It’s been a week since we returned from summer camp, and Joseph is only now coming to appreciate all that he has accomplished. Our troop is exemplary in following the Boy Scout program, and summer camp is as much a time for making great strides in rank advancement as it is in having fun. Every day begins at 6 A.M. with wake-up, a 7 A.M. Polar Bear Swim in the pool, followed by breakfast, and programming that runs from 9-12 where scouts work on merit badges, rank advancement, and do service projects in the camp. Lunch from 12-1, Instructional swimming or siesta from 1-2, more programming from 2-5, Retiring the Colors at 5:30 P.M., followed by dinner and open programming (swimming, rifle & archery range, boating, etc) from 7-9. Campfire and night meeting from 9-10, and then lights out.
I LOVE this generation of boys. We have a boy who is profoundly hard of hearing who misplaced his hearing aids during horsing around with water. They all stopped what they were doing and tore the camp apart searching for the missing hearing aids (cost: $4,000) They were about to uproot trees before the aids were found. Later that night at campfire this boy, with his speech impediment, led the entire troop in a silly song. All sang loud and applauded this boy even louder! As one of the assistant scoutmasters commented to me:
Second Class
“Where else could a kid like Mike (name changed) stand up and lead 52 other boys in a stupid song and be applauded, instead of ridiculed?!”
I answered with something that I’ve said here before, that this is the result of mainstreaming these children in our schools and in our troops. When this mainstreaming is combined with the Scout Oath, the lived reality becomes more beautiful than words can adequately describe.
I was in charge of thirteen first year scouts, including Joseph, and shepherding them through the first year, Pathfinder, program. The merit badges, ranks, and certification badges earned by Joseph at Summer Camp appear on this page. The program allowed him to complete the remainder of requirements he needed to advance to Second Class, and then to First Class (half-way to Eagle).
He also earned the First Aid, Mammal Study, and Indian Lore Merit Badges.
Additionally, he and his fellow Pathfinders worked hard at demonstrating proficiency at using a knife, axe, and saw efficaciously and safely and received their certification to use these tools without supervision. No small feat for 11 and 12 year-olds.
They also trained, practiced and demonstrated proficiency at building fires safely and efficaciously and received their certification to do that as well. These are indispensable qualifications for boys who camp out monthly. They build autonomy and responsibility at an early age, which in turn are the prerequisites for them to grow into and exert leadership roles as they advance in age and rank.
First Class
As with much high achievement, it takes some time for one to look back and realize all that has been accomplished. A twelve year-old boy has managed to complete the remaining half of the lengthy requirements to advance two ranks, earn three merit badges, two certifications in woodland skills, get elected patrol leader of his group for one of the daily slots, advance his swimming skills, shoot a rifle and bow and arrow, and live in the woods for a week.
Most of all he went boating on the lake one cool evening with his father who will cherish forever those two hours on the water where this twelve year-old spoke his young and tender heart about his hopes and fears, his aspirations and apprehensions, his joys and desires. He spoke with a clarity and level of insight that his father would not be able to muster until his late twenties.
I am amazed and humbled by Joseph and his peers. Humbled beyond description by their drive, their focus, and their charitable forebearance with other boys’ weaknesses. I’m also heartened that we have a brighter future with these young men. They get it. What is most extraordinary about Joseph and his accomplishments in light of his autism is that there is nothing extraordinary about Joseph and his accomplishments in light of his autism. Thousands and thousands of children on the autism spectrum accomplish high achievement in academics, sports, scouting, you name it. As we inch closer to prenatal diagnostic tools for autism, parents need to know of the Joseph’s among us, and that they are the rule for autism, not the exception.
Eight years ago, Regina and I embraced Joseph’s autism in the midst of absolute terror for his future prospects and uncertainty in our abilities to be equal to the task before us. But then we discovered the rich community of professionals who are there to take these children under their wings. They have worked miracles.
Yes, it requires a different sort of parental involvement and approach, a more intense focus. Worth it? Look at the badges on this page. They were earned following the same requirements as all other boys are held to. And…
Those two hours in that rowboat were like the Apostles’ experience on the mountain during the Transfiguration. They were a validation of the past eight years, and God’s promise for Joseph’s future.
Coming Home 
Why is the badge with the recognizable plains Indian head dress called the “Indian Lore Merit Badge” when clearly the history of Native Americans is far from just “lore”? And why do some of the “tasks” for completing this badge include making an article of clothing worn by Native Americans and constructing a model of a Native American dwelling? Clearly, the tasks for this badge haven’t been revised since the inception of Boy Scouts since last I checked, many Native Americans enjoy wearing the same blue jeans you wear and inhabit houses and trailers…….??
First, Gerard, thank you for this lovingly detailed post. Please continue to share the progress of your future Eagle Scout.
