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The Girl Scouts are Awesome


Seventh Pup

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Unforunately I was not a Girl Scout (though I really wanted to be), but as an adult I've been impressed with them. If I have any daughters in the future I would want to try it out at the very least.



The Girl Scouts don't just produce some of the most addictively crazable cookies imaginable. But they also seem to be a pretty awesome organization. In so many ways they seem like the opposite of the Boy Scouts. Basically they seem to believe in supporting girls, whether gay, straight, or transgender.



Here is an article about a local branch.



In case the link doesn't work for some reason... The local branch has an annual budget of $350,000 a year. They received a donation of $100,000 which was huge. Then with all the Caitlyn Jenner press, the person who donated wrote the Girl Scouts and asked for assurance that none of their money would be used for transgender girls, and if that assurance could not be given then they asked for their money to be returned. The Girl Scouts made the decision to return the money.



They have since received enough donations to make up for the lost donation. Sometimes humanity is great.




.


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Are Boy Scouts considered generally bad for the kids involved, or are you not implying anything negative about them by saying that Girl Scouts are the opposite?

From what I understand (limited, as the Boy Scouts in the UK are very different) the Boy Scouts of America actively excludes LGBT folks and atheists.

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Are Boy Scouts considered generally bad for the kids involved, or are you not implying anything negative about them by saying that Girl Scouts are the opposite?

I'm pretty sure lots of branches of the American boy scouts have gone on record excluding LGBT boys.

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From what I understand (limited, as the Boy Scouts in the UK are very different) the Boy Scouts of America actively excludes LGBT folks and atheists.

I'm pretty sure lots of branches of the American boy scouts have gone on record excluding LGBT boys.

I see, thanks. Wiki does say this:

On May 23, 2013, The Boy Scouts of America's national governing body voted to rescind the long-standing ban on homosexual youth in the program. Effective January 1, 2014, "No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone."

Though I think there might still be a ban on gay adult leaders.

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Why is it unfair for them to exclude Athiests? I don't know if they do exclude athiests but if they want to be a religious organization that's their choice.

The Girl Scout Promise

On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

The Girl Scout Law

I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.

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I wished to be a part of scouts for a short time as a child, but never got around to that. I guess I had too many free time activities as it was.



But the scout organisations are quite different here than what it seems to be in America. There are no "girl scouts" and "boy scouts", there are just scouts. I do not understand the need to divide the children's activities by gender like that at all.


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I was a cub scout in Ireland from ages 7-12. Even then there was one scouting organization that was split by gender, was more conservative and had a connection with the church, and another organization that was coed, more liberal and no connection with the church. I was in the latter.

I would like my son to enjoy the scouts as I did but it definitely seems to be more socially conservative here so I have steered clear so far.

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Well, Robert Baden-Powell, who founded the scouting movement, believed there was a role for spirituality in a person's life. His oath used a reference to God, specifically the Christian God, but the scouting movement became so popular so quickly around the world he recognized that all religions should be included.

Afaik, most scouting organizations don't ask about your religion, but spirituality is still considered a central tenet of scouting.

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^

Here in the UK there's Scouts and Guides, the former is for both boys and girls (my group had quite a few girls, most had fewer) whilst the latter is only for girls. I suppose that's unfair.

There was a fair amount of religion bullshit as I recall (meaning we had to go to Church on roughly 5-10 occassions throughout the year). Plus, it's in the promise/law etc (although I think they changed one of those at some point). That said, at my group although you were pressured into going, it was more about having to do your duty and not pick-and-choose rather than actually having to believe in God. Basically, it was embarrassing for the leaders when only 3 people showed up. Consequences of absence included: sarcastic comments and jibes next week, plus in the week preceding the next event.

When I was in the scouts christianity was treated pretty much the way it gets treated at most primary schools. I.e. God was mentioned every now and again, we sang a few hymns and went to services for Easter and...Advent I think (is that the one with the oranges and candles)? Anyway, point being it was entirely flavour text, no actual belief or even engagement required.

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Was anyone else a Brownie? That's what you are before a Girl Scout. Before that you're a Daisy. I was in Brownies and my troop leader was a man. He always wore jeans, flip flops, and a bow tie.


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Why is it unfair for them to exclude Athiests? I don't know if they do exclude athiests but if they want to be a religious organization that's their choice.

Atheists dont want to be in their Super Adventure Club anyways.

Or at least this atheist doesnt. As for unfair....I dont know about that, but the legality of exclusion of atheists/agnostics has been upheld by courts.

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I love the Girl Scouts but I got kicked out of Brownies when I was a tot and never made it to Girl Scout level.



It's a long, drawn out story involving disobedience and injury. I won't bore you with it.



I like their cookies, but I still hold a grudge against them.


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I love the Girl Scouts but I got kicked out of Brownies when I was a tot and never made it to Girl Scout level.

It's a long, drawn out story involving disobedience and injury. I won't bore you with it.

I like their cookies, but I still hold a grudge against them.

You are beyond charming and you always leave people wanting more. :laugh:

I am shocked that the Brownies ever kicked someone out! I imagine you giving a side-eye look when you purchase the cookies, handing over the money slowly and muttering "This changes nothing." The Keebler elves make almost all the same cookies all year long. In case you crave them.

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