I used to dread this time of year. In the month of March, Girl Scouts are out in force in their smart little green and brown uniforms selling cookies. There was a time I would buy a box from every girl I encountered as a payback for my positive scouting experience.
However, buying that box of cookies now presents a moral dilemma as the Girl Scouts have become a training ground for the left-wing feminist agenda.
I used to get a knot in my stomach as I turned down these Girl Scouts. Last year I came up with a better plan. I began giving each girl who approached me a letter with an offer to give her troop $100 if it will change its affiliation to the American Heritage Girls. I greet the leader or parent with the girl and hand her information from the AHG website, http://www.americanheritagegirls.com, along with my column “Confessions of a former Girl Scout” and my contact information.
I can still remember the pride I felt as I stood at attention in my crisp Girl Scout uniform to recite the promise:
On my honor, I will try:
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people at all times,
To obey the Girl Scout Laws.
How times have changed! Now God has an asterisk telling the girl that “it is okay to replace the word ‘God’ with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate.”
The word “duty” (to God) has been replaced with “serve” and the new all-inclusive Girl Scouts are free to serve anyone, including themselves, which seems fitting after reviewing some of their materials which stress “girl empowerment” and moral relativism.
Is it any wonder that the “Covenant of the Goddess” website now boasts that the Girl Scouts allow its members to earn and wear its Over the Moon and Hart and Crescent Award, offered to any young person who is a member of a nature-oriented religion (Wicca, Druid, Asatru, you name it).
While the Boy Scouts have clung to their original God-centered charter, the Girl Scouts adopted a policy of nondiscrimination and now accepts atheists and lesbians as troop leaders and staff. In 2004, the Arcus Gay and Lesbian Fund gave a $21,500 grant to the Glowing Embers GS Council in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to develop and produce a series of interactive games based on the new diversity (code word for homosexual) curriculum, “Living on My Honor.”
The changes began in 1970 when feminist Betty Friedan was put on the national governing board. Soon afterward, the Girl Scouts began purging their materials of all positive references to homemakers. Partnerships with Planned Parenthood followed and the Girl Scouts begin showing up at gun control rallies like the Million Mom March. The Scouts have adopted a new global agenda under the Studio 2B program. The Scouts bemoan the fact that the United States has not signed the radical feminist treaty, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which would force nations to legalize abortion and prostitution. Guess a girl has to make a living!
To earn the Women Worldwide Interest Project Patch, senior girls are asked to research women who have made an impact. Eve Ensler, the author of the “Vagina Monologues,” and Rigoberta Menchu Tum, the lesbian, Guatemalan, Marxist activist, are held up as role models.
To be sure, there are many good people engaged in Girl Scouting and the experience largely depends on the character of the local leader and the disposition of the area council. Local councils select area delegates. However, these delegates have no say in national policy. This presents a real conflict for most people of faith, especially since the Girl Scouts brought in the controversial New Age group, the Ashland Institute, to assist in leadership training.
Today, American Heritage Girls is everything the Girl Scouts used to be. AHG began in 1995, and offers a scouting experience similar the Boy Scouts of America. AHG’s highest honor is the Stars and Stripes Award patterned after the BSA’s Eagle award. Is not at all surprising that the Girl Scouts is losing members, while AHG is one of the fastest growing youth organizations in America AHG now boasts 185 troops and more than 6,300 members in 33 states with plans to expand to all 50 states in 2008.
I proudly support them and I hope you will too.
Jane Chastain 
Hi Jane,
I read your article last year and enrolled my daughter in AHG instead of GS. I have to say the pressure is enough on me as her Dad, but from conservative friends and family who say it depends on the individual scout troop. I disagree with them and explain that only 10% of that box of cookies goes back to the troop, the rest to Nat’l and Local GS councils that get to decide what “programs” these girls are “indoctrinated” with. Not to forget the huge “United Way” funding.
Conversely, I believe that AHG has an identity problem. They need to be more than that “anti-GS” organization. They have no budget, virtually no national exposure, and no publicity. Here in liberal Fairfax County, VA and many other school systems where they have “outlawed” the Boy Scouts from PTA sponsorship, how do you think an organization like AHG will be allowed to distribute recruiting flyer’s. AHG needs a large media campaign to highlight the ‘positives’ If even a start from some conservative “talk-show hosts”.
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Thanks Jane for shedding the light on such an important issue. As Edmud Burke said, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Too many Christian Girl Scout leaders are sitting by and “doing nothing” because they haven’t been willing to open their eyes and see where the national organization is going. Sounds like the founders and leaders of American Heritage Girls are fighting the battle against evil. God Bless them.
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I applaud you, Jane, for putting into writing what I have been explaining to those who are interested in joining our group. As a former GS leader and a current AHG leader, I have found AHG to be a breath of fresh air. I was not comfortable with the direction GS was following when my eldest daughter and I were active in it, yet I did like the aspects of the different badges and “worlds” they were exposed to while earning them. We left GS with a bad taste in our mouth and I heard about AHG right before we moved. Unfortunately there wasn’t a group in the state we moved to so our involvement with AHG has only been over the past two years upon our relocation again. It is such a rewarding program and the other women and girls involved have become our closest friends. The girls are learning more about themselves, the world around them, and more about God–the foundation of our group. I agree with Patrick about the lack of exposure in the public schools for the promotion of AHG alongside the GS and BS flyers in the back to school packets. If it hadn’t been a program in my church I probably wouldn’t have heard about it. AHG is still young, just celebrated its 11th birthday, and has a long way to go to deconstruct the mountain GS has built and rebuild it with a strong Christian foundation which is less likely to crumble. A building is only as good as its foundation…as is any group, too. We are doing our best to get the word out about AHG in a positive light, not as the GS hating group. Yes we are often lumped in as “oh you’re a GS troop” to which I politely reply, “No, we are an AHG group -a christian based scouting program for girls, similar to what GS was founded on many many years ago but doesn’t closely follow any more.” I’ve had many ask further questions about it and referred them to the AHG website for more information after inviting them to come visit our group. Thank you again, Jane for the positive article about AHG. Your voice is in the public venue and helps us quieter community ones have a stronger base to launch from. As the AHG oath says, ” I promise to love God, cherish my family, honor my country, and serve in my community” of which we personally do as an active duty military family (with our hero coming home in less than 40 days!).
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I wholeheartedly agree with this article! I was a very dedicated Girl Scout myself, and I am very sad to see how much the program of Girl Scouts has changed. I think their founder, Juliette Gordon Lowe, would be sad too. My daughter and I found AHG through our church 5 years ago and we have been dedicated members ever since. As far as the comment about our publicity, try checking to see how many churches and religious schools are helping to promote AHG.