And why do some of the “tasks” for completing this badge include making an article of clothing worn by Native Americans and constructing a model of a Native American dwelling?
This is questionable because…?
Anon, you are a sad person if you must follow up a wonderful post about a father’s pride in the advancement of his son – a child born with some challenges – and of the group in which this child has flourished, by undercutting that group.
My nephews’ lives were enriched from their involvement in the Boy Scouts. I’ve watched those boys, and all the boys in their troop, grow into responsible, compassionate young men. Not one bad apple amongst them. If only the world were filled with men like that, yes, men who wore the badges and performed the tasks in question, and more boys like Joseph and his troop, it would be an enormously better place.
California Yankee,
Thanks! 🙂
Anon,
Well, I guess we could ask why folks on St. Patrick’s Day wear kilts, tams, and walk with shillelaghs. One could ask why folks of German ancestry wear Lederhosen for Oktoberfest, etc. One could ask why Italian-Americans dance to dances at our weddings that Italians in Italy stopped dancing to 70 years ago.
The short answer would be that ethnic cultures here in America go back to the touchstones brought by the immigrant generations. We remember the culture as Nanna or Opa lived it. Thus, ethnic culture becomes arrested here, while it continues to evolve “in the old country.” The same may be said of Native American culture as it is observed and remembered by successive generations of European and other immigrants to this land, as Native-American culture continues to evolve on the reservations that are largely off-limits to non-members of the people.
To the extent that certain modes of dress and dwelling are no longer fashionable or practical, they pass into history, or lore
As to your mistaken understanding of lore, I offer the following from Miriam Webster:
Definition of LORE
1 archaic : something that is taught : lesson
2 something that is learned:
a : knowledge gained through study or experience
b : traditional knowledge or belief
3 a particular body of knowledge or tradition
Origin of LORE
Middle English, from Old English lār; akin to Old High German lēra doctrine, Old English leornian to learn
First Known Use: before 12th century
My first merit badge earned was Indian Lore. Through that merit badge I gained a broad knowledge of Native-Americans that moved me beyond the Hollywood stereotypes. It led me to an ongoing study of the people native to the Americas and their struggles with one another and with the technologically superior Europeans who first decimated them with smallpox and other diseases (Unknowingly), and then trough treachery.
Through my studies of these people, I gained an appreciation for their love of the land, for their resourcefulness, for their own technologies and agrarian contributions. I also gained an understanding of the genocidal war waged against them throughout the nineteenth century by the American government, who sent trainloads of blankets from smallpox wards back east with the knowledge that the etiologic agent for the disease was in the blankets.
We give the boys the touchstones of Native-American lore, of the identities of the various nations; and we do much more than that. The entire culture of the Boy Scouts of America is suffused with reverential recognition of this continent’s original inhabitants. Our honor society, The Order of the Arrow, works closely with local tribes in maintaining an authentic telling of the people and an authentic representation of their head dress, for which they seek and receive special permission from local tribal elders.
We honor these people, and we do so more authentically, genuinely, reverentially than any other governmental or non-governmental organization in the nation. Our honor of this continent’s native peoples began with the inception of BSA 101 years ago at the tail end of the genocidal century that America indulged itself in.
So I believe that your criticism of us is wholly unfounded as regards our reverence for what Webster defines as “Lore” in the telling of the history of a proud and noble group of nations on this continent.
{Besides, a merit badge with a pair of Levis just wouldn’t cut it.}
Anon, did you even read this touching story? Dr. Nadal’s son has had some pretty severe challenges in life. It’s a cramped worldview that focuses on some imaginary racism at work.
Congrats to Joseph! Bet he loves those badges! ❤
In the Jewish tradition, as best as I can remember it, during the passover seder the youngest boy at the table has the honor of asking four rhetorical questions. Gerard responded most humanely to the rhetorical questions posed by “anon,” for which I give high credit. At my seder table, however, even at risk of breaking tradition, we would likely skip this nincompoop “anon” and let the second youngest boy speak instead.
Wow, note to self: never ask pointed questions here. My critical questioning of the “Indian Lore” badge had nothing to do with a young man learning some great skills and enjoying camaraderie with peers. Can there be no critique of the Boy Scouts Institution along with the praises?
And for Quentin above, I am most definitely not a *nincompoop* but you had to go there eh? For the record, I have a doctorate in social science and over a decade of experience working with American Indian tribes.
Suggested Reading: “Indians in Unexpected Places” by Phillip Deloria
Goodbye
Ah, the much expected doctorate in social science earned during a time in history when those are given out like purfume samples at Bloomingdales. The fact that you thought your questions were “pointed” would be an embarrassment to me, were I your thesis advisor. That you even thought of your post as a “critique” would further prompt me to quit academia altogether, and try to forget that you were my student — I’d change my name and leave the country. Your “questions” were rhetorical in that they were unintelligent (or at least unintelligible) references to your own ideology. If you had even incorporate a portion, be it ever so tiny, of implicit or explicit understanding, or even simple acknowledgement, of any of Dr. Nadal’s points in your “pointed” questions you might have had a chance at a decent question (although far from a critique and far from pointed). There was only one good thing in your original post — you kept yourself anonymous, thereby sparing the school that issued your doctorate considerable regret and embarrassment.
