On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting for

by Rick Perry

Rick Perry examines in detail the issues that have led to the attacks on Scouting and the forces in American society that have organized and carried out those attacks. He also discusses the tactics of those seeking to drive God from the public square and the irony that those who attack the Scouts in the name of religious freedom will, if successful, actually suppress freedom of religion. The book also explains the Scouts’ refusal to bend to the winds of “political correctness” by allowing activist homosexual scoutmasters.The ramifications of the legal challenges to Scouting are examined, including how the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has responded and—essentially—prevailed. Examining recent polling data, Perry has compared Scouting’s program and values with broader trends in values in American society. As you will see, Scouting’s values fit closely with those of society as a whole.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

241 pages, Hardcover

First published February 12, 2008

About the author

James Richard "Rick" Perry served as the 47th Governor of Texas from 2000 to 2015. President-elect Donald Trump said in 2016 that he would nominate him to be Secretary of the Department of Energy.

A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full gubernatorial terms in 2002, 2006 and 2010. He served as Chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2008 (succeeding Sonny Perdue of Georgia) and again in 2011. As the longest serving governor in Texas state history, he is the only governor in modern Texas history to have appointed at least one person to every eligible state office, board, or commission position (as well as to several elected offices to which the governor can appoint someone to fill an unexpired term, such as six of the nine current members of the Texas Supreme Court).

Perry won the Texas 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary election, defeating U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and former Wharton County Republican Party Chairwoman and businesswoman Debra Medina. In the 2010 Texas gubernatorial election, Perry won a third term by defeating former Houston mayor Bill White and Kathie Glass.

Perry campaigned unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in the 2012 and 2016 election cycles.

Reviews

[Tucker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perry defended the Boy Scouts' policy (at the time) of not permitting openly gay Scout leaders. He somehow avoided acknowledging or discussing the other half of the policy which involved booting out Scout leaders who are discovered to be gay. Several years after Perry published his book, the Boy Scouts changed their policy.

In one passage, Perry claims to support an individual's right to have sex with a person of the same sex. This is not an accurate reflection of his own position, as I argued in 2011, as he has clearly and repeatedly defended Texas's "sodomy law" which says there is no right to gay sex. The law was deemed unconstitutional but is still on the books.

[Matthias · Rating 1 out of 5]

On My Honor is the first book by former Texas Governor Rick Perry. Perry wrote this book to explain why Scouting should not be attacked for banning Gays and Atheists, and why the bans should stay in place. He writes that his book is not an attack on the far left extremist ACLU, but then proceeds to create an attack on the on everyone but the extreme far right. His book does nothing to show why scouting should still have restrictions on membership, but instead shows people that people involved in scouting (which from personal experience is mostly not true. His book would have made me question my own involvement in scouting, had I read it before joining. I would not recommend this book to prospective scouts, because in most places, what is said is not true. I would recommend it to scouts who believe that changes are overdue, because it shows what we are up against. It also shows why Perry should not be president.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quite literally could not put this book down and read it in one sitting. If scouting is of value to youth (and I believe strongly that it is) then it's time for active support and active resistance towards those who seek to tear it down.
"Pearl S. Buck: When good people in any country cease their vigilance and struggle, then evil men prevail."

"Helen Keller: Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all -- the apathy of human beings."

"Edmund Burke: All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing."

"Albert Einstein: The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."

[Roslyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about the fight to keep decent morals in society.

[A'idah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unsound in argument and unremarkable in writing, this book was a massive waste of time. I blame myself, because that half-page introduction by Ross Perot should have been a big red flag.

I went in with the expectation that Perry would have something of substance to say. No. Instead, Rick Perry's core tenets in On My Honor are as follows:
1. The BSA program is beneficial to young boys and men. (Convincing, although it wasn't a hard sell)
2. I don't hate gay people. I just never want to see them or hear them. Is there something wrong with that?
3. American Christians are being oppressed.
4. I hate the ACLU. You know who loves the ACLU? Pedophiles. Are you a pedophile?
5. Atheism is the worst thing to ever happen, ever. Except for gay people.

The most creative thing Rick Perry did in writing this book was disguising the classic "I'm running for president!" memoir in sheep's clothing, as a wholesome defense of America's favorite private organization. In reality, he goes on a winding path between grandstanding and tirading. He promotes discrimination by praising Scouting and then saying that change is inherently bad, because Scouting is perfect as-is. It's horrifying to read this book, published in 2008, today in 2023. For 15 years, this author governed a massive state that deserved so much better than him. This author, a climate change denier (sneakily thrown into the book in its final pages) later became the U.S. Secretary of Energy. He ran for president twice. Thankfully, voters saw the same full-of-crap man behind the podium that readers will see on the cover jacket of this book.

I picked this book up (against my better judgment) because I wanted to hear the arguments for maintaining BSA's historical status quo. Rick Perry was not the man to do that -- that is not the book he wrote.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Gov. Perry demonstrates the importance of the Scouts in our society and also tells what has been done by the left to destroy not only this organization, but the core values that helped shape America throughout the decades. It is an eye-opener to the society not to disregard the dangers these leftist and atheist groups pose to our well being. As an active volunteer in scouting and a proud father of an Eagle Scout this is a must read for not only Scouts but anyone that feels the basis of what America was founded is slowly being destroyed by these secular groups.

[LuAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look inside the Boy Scouts history, legal battles, and current issues by Texas Governor and Eagle Scout, Rick Perry. Well worth the time to read this one, even if you're not a Scouter, but interested in the way the courts, cultural warriors, and the ACLU effect your daily life.

[Ted Gurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perry makes some strong point about the importance of scouting

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Eagle Scout ‘70, I deeply agree with the values that are so ably and thoroughly defended in this book. I believe that there exists truth revealed by God, immutable and eternal, that ought to govern human behavior. The Boy Scouts taught me MUCH OF THIS, WHICH IS ENSHRINED IN THE SCOUT OATH and LAW . May they ever stand!

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, but it is deeply, deeply flawed. If only it had delivered on the promise of the title. Instead it was mostly filled with a laundry list of press accounts of legal battles, a crusade against the ACLU and a general rambling discussion of general moral decay.

[Jay Coyden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for those of us who have been a part of the Boy Scouts of America. He writes about the great traditions, values, friendships, leadership and life skills that have been an important part in developing young men in America.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have loved this book, but had to take away a star because the author brought too much politics into the description of the history of the Boy Scouts. Nevertheless, I was glad I read it. I doubt I will read it again, though.

[Chris Nauert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting parts, but too much politics and Aggie talk (what did I expect :)

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decidedly out of date