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OMG….. This is the funniest thing I have ever seen….. my girls will stay on GS and will grow up to be every little bit of feminist I am… Paraniod delusional people like you need to be put away
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I am a Girl Scout leader and am very distressed at the direction the GS are going. As a troop leader and with my co-leaders we do everything we can to counter act or ignore the leanings of the national group. Over the years they have definitely moved to a militant feminist agenda. I have seen it in the badge program and the other programs that they have developed over the past few years. The charm program is blatantly anti-conservative and openly hostile to the gentile arts. It is a shame. Those of us women that have our children in the group do so as a way to change the thinking from the bottom up
Because of the need to be completely feminist the local councils are so mismanaged and underfunded that they cannot really do much. Our local council has reorganized 3 times in the past four years. They cannot get competent administrators because they are so focused on the need to promote the feminist agenda that they wont hire a qualified male over an unqualified female. I truly see Girl Scouts as a whole not being around in the very near future.
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Although we would probably agree on many things politically we would differ here.
Let me state up front, I am rabid anti Liberal antii PC, but some of your comments are part of the reason I left the GOP and am now an independent
Why is it always eluded to that to be a “conservative” or some great patriot you have to be a Christian? The inclusion of other religions all of a sudden starts the screams of liberalism and the commies are coming.
America was NEVER founded as a Christian nation as our forefathers left England to escape religious prosecution fro tyrannical puritanical Christian based belief and based our country on freedom of religion and expression, but some would act as though to be a real American or patriot you some how have to be in the “Christians only club”.
Many of our forefathers stressed “Creator” but did not go as far as to push Christianity as many of them were Deists, Agnostics, and even a few Atheists.
I am of German descent and follow the faith of my ancestors and family that came over from Germany in the late 1940’s after the war, I am an Odinist as I believe in the Gods of my northern European peoples, does this make me a lesser American as it seems to imply by the attitudes of the hard core Christian base?
Let me also add that I am a former Infantry Marine, and US ARMY Paratrooper that has served and too an oath to protect the freedoms of people to live and believe as they choose, like yourself.
I do not agree with the brainwashing that the colleges and some youth groups are perpetuating on our children and have to combat it every day with my own daughter, but for one minute do not lump my faith or beliefs in with the gay lobby nor some liberal agenda.
I do not agree with Wicca but I do agree with its right to have a place in peoples lives, and why should they not be able to honor their Gods in the pledge or other Oaths?
This Nation is NOT a theocracy and was never intended to be, SEPARATION of church and state.
I really wish the GOP would stop trying to rewrite history as it is as bad as revisionist Liberal history in many cases.
As I said I agree with much of what you say, but am tired of the attitude that to be a conservative and a good American you have to be part of the Christianity club.
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Chris,
I don’t believe that there was a mention of the Christian faith in my article or the GOP for that matter. I am a conservative in that I believe in the principles upon which this country was founded, that of a small central government, with most of the power vested in the people and the individual states. And, yes, our Constitution guarantees us freedom of religion and free association.
As a social conservative, I also believe in a high moral code spelled out in the 10 commandments which are part of many faiths. Be a little more specific. What comment did you find objectionable?
Here in the U.S., 70 percent of people recognize the divinity of Jesus Christ. A full 95 of us believe in a creator God, in whose image we are made and we feel He should be honored, which is at the core of what organizations like the AHG and the Boy Scouts believe. If that doesn’t jive with you believe, so be it. Your kids don’t have to join. However, they can join, if they are willing to hold to the same moral code. If you say you are conservative, I believe you. You also sound like a fine American to me. Lighten up!
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I didn’t know about this and bought 2 boxes the other day. That will be the last time.
Debbie
CA
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Hailsa!
Firstly, I want to thank you, Jane, for responding to the email that I sent you so quickly. (Within a couple of hours!) That impresssed me.
So, per your suggestion, I am posting my initial email to you here:
Not going to take up your time here. Just going to suggest that you don’ bother lumping Asatu into those new-age, fluffybunny, “do as thou will” sort of groups.
We (Asatruar) honor the gods of the northern European folk, and we don’t “dance
’round the fire nakid at every chance we get” 😉
Your article made a lot of sense, so I don’t want to poo-poo it. But I felt the need to clear things up about Asatru for you.
If you’re interested in learning more about Asatru, check out the AFA
website at http://www.runestone.org
Wassail!
-Rick (from Boston)
RKN
AFA
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The Boy Scouts of America is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their (relatively) new program, Venturing – a youth program designed for young women and men who are 14 through 20 years of age. You will find young women and men enjoying high adventure activities, developing leadership skills, and participating in Crews and Sea Scout Ships. And of the young women who are joining Venturing by the thousands, many are former Girl Scouts. Why? Because they want to have fun, they want to believe in God, they want to be good citizens, and they want to prepare themselves to serve their nation as a good leader. And they are tired of being young femi-Nazis. Ask them. Girl Scouting is losing many fine young women to the Venturing program, and that is just fine. Know a Girl Scout? Tell her about Venturing!
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Since when is acceptance and being tolerant of others a bad thing? I believe the less discrimination and religious intolerance the better. We DO live in America!
Since when is a strong woman a bad thing? Afterall isn’t life about embracing your gifts and striving to better yourself.
Don’t you remember being a girl and the worst thing in the world was the possiblity of not being accepted?
I think your article is too skeptical and closed minded.
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Jen,
If you will read my bio you will find that I broke a lot of barriers for women and have spent my life achieving in male-dominated fields. The difference in the Girl Scouts and American Heritage Girls and the Boy Scouts is the goals. AHG and BSA are about building strong young people. However, they set high moral standards, given to us by a creator God and believe we should honor God by adhering to those standards. They are open to all young people who want to achieve those goals. They also believe that a democratic government is better than a Marxist-Socialists government and do not tolerate certain behaviors because some are destructive. Yes, you could say that is discriminating.
