Don’t fall for (conservative) smears against the Girl Scouts

[onehandle]

The culture wars in this country have grown so acute that we can’t even agree to support a patriotic, faith-affirming, achievement-oriented group like the Girl Scouts.

I smile when girls from the local troop stand nervously on my doorstep and ask me to buy Thin Mints and Trefoils. I see the next generation of a treasured institution about to celebrate 100 years of giving girls a chance to hike and camp, learn skills such as gardening and first aid, and build character and leadership.

But some religious conservatives see something very different: representatives of a dangerous, secular organization that aggressively promotes abortion and quietly encourages paganism, homosexuality and other alleged social ailments. It’s ill-informed nonsense. Nonetheless, it’s spawned a smear campaign against the Girl Scouts that’s starting to have an impact, including in our region.

Conservative activists have used social media to encourage parents to boycott cookie sales, pull their daughters out of scouts and push churches not to provide meeting spaces for troops.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/robert-mccartney-dont-fall-for-smears-against-the-girl-scouts/2012/01/27/gIQAEJtMYQ_story.html

[Betsy Ross]

1. I asked around the office to find a source for cookies

I don't normally buy them, but the boycott encouraged me to do so.

[MH1]

24. I bought 2 boxes this year.

I usually don't, because I don't think the cookies are all that great, and I don't even know how they're made (or if even in the US for that matter).

But I bought them this year because of the fundie nutjob's attempt to boycott.

[WolverineDG]

34. They're made in the US, from different suppliers nt

[Fuzz]

36. My daughter is a girl scout and we have too many. Well, not really, just that I keep eating them.

Thin mints in the freezer. mmmm

[justiceischeap]

2. I posted the following image on my facebook page 5 days ago

This is what conservatives are using on facebook (and I'd guess elsewhere) to make their point. It has encouraged me and many others to seek out Girl Scouts and buy cookies.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Why in the world would you post that on YOUR page?

You're helping them promote this nonsense.

[justiceischeap]

8. Because it may promote them but it also informs people of what they are doing

Every single person that has commented on it, has commented positively and stated they would now be SUPPORTING the Girl Scouts. I'm using their ignorance against them as are others who are sharing the link with comments such as, "Look at what jack-ass conservatives are saying about the Girl Scouts."

[jwirr]

30. I hope you added a post to explain why you were posting it.

[justiceischeap]

32. This is what I posted...

Go Girl Scouts! Need to find some cookies to support them.
If this is supposed to make me not like the Girl Scouts, then it failed cause it only makes me like them more and makes me that much prouder for having been one.

[OmahaBlueDog]

16. I always post these kinds of things when I see them on DU

You always need to know what the conservative talking points are, as well as the POV of the supplier.

[Initech]

27. Exactly it helps to know your enemy.

But WTF was that flyer? Their broad definition of transgender is so stupid it's hard to wrap one's head around it.

[WolverineDG]

35. I posted it too

but put "This is why I'm PROUD to be a Girl Scout"

dg

[txwhitedove]

10. Proud Brownie and Girl Scout here. I don't understand anyone smearing the Girl Scouts.

That's just crazy.

[OmahaBlueDog]

15. Thanks for posting that!

I've forwarded this to our Girl Scout leader, so she at leas knows what she's up against.

[MattBaggins]

18. My older daughter is in 4H

but the younger one has a friend in GS who wants her to join.

I have no problems with 4H but would like to get my girls in GS just to help support them.

[jwirr]

31. It is a good organization and does not promote the stuff that poster claims it does. Get your girls

in because it is going to be good for them.

[xchrom]

3. Du rec. Nt

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Did they miss this?

The current Girl Scout "Promise" (there may be variations)

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.

I remember when I was one and we did it as (I think when I was a Brownie):

I promise to do my best
To love God and my country,
To help other people every day
Especially those at home.

I have come to accept that anything coming out of a convervo-fake's mouth is a lie, distortion, or exaggeration.

[Honeycombe8]

6. It's simpler than that for me. If I know the parents, I buy some cookies. If I don't know 'em,

I don't buy 'em.

The last thing I need is cookies. Now jelly beans are a different matter.

