story).

[_Puppetmaster_]

I'll second "it's a wonderful life."

[Siosilvar]

On another note: Is this some sort of joke? Handing out badges for watching a film? Sounds like a very shady organization.

Boy Scouts? Shady?

[DraPrime]

On another note: Is this some sort of joke? Handing out badges for watching a film? Sounds like a very shady organization.

It's one of many irritating requirements for a Boy Scout merit badge.

As for movies, why not The Matrix? Neo definitely improves the community of Zion :smalltongue:

[LCR]

Boy Scouts? Shady?

Um, yeah? No offense, but they seem somewhat militaristic to me.
Anyway, this might just be my prejudice against youth organizations in uniform, sorry.

[DraPrime]

Um, yeah? No offense, but they seem somewhat militaristic to me.
Anyway, this might just be my prejudice against youth organizations in uniform, sorry.

BSA isn't militaristic at all. It's basically a bunch of teenage boys screwing around and telling dirty jokes under the very loose control of a few adults. None of the discipline that comes with the military.

[LCR]

Yeah, they are probably just stupid prejudices. Can't be too careful about these things, though.

[First Speaker]

300.
Granted, they were three hundred individuals, but they saved their um ... democratic society from fascist Persia.

:smallfurious:

Ahem.

[Tirian]

As for movies, why not The Matrix? Neo definitely improves the community of Zion :smalltongue:

Heh. I did a quick Google search and someone in a different forum suggested the Star Wars movies. I don't know if they are confused with the Citizenship in the Galaxy merit badge or if some merit badge counselor got snowed about how the Gungans or Ewoks got to working together for the good of their respective communities....

Another community organizing movie I personally enjoyed was Pleasantville.

[evisiron]

Spiderman did pretty well to help people in the first two.

In a similar vein, Iron Man helped the world community. By shooting people. :smallbiggrin:

[DraPrime]

:smallfurious:

Ahem.

Yes my good sir?

[potatocubed]

Another community organizing movie I personally enjoyed was Pleasantville.

I like Pleasantville, but the individuals in it basically tear the community apart rather than improve it.

Or maybe they tear it apart and rebuild it in a better fashion... I always found it kind of ambiguous, which is a large part of why I like it.

[LCR]

I have two, more serious suggestions.

A film about nonviolent (http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/sophie_scholl_die_letzten_tage/) resistance during WWII Germany and of course Schindler's List (http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/schindlers_list/), one of the best movies about human decency. I think both of them can teach very well about an individual's service to their community (or humanity in general).

[Tirian]

I like Pleasantville, but the individuals in it basically tear the community apart rather than improve it.

Or maybe they tear it apart and rebuild it in a better fashion... I always found it kind of ambiguous, which is a large part of why I like it.

I agree that it is more challenging than, say, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. But I don't think that it is any less of a community-based movie just because the community is led to depose the entrenched powers and veer from the status quo. At the end of the movie, Pleasantville seems to maintain most of their core values, and those even more strongly because it is a conscious choice instead of just following a cliched script.

At any rate, it is not only a well-made and enjoyable movie, but one that makes you think about issues of one's role in society and the cost and benefits of doing what you feel to be right in an apathetic community, so it has a certain appeal as a merit badge choice.

[13_CBS]

:smallfurious:

Ahem.

Sarcasm is your friend.

[Moff Chumley]

I think Mr. Smith (Jones? Whatever) Goes to Washington is perfect. And, ya know, it's also an amazing movie.

[Innis Cabal]

Goodbye, Mister Chips

[Syka]

Unleashed (Jet Li movie) or Patch of Blue (1965, Sydney Potier).

On BSA: My boyfriend is an eagle scout and I've heard much of their camping trips. A lot of it involved setting stuff on fire. :) They almost got kicked off the campgrounds 3 times, I believe. His dad always caught them just in time. :smallsigh:

Cheers~

[Zakama]

BSA isn't militaristic at all. It's basically a bunch of teenage boys screwing around and telling dirty jokes under the very loose control of a few adults. None of the discipline that comes with the military.

I second this. :smalltongue:

Thanks for your suggestions everybody.

Amazon.com puts that at the top of their list of Requirement 5 movies

Amazon has a list of Requirement 5 movies? Could you post a link?

[Krade]

The Amateurs.

