"D" List Scouting Activities?

I recently read an marketing article that uses the Kathy Griffin TV reality show, "My Life on the "D" List" as a marketing example for not have an "A", "B", "C" or "D" list in marketing. In a short explanation, the article says to treat everyone the same. Don't treat your least productive customers any different than your best. My thoughts immediately were on Scouting and our responsibilities as leaders to present everything in the program as if it were on the "A" list.

How many times has a requirement for a rank or merit badge been relegated to the "D" list because the leader did not think it was that important or they were up against a deadline or whatever? How many times has a leader just let it go? What about uniforming? Do leaders just "leave it be" when a Scout does not have their patches sewn correctly. Do they emphasize the need for a full uniform? Don't get me wrong, I am not a member of the patch police, I'm just trying to make a point.

That point is that the entire program suffers if all the ranks, requirements, policies and procedures are not properly presented. We can extend that to training. How many leaders place the program on their personal "D" list by not going to training? How many leaders try to isolate themselves from other units because they want to do their own thing?

Because we wear the uniform, we have accepted a mission. It is not ours to change or modify. There is plenty enough flexibility in the system to allow for individual creativity or emphasis without going outside or minimizing the requirements. Staying true to the program is the reason it has lasted 100 years.