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Hi Jane,
Thank you for your recent research and article. I am a recent chairperson of American Heritage Girl troop this year. I have 2 girls who used to be Girl Scouts. I love their leader and had a lot of fun along the way. Yet at camp one year, my eyes were opened to how far GSA has gone to supporting Lesbians as acceptable Camp leaders. At a camp here in Ohio, the head person was a self touting Lesbian (let’s call her “Chris”). “Chris” was the main song leader (she was really good too), wearing men’s clothes, unshaved legs, and talked about her “Life Partner” right in front of my then third grader. Wait a minute. Yes, that’s true. This was really scary and of great concern to me and my husband. After all- should this sort of behavior really be a part of my child’s camp experience? What exactly was her agenda? What GSA may not realize, is that this is a matter of Child Protection, not a matter of hating anyone for their feminist beliefs or sexual preferences. The majority of GSA leaders “in the field” believe in God and want to be able to feel proud about this and accepted from the bottom all the way to the National level. This is simply no longer the case with GSA. I did complain about “Chris” -was told they were an “equal opportunity employer.” While “equal opportunity” certainly has its place in the business world, I do believe that protecting our children should come prior to keeping a Lesbian happy in her work of preference. We should not have to worry about our child’s safety at camp. We should all be weary of individuals such as “Chris” who choose a career that will give them one on one access with young girls in a camp setting- and have read that this is a safe haven for Lesbian acceptance. The GSA will always flourish- because this is the world we live in. But for parents of faith, it certainly is nice to have the choice of a proclaimed Pro Life Organization such as American Heritage Girls. BTW, I have a degree from Miami University, I held a high level Human Resource position for 10 years- and I even considered myself a feminist back in the 80’s. Back then, feminist meant something alot different that what it does today. Every girl should get a degree, every girl should be able to take care of herself, but I will encourage both of my girls to be mothers too- if they so choose. It is a ballancing act, but where will our world be if no one wants to be a mom and make the personal sacrifices needed to raise “Girls of Integrity”. I encourage all GSA leaders to open your eyes to this organization and its plans for our girls.
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Sharon,
Thank you for sharing your story. Unfortunately, your experience with GS camp is all too familiar.
I have done a lot of exciting things in my life, but — in an effort to make my mark — almost missed life’s most rewarding experience, being a mom. Being a homemaker is one of the hardest, most demanding jobs. However, in the whole scheme of things, your children aren’t with you very long and your business skills do not evaporate. There is plenty of time to raise your children and then do other things. One of the big feminist’s lies was “You can have it all.” The truth is you can’t have it all, all at once.
While I do know some men who are stay-at-home dads and do a wonderful job, most women choose to take the primary child rearing role. Thankfully, in a free country we still have that choice. Homemakers are vitally important for a country because they are raising, good productive citizens. Bravo!
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“I can still remember the pride I felt as I stood at attention in my crisp Girl Scout uniform to recite the promise:
On my honor, I will try:
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people at all times,
To obey the Girl Scout Laws.
How times have changed! Now God has an asterisk telling the girl that “it is okay to replace the word ‘God’ with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate.”
The word “duty” (to God) has been replaced with “serve” and the new all-inclusive Girl Scouts are free to serve anyone, including themselves, which seems fitting after reviewing some of their materials which stress “girl empowerment” and moral relativism.”
This was the passage I took Issue with, and although yes you numbers may be true about belief in God, that does not change history that we were not founded as I stated.
Also
“I also believe in a high moral code spelled out in the 10 commandments which are part of many faiths.”
Could be taken out of context but is almost eluding to if you do not follow suit to follow the 10 commandments you are not moral.
We do as you have stated have something similar called the 9 noble virtues that we live by.
After a re read of the article I can honestly say my defenses are up as I live in a small town in Nevada and have had to defend my faith from closed minded individuals whom feel that if you are not a “God fearing American Christian” you are not a real American and some devil worshiping loony.
I can see by your article though that you do indeed have some very good points, and valid at that.
I do applaud your thoughts and see that on first read misunderstood much of what you were saying.
I can also however respect your points and offer my hand in an apology dear lady 🙂
Chris
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I am so very glad that the Girl Scouts have done this. I didn’t know it and I thank you for telling me. AMG sounds close minded and a hate filled organization. I must now go out and buy Girl Scout cookies and thank them for a wonderful job of allowing all girls regardless of affiliation in their organization.
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Thank you Jane for imforming us about what the Girl Scouts have been up to. I had no idea until I read your blog and I never bought Girl Scout cookies before but now that I know I’m DEFINITELY making sure I buy at least a few boxes of cookies each month. I think what they’re doing is great and is a move to a better more open minded, loving and accepting future for everyone. From what you’ve written it sounds like the Girl Scouts are leading the way to a better future, a future where it’s okay to believe in anything, to love yourself for who you are and strive to be your best. I think what they’re teaching the future is a message of love and hope. I’ll be sure to tell all of my family (I have a big family) and friends (who also have big families) about the Girl Scouts and encourage them to support the Girl Scouts as well.
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Jane,
UCLA students have once again revealed the racisn of Planned Parenthood.
Visit http://www.laadvocate.com/pp/ and click on the interview at the bottom. It has three parts and you have to come back and click on each part. You will see that Planned Parenthood is a racist organization.
Will GSA sever the relationship with PP?
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Hello Jane,
I wanted to say thank you so much…..for a good laugh that is! I found your post to be very amusing. We are all entitled to our opinions and lifestyles. I was a girl scout from Daisy to Junior, and I fail to see how teaching tolerance of others is bad, and teaching hatefullness and close mindedness could be a good thing to teach a child. To me it is quite the opposite, I believe that tolerance for the vast diversity of life, for nothing in the world is the exact same as the other is beautiful, and teaching hate towards fellow human beings before you get to know the person as a person with a heart, soul, and feelings is terrible. After all there is enough hate in this world as it is, don’t you agree? why not show understanding and compassion that’s what Jesus did is it not? I also don’t see why raising strong women, who can think for themselves, make their own decisions in life and better themselves could be bad. I applaud the Girl Scouts for being open minded, accepting, and compasionate towards their fellow human beings. Unlike some people apparently.
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You ignorant closed minded biggots !!!
How dare you insinuate that your chosen religion is “correct”. there is no factual evidence to give support to any religion over another. Religion is a choice based on faith and belief and for you to negate anothers choice is arrogance of the highest degree. When it comes to religion we are all standing on the exact same foundation. Christianity has nothing at all that places it as higher or more important then any other faith.
In a country that openly prides itself on freedom, you should be ashamed that you would even consider speaking out against this. Your opinions place you in the same class as a white hooded cross burner. You are wrong and you know it.
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I’m sorry such an intelligent person as yourself would be so narrow minded. As I believe Chris stated what makes the 10 commandments the end all of being moral?
What wrong is there in being a feminist?
Actually what wrong is there in being a homosexual? to have someone love you unconditionally that will treat with you respect and vice versa is all that should matter…not their gender!!!
oh…yes, I forgot…my bible tells me so…ahh but the bible is a man written story rewritten by King James who put his own slant on things. But yet in the good book it says:
“For with what judgement you judge, you will be
judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be
measured back to you.” (Matthew 7:2)
and of course let us not forget:
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do
not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
I do believe there are much to many people in this word passing judgement instead of praising tolerance and understanding. No wonder we’re a world in crisis!