Definitely gonna need parental permission for it though because it is mostly just a get-rich-quick scheme involving making amateur pornagraphy that ends up backfiring in a way that makes everyone rich and happy and more of a community.

I don't recall a lot of actual nudity, but there is most assuredly plenty of sexual explicitness.

[reorith]

joe's apartment. a dude gets the community involved to turn a vacant lot into a park.

[Tirian]

Amazon has a list of Requirement 5 movies? Could you post a link?

I'll do one better (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&q=%22citizenship+in+the+community%22+movie&btnG=Search).

[FdL]

Um, yeah? No offense, but they seem somewhat militaristic to me.
Anyway, this might just be my prejudice against youth organizations in uniform, sorry.

I can't help to agree to this view.

[streakster]

Yes, yes, the Boy Scouts are militaristic. Now, what are their true goals?

My suggestion is werewolves. They're all werewolves.


I love a good conspiriacy theory!:smallsmile:

[Renegade Paladin]

Um, yeah? No offense, but they seem somewhat militaristic to me.
And what would the problem with that be?

Anyway, as for the thread subject, I'd personally pick October Sky.

[Pandaren]

Pay it Forward.

I second this. Good movie. Good message.

[snoopy13a]

The Boy Scouts aren't militaristic but they are a military friendly organization than anything else. They were founded by a British general and war-hero who wanted an organization to teach boys camping, hiking, cooking etc so that they would have these skills if and when they became soldiers.

The US military has a very good relationship with the Boy Scouts. Many military personal are adult volunteers and many military brats are members. Additionally, being an Eagle Scout improves ones chances of getting into a service academy and I believe that Eagle Scouts who enlist get an automatic raise in their pay grade.

The Boy Scouts are controversial in some areas due to their policies on memberships. Females, atheists, and homosexuals are not allowed to be members. I have no problem with the restriction of atheists as that is someone's personal views. I also don't really have a problem with the restriction of females as I believe that it is beneficial for boys and young men to have single sex organizations. This way they can be themselves without having to worry about impressing the opposite sex. I feel the same way about single sex girl organizations such as the Girl Scouts.

However, I do have an issue with the banning of homosexuals. Unlike atheism, which is a personal choice, I believe that sexual orientation is a result of genetics and early environmental conditions (such as fetal exposure to different levels of hormones). Therefore, I believe it is unfair to restrict boys from joining the Boy Scouts due to their sexual orientation.

[Zakama]

Guys, Dragonprime is right... Scouts are NOT militaristic.

EDIT: OK, two things: 1, snoopy that was an epic ninja, props, 2, I've never heard that homosexuals and athiests weren't allowed in Boy Scouts, could you provide reference?

[snoopy13a]

It has been an issue in recent times. There have been lawsuits over it with the BSA winning (due to being a private organization protected by the 1st Amendment). However, they have lost municipal and charitable support in some areas (e.g. United Way in some cities).

Here's a wikipedia article on it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts_of_America_membership_controversies

[Pandaren]

I agree with snoop on his views of the homosexual subject, but the same tolerance should be held with atheists too, but not letting someone in an organization depending on their religous views and background seem very wrong to me, considering my own religous views. Just because it's a 'personal choice' doesn't mean that kid or person doesn't enjoy activties outside and/or with their friends.


Edit: And i'd assume that quote in the article "word of god" assumes on monotheist religions.

[Kuma Da]

Not to come out swinging against Snoopy13a, but people also don't have a lot of choice in whether they're born as girls or not. Yes, I realize 'boy' is in the title of 'boy scouts' and that venture scouting is a viable co-ed alternative once people get old enough, but I think the BSA can be a little too old-fashioned about who it allows to join.

I have friends who went to girl scouts and found the lack of actual camping horribly boring. I also have a friend who was denied his eagle because he realized that he was an atheist during his last year of scouting (you could argue that having a religious revelation is also not a conscious choice. It's not like somebody says "Hmph. Well, I'm just not gonna believe in God any more.")

I know that it's not too likely to happen, since the BSA was founded on fairly conservative Christian principles (even if the individual troops tend to make up all parts of the political spectrum,) but a little more looseness with regards to who gets to tromp around in the woods would do the organization a lot of good. At least, IMO.

