Las Vegas choice — 1969
The times in my life when I have made poor choices are too numerous to count (in other words, legion), but I do remember one time when I made a correct choice, even in the face of intense peer pressure to do otherwise.
During the summer of 1969, our Explorer post (B.S.A. Scouting group for 16 to 18 year old young men) traveled to Las Vegas for our summer activity and stayed at Nellis Air Force Base for five days. It was an exciting trip. We boated on Lake Mead, toured the air force base, visited “The Strip”, and enjoyed other activities as well. One evening we went to Circus, Circus, a sprawling casino and entertainment center. This casino catered to families by having a carnival-type midway complete with circus acts, arcade games, clowns, and performers. As our Explorer post browsed among the various activities, we discovered a “peep show” at the far end of the midway. Apparently, nearly-nude, voluptuous women were enclosed in a circular room, and by inserting 25 cents into one of the many viewing devices which peered into this room, one could watch these ‘sirens’ display their wares. I recall how the young men in our group struggled with the decision to view or not to view. Several succumbed to the temptation. Myself and a few others chose not to view, despite some coaxing and ribbing from those who “partook of the forbidden fruit”. In this instance, I was grateful to have stood true to my values and the principles I had been taught.
As afterthoughts, I have wondered where our leaders were at the time that we were deciding whether to view or not to view, and I have wished that I had been more forceful in trying to persuade my fellow-Explorers not to participate in this lewd activity.
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