To have an opinion is fine as we all have one, but to use it to degrade an organization is another. Whether you believe with what girls scouts are teaching or not…the fact remains they’ve helped thousands of young ladies grow into productive woman. My daughters both firmly believe that girls scouting is a tremendous part of who they are today. Both are strong in their convictions, love attending college and both what to make a difference in their lives!
I don’t think I really understand where girl scouts failed them?
Blessed Be,
Lady Pagan
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Thank you for giving me yet more reasons to support the Girl Scouts and not the Boy Scouts.
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I have rarely, in my life, read such ridiculous material. Everything this country was founded on is represented by the tolerance, acceptance of diversity, cultivation of inner strength, and OPEN-MINDEDNESS of the current direction of the Girl Scouts. After reading this dissertation on regression, I will spend every extra dollar I have on Girl Scout cookies. Shame on you.
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This is so good to know, thanks for the info.
I was planning on putting both my kids into the pagan Spiral Scouts to avoid the discriminatory practices of the Boy Scouts, but maybe I’ll let my daughter join girl scouts after all.
I’m off now to buy EXTRA cookies from the girl scouts
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Jane,
thank you for posting this “article” if you will. It has renewed my faith in the Girl Scouts that they will continue to turn out open minded women fo rmany years to come. Nothing like AHG to crush a girls abitions and tell them they can’t do something. Good old Girl Scouts will always be there to lead the way.
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Oh my goodness! I thought this type of thinking went out with McCarthyism? In a free America people should embrace the very diversity that makes America what it is today a melting pot for immigrants from all over the world. I think I’ll buy extra boxes this year… Kudos to the Girl Scouts of America, and the Spiral Scouts!
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It disgusts me that people like you are trying in this day and age to encourage discrimination in so many forms. You judge those who don’t indulge your sick interpretation of “good” values and morals. I will do everything I can to teach every child I come into contact with to accept and embrace diversity in every way. This article is revolting. However, at least it sheds light on how narrowminded some people can be. I am more proud to be a Girl Scout leader now than I ever have been before! I commend all who support Girl Scouts and all their efforts to help make the world a more caring, helpful, and accepting place.
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Thank you, Jane for posting this information. Reading your blog made the thin mints and tag alongs I recently ate so much more sweeter. If I weren’t watching my weight I’d buy many more boxes. I was a girl scout for a few years and really enjoyed my experiences, now I am even more grateful for my participation in the girl scouts organization. I plan on putting my future daughters in girl scouts (I’m already engaged so its not that far away). As your average red-blooded American, I believe in tolerance and equality for all, personal choice and responsibility, and raising strong independent children regardless of gender. What you’re preaching is not part of what America was founded on. Rather, our great nation was founded on religious FREEDOM, not freedom of Christianity. You’ve lost sight of what the founding fathers believed in through spreading your hatred for others. Jesus stated that we should not judge others, thats not the job of mankind, but is rather the job of God. The Bible also teaches that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves. So either you do not love yourself, Jane, or you are not following the teachings of Christ.
Thanks again, Jane. 🙂
P.S.
Thanks to Amy for mentioning the Pagan Spiral scouts, I will definitely look into it, from one pagan to another. 🙂
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To all:
I am sorry that everyone feels that they should live anyway they like. Right next to me is a street corner with a stop light. Unfortunately, 5 times, while I, as a pedestrian, had the light and started to walk across the street, a car came speeding from the west, cut through the red light, turning right. Had I been in the street at that moment I would have been killed.
The traffic light was placed there for a reason. To save human lives.
Are we suggesting that everyone should ignore the traffic lights and just zoom around. Wouldn’t that be tolerant, if we allowed anyone to do what they liked? Yes, it would be tolerant, but unfortunately some people might (and will) get killed.
I want to ask you all to reconsider what you are saying. Sometimes there are guidelines and rules, so that we will truly be happy. Sometimes stating that we are opened minded is just another way of saying that we don’t want to follow any rules at all. Are the rules there to restrict us? and make us feel trapped? Or are the rules to insure that we keep living and don’t end up dead?
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“I want to ask you all to reconsider what you are saying. Sometimes there are guidelines and rules, so that we will truly be happy. Sometimes stating that we are opened minded is just another way of saying that we don’t want to follow any rules at all. Are the rules there to restrict us? and make us feel trapped? Or are the rules to insure that we keep living and don’t end up dead?”
The trouble with your traffic analogy is that is that the interaction is cars and pedestrians is something that most of us agree on because we can all see it. The correctness of Christianity and the bible and the wrongness of homosexuality is not. It is an issue where many sides think many other sides are completely fooling themselves.
The trouble is, since it seems that G-d is not going to come and settle this once and for all in a way we can all agree on (at least not until it’s too late for us nonbelievers to avoid eternal torment according to some), this issue probably will not be settled in this lifetime. We have a disagreement about the fundamental nature of reality. The Girl Scouts at this moment lean more towards our side in their official policy. We happen to like that. You obviously don’t.
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I am of an alternative religion and if your belief that our system is corupt by alternative religions I feel so very sorry for you and your family. You are a narrow minded individual and now that I know of the background of the girl scouts and the path they have taken, I will see it in my power to support them with everything I can do so with.
I feel for you and pray to my gods that you find it in yourself to remember the admendents of the US in that we are all free to choose our own religious path.
I hope that every other alternative religious person that reads your remakes (Jane) will follow my same path and continue to support a group of courages young girls in thier fight for freedom both as an independent woman and in thier religious beliefs.
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I am saddened by the tone and message of your bigoted, small-minded article. As an American woman and mother of four, former Girl Scout, former Girl Scout leader, and current mother of a Girl Scout leader, I AM EMBARASSED FOR YOU. You obviously have decided to use your own twisted idea of faith, (most likely, I surmise, some sort of “Christian” faith) to try to persuade others to discriminate and exclude CHILDREN from an organization that has chosen to rise above labels and persecution. Have you looked around our shared Earth and realized yet that WE ARE ALL ONE PEOPLE?!? Have you forgotten that Christ’s message (as well as the message of many of the worlds’s other religions) is one of tolerance and inclusion and acceptance? Throughout history far too many people have suffered and died in the name of religion. HOW DARE YOU try to defame an organization because you are too weak and insecure in your own faith to accept the beliefs and choices of others!!! As far as I am concerned, the only people who should be excluded from the Girl Scouts are those who intend to teach harmful messages to our girls and young women. Thankfully, in this effort, people like you are now out of harm’s way. I say GOOD RIDDANCE!
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I am glad that you have brought this information to light. It is nice to know that we still live in a country that people can find a place for themselves, no matter who they choose to be. I am glad that AHG is up and running, the girls from conservative families need a place to feel welcome and safe, just as the pagan children and the children from other “alternative” families. Our nation is one for all! Our forefathers would have been proud, they may not have agreed with everyone’s personal choices, but they would have been proud that we have made them welcome here in the United States of America.