-

Oh, and as for movies, "12 Angry Men" is a little slower paced than most of the movies that have been suggested so far, but it's probably one of the most straightforward films for your topic. It's partly about doing your civic duty and serving as part of a jury, but it's also about taking a stand for what you believe in. Not against injustice, but against apathy.

To that effect, "Boondock Saints" is also a nice little controversial film you could watch. It's about a pair of Irish brothers who decide to clean up their city with vigilante justice. It's got a lot of cursing, gunplay, and maybe the most epic prayer ever. If you don't watch it for this project, you should probably watch it on your own.

[chiasaur11]

Serenity.


Mal changes a lot of people's lives.

Or, for a less violent approach, WALL-E.

[Vaynor]

The Boy Scouts aren't militaristic but they are a military friendly organization than anything else. They were founded by a British general and war-hero who wanted an organization to teach boys camping, hiking, cooking etc so that they would have these skills if and when they became soldiers.

The US military has a very good relationship with the Boy Scouts. Many military personal are adult volunteers and many military brats are members. Additionally, being an Eagle Scout improves ones chances of getting into a service academy and I believe that Eagle Scouts who enlist get an automatic raise in their pay grade.

The Boy Scouts are controversial in some areas due to their policies on memberships. Females, atheists, and homosexuals are not allowed to be members. I have no problem with the restriction of atheists as that is someone's personal views. I also don't really have a problem with the restriction of females as I believe that it is beneficial for boys and young men to have single sex organizations. This way they can be themselves without having to worry about impressing the opposite sex. I feel the same way about single sex girl organizations such as the Girl Scouts.

However, I do have an issue with the banning of homosexuals. Unlike atheism, which is a personal choice, I believe that sexual orientation is a result of genetics and early environmental conditions (such as fetal exposure to different levels of hormones). Therefore, I believe it is unfair to restrict boys from joining the Boy Scouts due to their sexual orientation.

Having a personal view doesn't give anyone the right to discriminate against you. Bolded part is why I quit the Boy Scouts.


Guys, Dragonprime is right... Scouts are NOT militaristic.

EDIT: OK, two things: 1, snoopy that was an epic ninja, props, 2, I've never heard that homosexuals and athiests weren't allowed in Boy Scouts, could you provide reference?

It's a christian organization. I don't want to go into it any further than that.

[Ishmael]

Well, there's this unusual disparity in Scouting. They allow any religious belief, whether Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, or anything really. But the National organization seems to promote an agenda that falls along a very conservative-Christian moral paradigm. It's somewhat hypocritical, and something that needs to be addressed. But, that is the leadership--the highest levels. On the local level, and on a whole, the organization is great. Not without it's faults, but it still remains the best organization that I've ever participated in, truly challenging me to grow as a person and be a more virtuous, better citizen. After hiking for three weeks in an elite High Adventure backpacking trip put on by Scouting, I have to saw, I felt 'awesome' walking through the Albuquerque airport on my way home.

But I think we've derailed the thread enough with our quibbling about the controversies. Go get your merit badge, Zakama, and have fun.

[Tirian]

It's a christian organization. I don't want to go into it any further than that.

It is not. It welcomes and celebrates a wide variety of religions (http://www.usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/religious.asp), including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. It is true that a Scout cannot declare himself to be agnostic or atheistic, but the world is full of Scouts that are not Christian. Anyway, it has nothing to do with movies that showcase community activism.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is another good choice, as long as you can get past Kevin Costner's hideous fake English accent. Of course, it is important to keep in mind that some of these movies are not age-appropriate for everyone of Scouting age. Schindler's List is an outstanding movie, but really earns its R rating and might not be a good choice for a twelve year-old.

[Zakama]

and might not be a good choice for a twelve year-old.

Which I am not. :smalltongue:

Anyway thanks again for suggestions, I'm gonna watch Remember the Titans if my badge counselor approves it.

[Khanderas]

Pay it forward is good and what you are looking for, but Mr Hollands Opus is even better. That movie is so good it made me cry. Yes literary.
Dead poets society counts too and if it doesn't, see it anyway for that is powerful stuff.

[ghost_warlock]

I think Philedelphia (http://www.amazon.com/Philadelphia-Widescreen-Two-Disc-Special-Chapman/dp/B0002XNT0I/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1222844026&sr=8-1) would be a good movie to watch/review for this merit badge. :smalltongue:

[Tirian]

Anyway thanks again for suggestions, I'm gonna watch Remember the Titans if my badge counselor approves it.

