St Louis group wished to donate money from bracelet sale to children’s relief fund but Girl Scouts said it could make political statement
Archived version: https://archive.ph/TL1yT
This story perfectly highlights US hypocrisy.
But soon after the St Louis-based troop announced their plans, they received a fierce response from their parent chapter, Girl Scouts of eastern Missouri. The message was clear: Girl Scouts did not participate in political and partisan activities.
The response was surprising to Abuhamdeh, who recalled other Girl Scout troops organizing to help families in Ukraine after Russia invaded in February 2022. According to the Girl Scouts website, a troop in Westlake, Ohio collected medical supplies and pack first-aid kits to be distributed in Ukraine, and “also exchanged small gifts like friendship bracelets and cookies”.
Ukraine, our ally, was the victim, Russia attacked them. Palestine was the aggressor, they attacked Israel, our ally. Politically, it would be like holding a fundraiser for the axis in the last days of WW2. Was it the right call? Probably not but it’s understandable. Many people would stay away from girl scouts if they appear to be taking the side of Islamic fundamentalists and intifada.
The organization claims they’d do this for anything political…
Which is obviously bullshit, because they didn’t stop it for Ukraine.
I think part of it is this troop was doing this instead of pushing cookies, and not in addition to it.
So they fucked with the money. And large organizations tend to care about that more than anything
People seem to glance over the fact that “not doing something” can be just as political as “doing something”
Banning the donation doesn’t mean girl scouts is avoiding something political. They just made the statement that they don’t support Palestine which is just as political as making the donation. It’s not some free copout that they can get away with Scott free.
This is the part that should be Streisanded.
Except, for Ukraine the troops weren’t selling anything and weren’t sending money anywhere. They were doing a supply drive and sending supplies to Ukraine. The Girl Scouts have very explicit rules around fund raising, and those rules apply to all nonprofits that are classified the way the Girl Scouts are, and you are not allowed to sell things and send funds out. In fact, during leader training it is drilled into every leader that they cannot sell anything that isn’t an official product with prior approval - which is hardly ever given.
This troop could have collected supplies and sent those. The troop could have used their troop funds to buy supplies and send those. But they are not allowed to give money.
This isn’t about the Girl Scouts supporting one cause over the other, or shying away from a political or partisan activity, this is about a troop that broke the rules and then have tried to turn themselves into political martyrs.
If the issue is they broke the rules, then tell them they broke the rules and specify which ones.
Instead; they hid behind a completely bullshit ‘we don’t participate in political activities’ excuse.
If it’s not about shying away from political activities, then don’t say it’s about shying away from political activities. Pretty simple.
Except the Girl Scouts never said that they don’t participate in political activities, that was an editorialized line from the article author. Having dealt with the Girl Scouts a lot I have absolutely no doubt that they told the troop which rules they broke. In fact, it is drilled into EVERY leader of the Girl Scouts that this type of fund raising under the Girl Scouts banner is not allowed.
What we have in this article is one side of the story meant to push a narrative.
Those girls are awesome.
So, what new name did they pick?