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I LOVED Girl Scouts. I was taught then to be an independent woman, to not depend on other people to do something, but to do it myself. I was taught that I didn’t have to stay home with the kids while hubby got to go to work to earn the money. I’m having a wonderful time in life now THANKS TO the Girl Scouts. If my daughter wants to join the Girl Scouts and become an even more independent woman, so be it. I will NOT hinder anyone from becoming independent and break free from the chains women wore for so long.
Oh yeah, I’m also Pagan and a bi-sexual. No one really cares or thinks of that except for close-minded people like you who don’t like change or people different from yourself. People like you make me want to hibernate.
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When my sister brought this article to my attention I was sure it was a joke. What person in their right mind would take money away from children who had nothing to do with the decision you disagree with? I am a Girl Scout Leader and have always been proud to be. However, I am also a feminist, a gay/lesibian/bisexual/transgendered activist and a very faithful Christian (how God hasn’t struck me with lightning while I’m standing here I guess we’ll never know). People like you and the WBC with your sheer close-mindedness and biggoted ideas only make hate stronger. And as far as I know, hate was not a lesson of Christs’, it is not one of the Fruits of the Spirit and it sure as hell is not a value I will be teaching any of my scouts. In fact, I have half a mind when they get a little older to show them this article as an example on how not to treat people. When Jesus said love everyone, he didn’t mean just those who look or think like you—he meant everyone. When I have children I would love for them to have a lesbian scout leader (hell, why not even a transgendered scout leader) so she will be exposed to others and learn to love them for who are and not who they love. As far as AHG goes, being a place for little conservative girls to feel welcome and other organizations being places for all the other little girls to feel welcome–segregation anyone? Is that really where we are again? I had hoped as society we had come farther. Our forefathers would be proud? Yeah, they probably would be since most of them owned slaves and didn’t consider anyone different from them as real people.
I can’t change your views and I can’t make you support GS. Go ahead and support AHG, but I doubt their cookies are as good. You know how good of bakers us left wing, feminsit, marxist, lesbians are.
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Ms. Chastain,
As a very independent thinking woman, and Girl Scout Leader and former Girl Scout(11years), I find your article both obsurd, insulting, and way off base. While there are many things that have changed since I was a young girl in Girl Scouts the premise of the institution still remains the same, and that is to bring young girls together to learn and experience new things in which they may not otherwise have the opportunity to do. I have not met any militant ‘feminists’ as you refer to nor have I seen any Girl Scout badges that require girls to learn to be a feminist. While Girl Scouts may not center its’ teachings on Christianity or any other one religion, it does teach some moral foundation that are important and are within the teachings of Christianity. The biggest thing that Girl Scouts teaches the girls is tolerance and acceptance of others no matter their race, religion, or sexual preference. I think that is also a point made throughout the Bible. “Judge others less not we be judged.”
As far as cookies, the sales of the cookies bring .56 cents per box to the troop. The rest of the money goes to our local unit, then the local council, state council, then to Girl Scout USA and finally the fees to cover the cookie costs. These fees cover camp maintenance, building costs, materials, fee free programs, costs of supplies and uniforms for girls who can not afford these items.
It is because of narrow minded thinking and views, that America should be thankful for groups like Girl Scouts who wish to expand the minds of girls and teach them that being kind, helpful, polite, and viewing others as equal to themselves is a good thing. That they can have fun and make friends with a world of girls and experience goes as far as their imaginations will take them.
Shame on you, Ms. Chastain.
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What is so wrong with allowing non-Christians to join the Girl Scouts? If anything it teaches tolerance and diversity. What is wrong with senior girls researching freethinking women who have made major contributions to society on behalf of women?
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It is clear by these posts that some readers really don’t get it. No one has addressed the apparent “mission creep” of a once venerable institution whose goal was to develop character and an outward focus in young women. Saying that anything goes is nothing less than moral relativism that rarely helps anyone make meaningful decisions. Ms. Chastain’s faith is apparently important to her and her disappointment in a tradition that has changed is understandable. Christians aren’t Christians some of the time, they are Christians all of the time and believe in right and wrong.
Applaud or disagree as you might, but I appreciate a woman who truly cares about girls of today. today’s young women have unprecedented challenges and the Girl Scouts are doing them no great service by reflecting society in lieu of holding up high moral standards.
Vagina monologues – wiccan religious recognitions – new age leadership institutes. CEDAW is good legislation.. Girl Scouts, you have got to be kidding!
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This article provided with the most amusement I have experienced in quite a while. You spoke about how you are glad that the United States did not support the legislation to end discrimination against women, citing that the legislation would support prostitution. Yet in an earlier sentence you stated that girls should be encouraged to be “homemakers”. Let me ask you something–if the woman stays at home earning no money while her husband buys all the food, her clothing and shelter, and pays all of her bills–is that not prostitution? After all, is she not earning her keep by keeping him satisfied?
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Since when does drawing a line in the sand between right and wrong constitute hate? People can still be shown love and respect as Christ demands, without their behaviors being condoned, and without our children being taught that all behaviors are okay.
Just as Girl Scouts is not for everyone, neither is AHG. Just because AHG is not for you, that is no reason to jump to the conclusion that they teach hate. Drawing a line between right and wrong does not constitute hate – and I see nothing in AHG’s program that supports, teaches or even hints at hate.
Today’s culture has seemed to adapt the meaning of tolerance to equate to agreement or acceptance – is it no longer possible to be tolerant, while respectfully disagreeing? Can’t I still be tolerant of other ideals, without wanting my children to be taught that those ideals are true and right?
I believe that there are families for whom Girl Scouts will support and uphold their values and ideals – but I also believe that their are many families for whom Girl Scouts is NOT an option. I am glad that an alternative to GS exists, so families can choose an organization that best meets their needs. No hate here.
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I liked picking mushrooms, in fact there are two mushrooms that look almost exactly alike. They both have a white cap, they both have fringes of the cap left clinging to their stem, both are like white buttons when they emerge from the ground. One is called “agaricus campetris” the other “amanita phalloides” Do you know how to tell them apart? Do you know which one is deadly poisonous and which one is sold in the grocery store? If you make one mistake, you could be killed.
The thought that any behavior goes is just like picking mushrooms. All looks good, in fact two look almost identical. At the moment, eating them is pleasant and enjoyable. But their intrinsic makeup or molecular content is what makes all the difference. This is an objective fact.
We need to recognize that perhaps there really is an almighty being, in objective reality, who has laid down a foundation stone for our moral behavior, and he and he alone knows which behaviors will keep us alive and which behaviors will not.