I like your chances. Enjoy, and kudos for going after the civics merit badges. (I never had the patience or the adult support for it myself.)

[Dallas-Dakota]

For the Citizenship in the Community badge, I need to:


Anyone know of any movies I could watch?
Robin Hood. :smallbiggrin:

Such a good old classic.

[bosssmiley]

For the Citizenship in the Community badge, I need to:

Anyone know of any movies I could watch?

"Coach Carter" (based on a true story), or any other inspirational teacher story
"It's a Wonderful Life"
...
"Erin Brockovitch"

(I'll hand in my man card now)

[ForzaFiori]

The US military has a very good relationship with the Boy Scouts. Many military personal are adult volunteers and many military brats are members. Additionally, being an Eagle Scout improves ones chances of getting into a service academy and I believe that Eagle Scouts who enlist get an automatic raise in their pay grade.

The Boy Scouts are controversial in some areas due to their policies on memberships. Females, atheists, and homosexuals are not allowed to be members. I have no problem with the restriction of atheists as that is someone's personal views. I also don't really have a problem with the restriction of females as I believe that it is beneficial for boys and young men to have single sex organizations. This way they can be themselves without having to worry about impressing the opposite sex. I feel the same way about single sex girl organizations such as the Girl Scouts.


Earning your Eagle actually will usually get you a pay raise in any job. Most employers love to see that you both are (or were) in the Scouts, and that you have the drive and ability to get that far.

as for the restrictions, the easiest way to get around the atheistic and homosexual part is to work on a "dont ask, dont tell" policy. In my old troop, which I eventually quit due to not having the time, There were at least 3 atheists, but they all just didn't tell our scoutmaster, and went to church when the troop had something going on, etc. While I disagree with the restrictions, I do believe that, as a private organization, it is there right.

Also, in...I think Swedan, girls can join Boy Scouts. Might have been another one of the European nations... I know it stats with S though. maybe Switzerland.

[snoopy13a]

Having a personal view doesn't give anyone the right to discriminate against you. Bolded part is why I quit the Boy Scouts.



It's a christian organization. I don't want to go into it any further than that.

Actually, according to the 1st Amendment, private organizations have the right to discrimate. Of course, this also means that they shouldn't have access to public funding.

Boy Scouts aren't necessarily christian. Any religion as well as simple deism (belief in a uninterested higher power) is accepted. Of course, the vast majority of Boy Scouts are Christian and Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, etc Boy Scouts are relatively rare. This does give the impression that they are a Christian organization but this isn't the case.

As for girls in Boy Scouting, I absolutely realize that no one chooses their gender. However, I think that single-sex social groups are a good idea. Boys often try to show off to impress girls and girls are sometimes intimidated by the boys. Single-sex groups will prevent these problems. Additionally, co-ed camping for 14 year olds may be something that the adult volunteers could be uncomfortable with. Overall, I think it is healthy for boys just to hang with boys and girls just to hang out with girls from time to time.

I'd even support separation of gender in the public schools if they'd guarantee that both genders would receive the same education. My fear about the separation of genders in school would be that one gender could recieve a less challenging education. Personally, I believe that the current divide between Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts is a good idea.

As for atheism, the Boy Scouts do list reverence for god in the Scout Law and duty to god in the Scout Oath so there are listed requirements involving some sort of theism as a pre-requisate to joining. Would I really care if the Boy Scouts allowed atheists? Not really, and perhaps they should allow atheists as it really wouldn't be a negative issue. However, I do understand their rationale for not allowing atheists as theism is a pre-req to being a Scout.

[Alien]

Remember the Titans is indeed a good choice. If that one isn't allowed, perhaps consider V for Vendetta. There's also a good movie about a white teacher teaching in some ghetto neighbourhood over in USA, but I can't recall its name, so that won't likely help you much.

I've never heard of only non-gay, religious boys being able to join the Scouts before. It sounds like the kind of thing they'd think up in USA though, which sounds like the country you are probably discussing? If those were the rules in Norway, I'm sure the Scouts union would probably be diminuitive.
I'm wondering though, if it's only non-homosexual guys who are allowed to join, does that mean noone will mind if a bisexual, necrophiliac or otherwise non-straight dude should join up?

