A great American, John Wayne, passed away many years ago. One of his last
public appearances was at a dinner. He was riddled with cancer and knew he was
close to death. The purpose of the dinner was to benefit a land purchase for a
Scout Reservation called John Wayne Outpost Camp. At this dinner, Wayne recited
the Scout Law. Then he did something unusual, he said the twelve points of the
Scout Law are "nice words". "Trouble is," he continued, "we learn them so young
we sometimes don't get all the understanding that goes with them. I take care of
that in my family. As each boy reaches Scout age, I make sure he learns the Scout
Law. Then I break it down for him, with a few things I have picked up in more
than half a century since I learned it."
Then Wayne proceeded to explain the
importance of the Scout Law, breaking it down for the guests at the dinner, much
like he would have for his grandson. |
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| TRUSTWORTHY | The badge of honesty. Having it lets you look at any man
in the eye. Lacking it he won't look back. Keep this one at the top of your list.
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| LOYAL |
The Very word is life itself, for without loyalty we
have no love of person or country
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| HELPFUL |
Part sharing, part caring. By helping each other, we
help ourselves, not to mention mankind. Be always full of help --
the dying man's last words.
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| FRIENDLY |
Brotherhood is part of that word. You can take it in
a lot of directions - and do - but make sure and start with brotherhood.
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| COURTEOUS |
Allow each person his human dignity which means a lot
more than saying, "yes ma'am" and "thank you sir".
It reflects an attitude that later in life you wish you had honored
more... earlier in life. Save yourself that problem. Do it now.
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| KIND |
This one word would stop wars and erase hatreds. But
its like your bicycle, its just no good unless you get out and use
it.
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| OBEDIENT |
Starts at home. Practice it in your family. Enlarge
it in your friends. Share it with humanity.
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| CHEERFUL |
Anyone can put on a happy face when the going is good.
The secret is to wear it as a mask for your problems. It might surprise
you how many others do the same thing.
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| THRIFTY |
Means a lot more than putting pennies away, and it
is the opposite of cheap. Common sense covers it just about as well
as anything.
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| BRAVE |
You don't have to fight to be brave. Millions of good,
fine, decent folks show more bravery than heavyweight champs just
by getting out of bed every morning, going out to do a good day's
work and living the best life they know how against the law of odds.
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| CLEAN |
Soap and waters help a lot on the outside. But it is
the inside that counts and don't ever forget it.
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| REVERENT |
Believe in anything that you want to believe in, but
keep God at the top of it. With Him, life can be a beautiful experience.
Without Him, you are just biding time.
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