For those who don’t believe in God, I simply ask you to see the incredible complexity of our DNA, such arrangements could not possibly come from chance.
For those who do believe in God, I simply remind you that we have an obligation to listen to Him and heed his moral instructions, doesn’t he know what will create our true happiness?
Even simple mathematics teaches us that when we claim that all assertions (religions) are correct, this cannot possibly be true. If we claim that our religion is correct, then we have an obligation to show others why, but not in the sense of bashing others over the head, as is correctly stated. In my case, Christianity forced me to chose, because no teacher of a religion ever rose from the dead, except Jesus Christ. No religious teacher said “I am the way the truth and the life” so either Jesus was divine or he was a lunatic. No religious teacher said “Kill me and 3 days later I will arise from the dead” Jesus did foretell this ahead of time and then did rise from the dead. Even the religious leaders of the time knew what he said, sent temple guards to guard the tomb and make sure no one could possibly steal away the body. If the guards failed, they were immediately put to death.
But we do know what happened, some of the guards went to the religious establishment and told them what had happened, and they got paid off to tell a lie.
When someone comes along and foretells things and then demonstrates his power over death, I would like to think that we would consider his claims and his authority.
Most Christians I have met, didn’t chose their religion, like choosing lettuce in the grocery store. I came to Christ, because I had to consider his claims and authority, not because I was free to pick and choose. Belief in God isn’t a subjective matter, it is chosing to believe in what is objectively true.
As one who was molested as a young boy, for over 4 months, I think I have a right to say that some kinds of behavior are immoral and wrong. Conversely some types of behavior are right and true. It is simply wrong to say that all is okay and that we should be tolerant of all.
Making this same mistake with two mushrooms could get you killed, and this is most certainly true with our moral behavior.
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Hi Jane,
Loved this information. How about a photo of an AHG uniform, some girls proudly wearing it so that those of us who were scouts but don’t have young daughters involved in scouting can identify those wearing the AHG uniform and compliment them for their choice!
Nice work – as always!
Your friend…
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Hi Jane!
I’m not the least bit surprised about the problems the Girl Scouts are going through. Their problems go way back before World War 2. If you have ever read Jeannie Wakatsuki Houston’s book Farewell To Manzanar, the problems were inherent for quite a long time. My parents used to talk about racial discrimination in the Girl Scouts which had been going on for many years before my older sister was born (1960). The Ethnic minority communities knew there was racism going on before WWII, and those things transformed into other problems you now see today. When the crackdown on racism started, these other evils you now see began to fill the void left behind. My parents in their contempt for the Girl Scouts never enrolled my sister with them. Now to this day, if you come across the Japanese American community members who refuse to help out the Girl Scouts in any way, you can bet that they had been exposed to their dark side years ago, and have refused to reconcile with them. If you wound a Japanese American’s dignity, there’s a good chance you will be dealing with plenty of wrath and unforgiveness for smearing someone’s good name. The Girl Scouts will continue to reap the seeds of destruction now.
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I am amazed that some of the GSA supporters responses have lost the key focus of what GSA has changed into and behind the scenes at that. I never received a form telling me that Lesbians will be welcomed as camp leaders and that they were partnering with Planned Parenthood. And, I resent it. I resent being at camp and finding this out for myself. I had to “fry like bacon” to get my breakfast only to be cornered by a lesbian needing marital advice with her then “life partner”. And she asked for it right in front of my 3rd grader. This hidden agenda is now not so hidden any more and that’s good that they are admitting to it so that parents can make an informed choice. GSA is upset because they know the Christians are on to them and they want to keep using us to sell those cookies. 85% of the profit goes to the National Council. I don’t like being taken advantage of, and it makes me mad that I actually pressured my neighbors for so many years to buy those stupid cookies. GSA is stumbling now, because there are leaders who are bucking the system by not attending the camps, not selling the cookies and having parents pay extra money for activities instead to support the wonderful service projects instead of selling cookies. Many have just gotten disgusted and quit all together. Yet, some continue to pay dues each year which also supports the National agenda.
AHG sets up troop accounts so that an average of 45% of their sales pays for camps, dues or uniform needs. Imagine that! Not all local councils follow the national agenda of GSA, but they cannot deny the national agenda’s public intention to continue the relationship with Planned Parenthood and push the organization into a lesbian run one. That’s fine with me- go right ahead with out me.
We have better things to do at meetings and we are having too much fun camping and earning badges within a Pro Life organization to worry about where the GSA is going any more. I am safe and feel right at home at camp getting to know women of other faiths. We pray freely at camp and thank God for the founders of American Heritage Girls. I know that my daughters are safe due to the high standards within the AHG organization.
Acceptance and tolerance are two different adjectives. I do not accept the behavior of the lesbians or gays, but I do tolerate them as human beings and take heart that God loves all people and try to think about the positive efforts they give back to society. My human weakness makes it hard for me to love them but I am also called to do this.
I do teach my daughters to be independent, to be careful- to be educated- to go to college and be able to support themselves before they get married. AHG also supports these goals for girls. Marriage is also a choice for them to make and is not for everyone.
I find it interesting that some GSA supporters are threatened by this choice for Christians. Christians are the silent majority of our country. Before this we did not have a choice- and GSA had the monopoly as the only choice for Americans for their girls who want to be a scout. With 2 Girl Scouts of my own, it was not easy pulling them out of their social groups and telling them that GSA does not align with their faith core values. As their mother, I am just doing what my faith calls me to do. It’s my job to protect them as long as I can. And yes, they both cried. My oldest now understands and I hope she will be proud of my efforts to expose the truth about GSA to our community. She likes sports and art better anyway.
GSA has many wonderful service opportunities for girls of all faiths or the lack there of- service of God AND country is what America is all about. But it is not what GSA is all about any longer as a whole. How many Christians have died and are currently dying just so all of us could have our freedom to believe what we want to- even if it is the most self serving. This is also what America is all about.
I am teaching my girls to love their friends and their enemies and to pray for the safety of girls who are at the GSA “equal opportunity camps” this year. I am amazed that some moms are willing to sacrifice the safety of their daughter to support GSA’s ideals, but it is not my business to judge.
At the very least, please do not drop off your daughters at any GSA camp this summer unsupervised by someone you know. There have been documented cases of abuse by lesbians here in Ohio. GSA has covered up even shielded lesbians from paying for their abuse (illegal- Hello? activities). GSA is actively recruiting lesbians to run these camps. If you do not take your daughter out of GSA, make sure you are chaperoning her yourself or with another trusted adult. Not all of the older girls running these camps are gay, however, the head counselors tend to be. I have witnessed this myself.