[Khanderas]

Also, in...I think Swedan, girls can join Boy Scouts. Might have been another one of the European nations... I know it stats with S though. maybe Switzerland.
Yes, Sweden do not have boyscouts and girlscouts. Almost always just scouts, where there is no restrictions of gender of any kind, including tentmates. Far less dramatic then it sounds perhaps. Great thing about this is there is no split in activities, so girls chop wood as much as the boys, who cook as often as the girls.
As I recall 5 organisations have scouts, atleast two of them are christian, though frankly in my group it only means you have to recite a table prayer (and even that is forgotten farily often). One of them is the sobriety movement, and the other two I am unsure. Perhaps they have christian fundaments as well.


I've never heard of only non-gay, religious boys being able to join the Scouts before. It sounds like the kind of thing they'd think up in USA though, which sounds like the country you are probably discussing? If those were the rules in Norway, I'm sure the Scouts union would probably be diminuitive.
I'm wondering though, if it's only non-homosexual guys who are allowed to join, does that mean noone will mind if a bisexual, necrophiliac or otherwise non-straight dude should join up?
Well from a documentary I half-saw a long time ago, the story goes that the American Scout Association turned more fundamental when it was privatised/changed leadership/something else and while the law says they may not discriminate, "inofficial rules" by the christian fundamentalists (who took over, either by buying out previous owners of the brand or changes in the board) did, according to the documentary, try to purify the boy/girlscouts by freezing out gay scoutleaders and gay members.

Now, this is a documentary I half-followed quite some time ago. And the scout association got alot of flak for it at that time, so it is problebly better (I hope) and in any case, sexual orientation is none of their buissness anyway. Well unless its pedophilia I guess.

Norway is much like Sweden in most regards so I doubt they ask or care. It was an issue with the christian fundamentalists in America.

[Maelstrom]

Um, yeah? No offense, but they seem somewhat militaristic to me.
Anyway, this might just be my prejudice against youth organizations in uniform, sorry.

Because you know that all youth groups that try to instill morals to a group of youths, teach them life and social skills, and give them a better chance of success later in life, while at the same time having a good time doing it ... well they certainly have something to hide...

Guess you have issues with School uniforms, soccer teams, etc, as well?

[Telonius]

Suggestion for a movie: "Be Kind Rewind." Bonus: contains Jack Black.

[Tirian]

I'm wondering though, if it's only non-homosexual guys who are allowed to join, does that mean noone will mind if a bisexual, necrophiliac or otherwise non-straight dude should join up?

The key phrase is "morally straight", from the Scout Oath. The national leadership in the United Staes has interpreted this to demand an adherence to "traditional" heteronormative values, so the behaviors you mention would be equally unwelcome. They are less definitive on "boys will be boys" rites of passage like pornography and pre-marital sex, but I suspect that even those would be serious black marks on the record of most candidates for Eagle Scout.

[Mc. Lovin']

Dark knight? Joker seems to effect a nice load o people in that filmy :smallbiggrin:

[Zherog]

Wow. The requirements for this merit badge sure have changed since I earned it... *takes off shoes and socks to count* 23 or so years ago. Yikes!

I'll recommend Pay It Forward. One of my favorite "feel good" movies, with a great message about how to make a difference in the lives of others. (and yes, I know you already selected a movie; that doesn't mean you can't also watch Pay It Forward.)

[Syka]

My boyfriend is agnostic leaning toward atheism with a slight fondness for Buddhism and a grounding in Christianity. Definitely not purely a Christian, though, and he got on just fine.

There is Girl Scouts but feh! on Girl Scouts. I quit when I was 12 for a number of reasons, namely the badges were boring (I wanted to go camping and stuff, not...sew? wtf?) and the fact that teenage girls...well, lets put it this way- I got on much better with the guys. It's not a bad organization, just not one for me. Indian Guides was much better. Originally did it with my dad until I stopped seeing him, and then my mom did it with us. Somethings were harder for her to do, so the other dads in our group helped out. It was pretty cool. :) I still have some stuff I made from there.

I <3 their cookies though. :smallsmile:

Cheers,
Syka

[Lupy]

ON THE BOYSCOUTS:

Most Troops work on a don't ask don't tell policy. In my experience anyway.

ON ANOTHER SUBJECT:

Thanks for bashing the Conservative Christian Churches. And not offending me at all. [/end sarcasm]