Why do we become civically engaged? What purpose do we serve in our own communities, and where does this purpose come from? These are some of the questions that are discussed in Robert Putnam’s landmark bestseller Bowling Alone. On page 337, he uses a quote from Alexis de Tocqueville, which reads “it is difficult to draw a man out of his own circle to interest him in the destiny of the state because he does not clearly understand what influence the destiny of the state can have upon his own lot. But if it is proposed to make a road cross the end of his estate, he will see at a glance that there is a connection between the small public affair and his greatest private affairs”. The quote chosen by Putnam to include in Bowling Alone highlights a pivotal message that addresses why people suddenly become civically engaged. It pertains to the idea that people can be generally reserved when it comes to the roles of government, whether it be local or on a national basis. “I’m not really into discussing politics” is a common phrase heard amongst people of all different age groups – that is until politics begin to make their inevitable appearance in the speaker’s personal life. It is at this point where people begin to assess their own level of civic engagement, and adjust it so that way they can voice their opinion and hopefully get what they want.
This idea of getting what you want by becoming involved in your community is taught to many people at a very young age. Speaking as an Eagle Scout, I can attest to this argument, for the entire Boy Scouts organization is practically built on this idea. To set this up, allow me to summarize how Boy Scouts work. The organization features seven rankings that are obtained over the course of roughly seven years (ages 11-18): Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. In order to progress through these rankings, you must complete a series of 21 merit badge classes – three of which are specifically designed to teach civic engagement. These badges are called the “Citizenship” badges, and they are specifically designed to teach civics to children on local, national, and international levels. As a child, these were always the most boring badges for us to take. Sitting in on a town budget meeting and taking notes as a 12 year old boy is not exactly a desirable Wednesday evening. However, we all subjected ourselves to it, because we all knew that upon completion, it would be one step closer to achieving our final goal: becoming an Eagle Scout.
Civics aside, the Boy Scouts of America are also fundamental in building relationships between children and the community that surrounds them. For example, in order to be considered for more responsibility in your troop, you must prove that you are capable of handling more time consuming tasks. This is where volunteering comes into play. As Boy Scouts, we volunteered on essentially a monthly basis – whether it be in animal or homeless shelters, or even collecting food at a food drive every major holiday season. From a young age, we were taught that, if you give to your community, your community will give back to you – which is something that plays an essential role in rank advancement.
One of the biggest components to becoming an Eagle Scout is your Eagle project. Your project is specifically designed to benefit your community on a long term scale. For example, my Eagle Project was to restore a veteran’s memorial in front of a Baptist church in my town. Along with this, I also built a commemorative bench that resides in front of a flagpole – which is used on a daily basis for those who are either sitting there to reflect, or to wait for their bus. Since I gave back to my community with this effort, I was then elected to become an Eagle Scout, which is a title that has since helped me on both college, and job applications.
With all of this having been said, it is also worth noting that there are many members of the United States Congress have some sort of connection with the Boy Scouts of America, including having made Eagle when they were teenagers. According to Scouting Magazine, 150 members of the 115th Congress, which made up 28% of both the House and the Senate combined, have had some sort of connection to the BSA when they were young. In the 116th Congress, it has also been reported that 10 out of the 80 male Senators that were serving were Eagle Scouts, and 17 out of 347 men in the House had also achieved the same milestone. At this point, it goes without saying that scouting can have a profound impact on the future of civil service, whether it be in terms of education, or even an inspiration for potential career opportunites. Many of the fundamentals that are learned from scouting are able to inspire young men, and as of recently, women and non-binary people, to continue practicing civic engagement throughout their lives.
The idea of becoming engaged with your community does not particularly resonate with many people unless it will benefit them in the long run, whether it is career based or simply a matter of trying to get what you want. This notion is taught at a young age through various clubs and organizations that are built around community effort. In order for people to become involved, they must have a reason – whether it be some sort of a prize/recognition, or to help make something that is in your favor happen. Without motives, people tend to generally feel a sense of hopelessness, which is why so many people do not see the point in being civically engaged. It only matters to them when it affects them, and when those particular effects are both visible, tangible, or both.