Loyal - Loyal Isn't Blind
| Category: | Scout Law |
|---|---|
| Notes: | Best for older Scouts. Pairs well with loyal-to-your-values and the moral-courage minutes. If a Scout's safety is ever at stake, the message is clear: tell a trusted adult, and that is not disloyalty. |
A Scout is loyal. Loyalty means standing by your friends. But what happens when your friend is about to do something wrong?
Maybe they want you to cover for them. "Just tell them I was with you." Maybe they're about to do something dangerous, or cruel, or against the rules, and they're counting on you to go along, or at least to keep your mouth shut. And if you don't, they might say you're not a real friend.
That's a hard spot to be in. It feels like loyalty and honesty are pulling in opposite directions.
But they're not. Here's the truth about loyalty: it isn't blind. Being loyal to someone means caring about what's actually good for them, not just what they want right this second. A loyal friend doesn't help you make a mistake. A loyal friend says, "Don't do this. I'm not going to help you, because I care about you."
That takes guts. It might make your friend mad for a while. But a real friendship can handle a hard conversation. And years from now, they might be grateful you were the one who said no.
And if someone is going to get hurt, whether it's your friend or somebody else, you tell a trusted adult. That isn't betraying anyone. That's the most loyal thing you can do.
Being loyal means being on someone's side. Sometimes being on their side means telling them the truth.