[Booster]

7. After reading about the boycott, I ordered 10 boxes from a friend's daughter and asked her to ship

them to our troops, which they will do. Like you, the last thing I need is 10 boxes of cookies. lol

[noamnety]

9. I just wish their fundraising activities

Weren't so laser-focused on contributing to the obesity epidemic.

[OmahaBlueDog]

12. They ain't gonna raise money selling celery

(althought the boy scouts sell popcorn -- I suppose that's not so bad).

[noamnety]

13. They might raise money by selling veggies seeds though.

I'm just suggesting that there's a disconnect with an organization that has a mission of helping people doing their fundraising in a way that harms people.

It's not so different from the ethics involved in running a state lottery in that regard.

[OmahaBlueDog]

14. Nobody forces anybody to purchase the cookies or the lottery tickets

..and, unlike Vegas or your local grocery store, the money is going to a useful cause.

[noamnety]

28. the lottery funds education in my state

probably a more important cause.

Both get people to "voluntarily" donate by preying on people's unhealthy addictions. (gambling, sugar)
I'm not saying it should be illegal, mind you, just saying that neither meet my standard for ethical fundraising, for similar reasons.

[Arkansas Granny]

29. Cookies are not inherently harmful if eaten in moderation.

I don't think they would raise nearly as much money selling veggie seeds. There are a lot more people who buy cookies that there are who grow veggies.

[OmahaBlueDog]

11. We had this happen in our daughter's scout troop

One of the parents wouldn't let her daughter sell cookies, and indicated that when she went on the Girl Scouts website she "clicked on a link, which took her to another link, which took pher to Planned Parenthood's website."

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, cookie sales are otherwise strong.

[Initech]

26. WTF kind of logic is that?

That's the equivalent of going on Wikipedia and clicking on how many topics it takes you to get to the page on Hitler.

[tanyev]

17. If a girl is enterprising enough to come to my door, I'll buy some.

But I don't buy them when they've got a table set up at the grocery store or a co-worker puts an order form in the break room.

[MattBaggins]

19. That's not really all that fair

Times have changed and kids are discouraged from door to door sales. It is considered annoying by the majority of people and in today's world is down right dangerous.

[tanyev]

20. I get that, but I don't really need more calories in my diet.

I usually get one girl at my door every year and I will buy cookies then, but that's it.

[MattBaggins]

21. I understand that

I'm a diabetic so I don't even buy the candy from my own kids.

[CatholicEdHead]

22. Guilt by Association setup

Reading through the link it looks like SOP for ultra-conservative Catholics to take something really minor, blow it out of proportion, sometimes make things up, and stand firm with the unflexable position.

I have also seen them go after Kormon for the Cure breast cancer group for similar things. One hearsay that a very small amount was given to PP, so then in their minds it is evil overall and treated as a enemy ever since.

The pro-life, pro-family movements are extremely paranoid about anything that contradicts their narrow world view which rises or falls on only two or three things (abortion, gay marriage, contraception), the rest is irrelevant.

[onehandle]

23. 'ultra-conservative Catholics' are a tiny sliver of American Catholics...

...but boy are they loud.

They see the word 'faith' as crusade, and tarnish us all.

[PassingFair]

38. There's nothing "guilty" about Planned Parenthood.

Catholic churches are well within their rights to toss the troops
out of their churches and schools.

I wouldn't want my girls belong to a group that told
them that contraception was evil anyway.

[Odin2005]

25. Must have thin mints!!!

[Vinca]

33. Going after Girl Scouts? That's really nuts.

The only thing you can blame them for is about 10 lbs. of my body weight . . . damn Thin Mints.

[Iggo]

37. I always buy a case from the first one that asks me.

It's probably a good idea they leave out the "patriotic, faith affirming" part, or I'd laugh them right off my porch.

[Patrick_Bateman]

39. Caveman Lawyer says:

Girl Scout goooood

Evangelical Christians baaaad


One little nit however. The cookies are really not as tasty as they were 25 years ago but then again what is?

"I'd like to order a truckload please."

[ellie]

40. I haven't bought

Girl Scout cookies in years (perpetual diet). But I will this year. I was a Girl Scout and I loved it.