I am thankful to the founders of AHG for fighting against Planned Parenthood and starting this organization for those parents who recognize the price to be paid of supporting GSA and what it has evolved into.
I am proud that my daughters are part of a Pro Life Organization (AHG) which is based on what the original GSA program intended if you look into its original history.
Many folks of faith also support Planned Parenthood, but they forget or choose not to think about what the majority of the activity (abortion) takes place there. This is killing our girls self esteem and integrity and injuring their souls – and for some, they never recover because they feel that no one would ever want them and no longer love themselves, let alone have the strength to love anyone else. Only after the abortion to they realize what they have done and it can be impossible to overcome. Buying cookies, paying council dues supports this agenda. Most parents may not like the idea of standing up to their own daughters and say “Sorry, you can no longer be a Girl Scout” because the agenda of GSA is too adult to discuss. You will have to wait until you are older” to understand. Or, just come out and say it after a while because my daughters wanted an explanation and I could not shield them any longer. Yet, as their mother, they are too young to be told anything about Lesbians or gays. They need to be children without worry so I tell them: “GSA has partnered with Planned Parenthood – which the majority of activiy involves abortion. This does not align with your Catholic faith. AHG is a Pro Life Organization and if you want to be a scout, this is our family’s choice for you.” “It does not mean that any local Girl Scout leaders know about GSA or intend to follow its National Agenda as a leader in this community.”
Other countries do not respect the USA because we have Planned Parenthood for the parents who have lost track of their daughters and view it as an acceptable solution. We desperately need to continue to talk to our daughters about the realities of sexual activity and the price that can be paid. WE are viewed by the world as animals for this choice not “fighters of freedom for our girls”.
We need to teach our daughters purity – and to save themselves from the many diseases and deaths that occur to those who engage in sexual activity before marriage. This is the world we are in because of freedom of choice and it makes it harder to live in for our girls of faith and not of faith equally.
I am blessed to be part of a scouting organization that will back me up from the bottom all the way to the top.
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I praise God daily for all of you folks who have stood strong in your beliefs and supported AHG. We were involved in GS for 3 years, and I kept trying to make it work, but I could never quite figure out why it just didn’t click with us. Bless my sweet girl for being so patient, waiting for some good things to happen in her scouting troop. Even her GS camp got rained out last year (thank God!) Finally last summer I’d had enough. While my Boy Scout was working on Citizenship in the Nation and Citizenship in the Community, I picked up a 1994 copy of the GS Junior Handbook (target age 8 – 11), and realized it’s trashier fiction than I would allow her read. There are way too many good books out there than for her to waste her time on that smut (regarding ‘long, no-time-out-for-breathing kissing’, and the ‘older 16 year old pregant sister, whose afraid to tell her parents’ -I suppose that’s intended to bring up the topic in our household. How convenient that earning a ‘becoming a teen patch’ addresses that for me, by requiring a trip to a clinic, and again, that some Councils will help parents with that one by having Council sponsored PP field trips). Then I finally did my background check on GS – a little late. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t know better. Wish I had seen your article and more like it sooner. I’m embarrassed that I used my sweet girl, in that little uniform, selling cookies to support an agenda I don’t agree with. And then the gut-wrenching thought hit me: the GS program for the younger girls is still considered ‘traditional’. Is GS ‘grooming’ our little girls by bringing them in with a good traditional program while they’re young, then slowly, the program changes, and supports their relationship with PP? Smooth-move on PP’s part. Future customers will be aware of their services, even before they need them. Brilliant!
Having come through a very long grieving process for the loss of what I thought our girls group was, and wondering “Why, why did we stand strong for our boys, but let our girls organization drift?”, I can say now, thank God for each and every one of you American Heritage Girl employees, leaders, and supportive columnists. You helped me pull through, knowing I wasn’t alone in my journey to stand up for my beliefs. And yes, it was very difficult sacrificing my girls social life, and telling them that the national organization isn’t following God’s ways, and we’ll share the details with you when you get older.
But the beauty of it was in the promise that God’s ways are always best! Even when we can’t see the end of the story yet, we had to trust & obey. The day we quit GS, in church we sang “Trust and obey, there’s no other way, if you want to be happy, then trust and obey.” As I was still crying daily, my dear hubby added “Don’t cry anymore, I’ve shown you the door…”
6 months later, I am truly blessed to be a chairperson of a new AHG troop with 20 girl members. When our troop membership grew to double the size of our old GS troop, we thanked God, that just like Job, He had rewarded us with twice as many as we had had before the trial.
I’d like to share with you some of the great things we can do:
We don’t sell cookies,
We bake cookies for the Kairos prison ministry.
We made curtains for our local food pantry.
We made placemats for the prison ministry.
We plan to help with a Nursing Home Worship service in our community & visit with the seniors.
We hope to make agape for the carnival workers who come to town once a year.
We plan to help stock the shelves at our local food pantry.
We plan to help with Operation Christmas Child – to help children less fortunate than us around the world.
These activities are all about LOVE, God’s love, and because God loved us first, we show our love, by loving others – especially those in the most unlovable circumstances.
Try making cookies with your kids for prisoners sometime, see if your girls ask “Why are we doing this for the ‘bad guys’? Why aren’t these cookies for me? Mom, do you you love the ‘bad guys’ more than you love me?” These are the conversations I like to spark in my household, even more than standing outside the gas station selling cookies in January, guilt-tripping aquaintances to serve the almighty dollar.
And we welcome girls of ALL faiths into our Troops.
We strive for integrity by requiring that our leaders are Christian. By Christian, that means we’re not perfect, but we’re trying.
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6
“There is but one way to raise up a child in the way he ought to go, and that is to travel that way yourself.” Abraham Lincoln
In hind site, for me, being in GS was like living the Old Testament – that’s all I thought there was, and I sensed something was missing, that was present in Boy Scouts, but we couldn’t quite get a grasp on in GS. Now I know, it was the Holy Spirit that was missing.
In AHG, we’re living in the New Testament – our Messiah has come, and we’ve got Jesus!
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 8: 13,14
“It’s easier to cut new steel, than to weld rusty metal.”
Stay strong in your faith, and anyway, if you’ve read the last chapter…We Win!
Jane – YOU GO GIRL!