Mr Quale,
What do you do with your time? I imagine right now you might be a unique low life idiot hanging around some dingy sofa and flickering TV dishing out insults about things you know nothing about, such as doctorate degrees, social science and ideology.
Knowing you exist in the same country as I, I’m happy to begin searching for opportunities to be an ex-patriot.
Fare thee well O greatest nincompoop of them all!
As expected, your last “goodbye” was final…. not. If I were a dunderhead as you described, reeling you in like a fish would not be so easy. You see, I’ve read your posts and I’ve got you pegged. You’re as much of a “doctor” as my flickering tv is the source of my wit (Moe, Larry, the cheese, nyuck, nyuck, nyuck). I know this from your so-called questions and what you try to pass off as intelligence. I now this from your predictable return to a blog to which you have already said your final goodbye. I know this from how quickly you are reduced to a blathering name-calling fool. Chances of you not having displayed this foolishness time and time again in your life…. nil. Chances of you being an ex-patriot because I’m this country? Also nil. But what country am I in, genius? (Wow, note to self: It’s like shooting fish in a barrel — I have to end this exchange quickly.) Ahem, I have no right to challenge that Machiavellian wit and cleverness that is obviously the pride and delight of your family and friends. Please forgive me, doctor. The sincerity of my apology is as indelible as the ink on my high school equivalency diploma. To paraphrase Sherlock Holmes, you will always be known as “the doctor” on this blog!
Anon,
For one with a doctorate in social science, you are worse than tone deaf. So I’ll spell it out for you. Kathleen’s comments were right on the mark. This post was about one of my heroes, and his progress through autism, ADHD, static encephalopathy, cerebellar deficit, mixed expressive/receptive language disorder, and sensory integration disorder. That child has more grace in his tiny person than you’ll ever have, doctorate and all.
As to Quentin Quayle, he and I were undergraduate classmates in science at Columbia University. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia in epidemiology, as well as a Ph.D. from Europe. He is broadly published in his field and you are outgunned in dealing with him. But then, you’re outgunned by children. My gracious reply should have shamed you. There are certain threads where polemics are not appropriate, and your curiosity would have been more appropriately addressed in an email.
Kathleen and Quentin have pretty much said it all. This was about a little boy, my little boy, and the boys and men who have embraced him and helped him to flourish against all odds. It was about the ordinariness of what is miraculous, as both an expression of wonder and a cautionary tale.
I don’t believe that you actually hold a doctorate in social science, are a scholar of Native American culture, and could have been so ignorant of the Boy Scouts’ reverence for Native Americans. Kathleen was right;
Cramped world view.
whoa there Quale! Take a breather before you put yourself in some sort of apoplectic shock due to your irate nature! And, maybe I just enjoy having the last word…..
Never said “goodbye forever” just said “goodbye” which meant at that moment.
As for the rest of your blither blather, not really gonna stoop to your level of incomprehensible anger. Suffice it to say, you don’t have me pegged at all.
Actually, I think you’re the one with a cramped world view and for people with supposed doctors from here and Europe, you two certainly don’t talk like you have your heads on properly. Your simple-minded refutes to my questions only exposes you for the narrow minded, antagonistic, hate mongering people you are; however, this is your blog and I’m wasting precious time here.
Hey Dr. Nadal, note that “the doctor” only said that he was wasting time here, not “goodbye forever.” Oh well *sigh* — Anyway, I’m grateful for his time so misspent, because he provides a certain air of class and taste to this thread, don’t you think? In fact, I’m hoping “the doctor” will use his real name one of these posts, not only because I’m sure he is most happy to stand by the erudition and maturity he displays so handily in our midst, but also so that we can admire him all the more!
Dr. Nadal, your post was inspiring. As a result, I’ve contacted our local Boy Scout chapter and will be receiving information for our son. The Indian Lore Merit Badge is one that I will be particularly proud of if earned by him. In fact, I’m now tempted to lie about my age and earn one myself. We enjoyed seeing Joseph that time we met him; what a sweet gentleman he was!
Joseph and Gerry, CONGRATULATIONS! Dr. Quale, thank you (priceless response, LOL!) Anon… on second thought, never mind.
Quentin,
What brutishness is Anon that causes thy breast to heave savagely!? Better Anon should escape into anon, doctorate and all. Loved your comments! Thank you.
Rev: Precisely, and thank you.
Kathleen: Thanks and God Bless.