The Frisco Council’s bimonthly meetings have dominated headlines the past few weeks, and they were no exception after the March 3 meeting. Social media influencer Mark Palaciano posted a photo of Boy Scouts complaining about what he called an “Indian takeover,” but it backfired with many Americans pointing out that there was nothing alarming about it.
Boy Scouts (now officially part of Scouting America, and formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America or BSA) refers to youth scouting programs that focus on character development, outdoor skills, leadership, citizenship, and adventure for youth (usually between the ages of 5 and 18, depending on level). At the beginning of Frisco City Council meetings, Boy Scouts or Cub Scouts (from local groups or troops) are often invited to lead the Pledge of Pledge. This is a common inaugural tradition for many Texas city councils, including Frisco, to start the meeting with patriotic elements.
“100% Indian Scouts in Frisco Texas tonight. Is this what diversity looks like?” Balasiano complained. Several social media users said a possible explanation for Indians’ participation in local Boy Scouts could be that white left wingers do not join the Boy Scouts. One wrote: “It seems to me that a group of assimilated American immigrant children are committed to serving the community and preparing for life. Posting a picture of a group of children in order to be racist towards them is very scary.”
Another wrote: “What’s the problem here, you endless whiners? Indians are more patriotic than whites or blacks? Just join the damn boy scouts.”A third user wrote: “Isn’t this exactly what assimilation looks like? This is a group of scouts dressed perfectly. That’s American culture over there. So what’s the problem? The color of their skin? Because the main thing for me is assimilation into American culture. That’s what’s important.”
“Can we petition the council to change the name of the city? Paris, Athens, Dublin, Odessa, Palestine, Rome… Bengaluru or Tex Daily might be options. I’m sure there are some other creative ones out there. Continuing to use Fresco is embarrassing,” wrote one person condemning the “assimilation.”
