Fight the Crazy: Why You Should Buy Girl Scout Cookies

Although I’ve got about eleventy thousand things on my plate these days, I’ve recently taken up one more. I became a Girl Scout troop leader. I did so because I wanted my daughter to be able to experience what I did as a Girl Scout: an organization devoted to teaching girls skills they’ll use for life. We’re not talking about knot-tying and how to make a swell sit-upon. We’re talking about developing confidence, leadership skills, becoming civically engaged, and finding a strong sense of self. Did you know that 80% of female entrepreneurs were once Girl Scouts? Or nearly 70% of women in Congress? It’s true!

Now I know that the very idea of developing leadership skills in girls is going to meet with a certain amount of paleolithic angst by some on the right. And I’ve always known there’s a small group of right-wingers who rant against the “radical feminist agenda” of the Girl Scouts. But I still thought that the most sensitive issue I’d have to discuss going into cookie sales this year would be the continued use of palm oil (now at least sustainably sourced.) But it seems the “Girl Scouts are radical feminsits” nuts have found a way to expand the pool of opposition. They have convinced the gullible that Girl Scouts are tied-to and support Planned Parenthood. (Which of course means that we’re all have abortion parties at troop meetings?)

Never mind the fact that this simply isn’t true. There are now “pro-life” groups calling for the boycott of Girl Scout cookies. My troop has seen no evidence of any impact from the move, but it sure is getting a lot of media attention. The latest, as Alan reported yesterday, are “pro-life” groups in Waco, Texas and Wisconsin calling for a boycott because the Girl Scouts Twitter and Facebook accounts posted links “to articles recognizing Democratic Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.”

Is there anyone you’d add to this list? Incredible Ladies Who Should Be Women Of The Year For 2013 http://t.co/r6MAzSH0ZK via @HuffPostWomen

— Girl Scouts (@girlscouts) December 18, 2013

The article in question is about a panel discussion entitled surrounding the question of which women had the most significant impact in 2013.

The ladies in contention ran the gamut from Beyonce to Wendy Davis to the millions of intelligent women airing their views on Twitter, but one name that continued to pop up was the woman many said deserved to be named Time Magazine’s person of the year — youth activist Malala Yousafzai.

“There was something so inspirational, to have a girl so courageous and speaking out on behalf of girls’ education,” said Marianne Schnall, the founder of Feminist.com. “If there was one symbol of what’s possible when one young girl uses her voice, I just thought that was such a potent example.”

Yes. I can see how that would be a wholly inappropriate story for a girls organization to promote.

Buy Girl Scout cookies. Say ‘no’ to crazy.

Proceeds from the sale of Girl Scout cookies support national and local Girl Scout councils and individual troops. Girl Scouts believe all girls should be able to participate in the Girl Scout leadership experience, and offers financial assistance to make that a reality. Every box helps.

By: Sandi Behrns

Sandi Behrns is a noted policy nerd, new media & web developer, and consultant to progressive organizations and campaigns. She is a senior contributor to Liberaland, and the Executive Editor of Progressive Congress News.