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Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for confirming that reincarnation does exist and that within reincarnation men can become women. Hitler made into a woman!! WOW! what a wake up call…. now it’s time to be a good little girl and take your cianide like you made all the good little boys and girls do. No better yet–kill them!!! kill them all!!! NO, better yet put all the “good” girls- who believe in a monotheilistic god in a concentration camp. Leave ALL others out. If this isn’t the making of Jim Jones all over again. Charles Manson would be proud!!!. David Koresh all the way!!! Now on a serious note: ALL above venting is just that, to get to see how insane you are for even coming up with a ludicrous idea such as the AGH. As a wiccan who came from the Bible thumping, Hell fire and brimstone past that I came from is very secure in my loving Earth and ALL who live in it, no matter what religion if any religion at all. It’s not what is professed out of the mouth, it is what lies in the HEART. A gentle spirit is going to spread love and gentleness, but a hard core Christian who is only thinking “gotta save souls” pounds, pushes, judges, condemns, throws “stones” to get that soul to Jesus. I know people from all walks of life and many different religions, and it breaks my heart to se the Christians doing exactly what Jesus told them not to. “He who hasn’t sinned, cast the first stone”. “All are welcome at my Fathers table” I am going to tell you, like so many wished they did. Hit your knees, ask for forgiveness from your God, and look in the mirror. For you have to be loving and kind to yourself before you can be kind to others and this article certaintly wasn’t kind. It was down right hurtful.
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Girl Scouts is what you make of it. I am in my 20th year (8 as a girl and 12 as a leader). I will miss it dearly when my daughter graduates from high school this May. I have an old Girl Scout badge book that includes a badge for ironing. Come on now it was time for some change. In the world of two income families (out of necessity), where is the harm in empowering our daughters to be strong women, make good, moral decisions, and expand their horizons to prepare for a long career. My daughter is drug and alcohol free. The girls in our troop are drug and alcohol free. I will not be surprised to someday see them as leaders in the community.
I have watched the Boy Scouts become more and more bigotted and it really makes me ill. I like the Girls Scouts “Every Girl, Everywhere” motto. I have never run into a lesbian couselor. I have never run into a Girl Scout witch. Oh and by the way…AHG you’re a Christian organization but take members of all faiths? Jewish? Hindu? What? All leaders must be Christian? Sounds almost racist to me. Thank God no one has ever treated my girls the way you have. They would be devastated. How dare you take something wholesome and good and turn it into something terribly threatening to the wonderful girls. Shame on you.
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Fortunately for me, I do not have the emotional attachment that many Girl Scout Leaders have- especially if you have invested so much of your time leading your troop and being a Girl Scout yourself. It took me 3 years to take any action myself. It took me 2 years to get our parish to get chartered. I don’t teach any of my girls to hate their girl friends for being Girl Scouts. In fact, they don’t know about the adult content of all of this. My oldest daughter does know some details because she is 12 and is beginning to ask questions about her faith and wants to know what our family values are when it comes to sex. I don’t want her to sell herself short and go down the wrong path.
God Bless you for being such a great leader and such an excellent role model, but do not judge me as a parent for having a problem with GSA on a national level. Two of my finest leaders come from Girl Scouts. One was a Girl Scout all through college and has her own personal sad story to tell. I respect my GSA leaders, but working so hard representing an organization that has changed itself to be equal opportunity, thus allowing gays and lesbians in the camps, honoring lesbians as GSA role models, etc. is just not a match or attractive. Have you done your homework? Not to mention reducing God to an asterisk when their Catholic teaching is to honor Him in everything they do. I have first hand experience with the Lesbian run camps here in Ohio, and disapprove of the new National mandates of accepting lesbians and actively recruiting them into the young girls camps- where girls are dropped off at the age of 12 years old to be aides by themselves. This is a huge safety issue and I gather one day there will be a witness, and a girl will get hurt in the process. Neither one of my girls or any of them in my troop will be at risk. Girl Scouts has a relationship with Planned Parenthood and admitted they will continue to do so. Not every local council goes along with this, however, the cookie sales and the dues support this national initiative. As an American I understand the tolerance of all people, however, my Catholic religion teaches non acceptance of the gay lifestyle and is Pro Life. I want an organization like American Heritage Girls due to the safety issues our girls face today- especially at camp. All adult volunteers are background checked and I have proof of this before they spend anytime with the girls.
Maybe I am naive about purity and abstinence. I just don’t believe in mixed messages for our girls. “I don’t want you to have sex, but if you do, here’s some birth control pills so you don’t get pregnant”. It’s like driving without a drivers license. Or saying “Don’t drink and drive, but if you do, be sure to drive slowly and maybe if you get in a wreck you won’t get hurt as much”. You would never say that to your own child. The message to our girls these days needs to be clear. God knows what makes us happy and abstinence before marriage leads us to happiness. Yes, I made some mistakes in my youth which I really pray every day that neither of my girls will make the same mistakes. As a parent, I want to be able to help Pregnancy Centers and Pro- Life agencies through service projects without looking over my shoulder and hoping that the council doesn’t find out about it.
AHG is a Christian Organization- for more information go to http://www.ahgonline.org. You will see no hate there but an organization that is Pro-life offering relevant and modern badges for girls today and plenty of room for girl leadership with a Stars and Stripes program being the final goal. The program is family oriented and fathers can also get involved teaching badges in a 2 leader deep situation.
GSA has indeed “taken something wholesome and good and as turned it into something terribly threatening to the wonderful girls”, not AHG. Shame on GSA. AHG is reacting with over 4000 members and growing rapidly. I will be able to accept non Catholic girls in my troop as long as the parents can agree with the statement of faith which can be found on the website.
I’m no holy roller as they say, however, I just don’t understand why some people don’t get why a parent would not want a gay or lesbian counselor around their boys or girls at camps when the parents aren’t there to protect them. Who is going to protect them? Obviously the GSA council doesn’t seem to care about this part. I don’t understand why that makes me a bigot for being upset about this idea. I don’t hate gays, I just suspect them when they are fighting so hard to get into the BSA and GSA realm instead of using their talents among adults. It’s called easy access to our children, and I would rather not take my chances, thank you.
I hope the corporate folks at GSA read all this stuff and change their initiatives because clearly they are losing members left and right.
Good luck to you all!
Happy and Blessed in Ohio!
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I was very disturbed after I read your article. I have wonderful memories of when I was a girl scout. I am now a leader and delegate for Girl Scouts. I am not a lesbian nor do I promote same sex and that is another topic that is not related to Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts for that matter. Let’s not confused the two topics – shall we. My daughter will be bridging up to Juniors and we are still very excited to be a Girl Scout. I think the values she is learning is wonderful. She has learned so much through the programs of Girl Scouts. Look at the society today and how messed up the children are. They do not have any leadership or values. Girl Scouts is always changing their ways to make it fun for the girls and how to empower them in anything they can do. She has learned about camping, the environment, all kinds of history, teamwork and has met so many great friends in return. This is not about politics or lesbians this about the girls future and what leadership roles will they take on after they complete Girl Scouts. I think you have this all wrong and we wonder why our children are misdirected in society. Wake up people it begins at home with good values and virtures.
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