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the American Heritage Girls National Website
The AHG Mission Statement:
"Building women of integrity through service to God, family, community, and country."
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This is a place for those involved with or interested in AHG to provide and share information.
The AHG Oath
"I promise to love God, cherish my family, honor my country, and serve in my community."
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As an American Heritage Girl, I will be:
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Perseverant
Pure
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Respectful
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Girl Scout Cookie Overdose
No, I'm not overdosing because I've eaten too many Girl Scout cookies. In fact, not single thin mint has touched my lips in a couple of years. But everywhere I go, I see Girl Scouts and their cookies --and I wish I knew what to do. I wish that, like Jane Chastain I had $100 to offer these troops if they'd switch over to American Heritage Girls. Last week at our women's Bible study, some of the ladies were munching on a box of thin mints. I wanted to catch my friend Donna's (partyoffive) eye and mouth, "Traitor!" to her, knowing that her soon-to-be-kindergarten daughter will be in our AHG troop next year. But another mom--a Girl Scout mom--was there, and I didn't want to make her feel awkward. (Our AHG troop is chartered by our church, and this mom is fairly new there.)
I stopped buying cookies when we switched over to American Heritage Girls 4 years ago (read about our journey here). For the first two years, Dr. H. bought cookies from someone at work just to help out this colleague's daughter, until I finally expressed to him that I was sweating blood for AHG, and he was supporting GSA. I've considered perhaps that I am over-reacting--they're just cookies, after all. But I was recently having this discussion with some newer AHG moms, and one of them said something like, "I wouldn't expect to see Girl Scout cookies in any of our homes. I would find that very strange."
Those cookies are as traditional in American homes as candy canes at Christmas. But here's the thing: every time we buy a box of Girl Scout cookies, we support the national organization. I like how the Life Issues Institute explains what's happening in this organization (emphasis mine):
"So if you think that your 12-year-old daughter who joined the scouts to go hiking, collect leaves, make candles and do bird watching is in safe hands, it may be time for you to investigate what your Girl Scout troop and council are doing. We must emphasize there are hundreds of troops that still observe the traditional family- and God-centered practices of the original Girl Scouts. But the philosophy coming down from National is spreading. In the meantime, understand that there are 3.7 million Girl Scouts, each of whom pays a $10 membership fee which goes directly to the National office. This brings over $26,000,000 a year into its national treasury."
So what is the "philosophy coming down from National" that is "spreading" into local troops? Here are just a few examples:
* The Girl Scouts of the USA voted in 1993 to permit individuals to substitute another word or phrase for 'God' in their promise.
* Junior Girl Scouts in Pennsylvania can attend a workshop on puberty, designed by Planned Parenthood, and earn a badge.
* Amarillo, Texas, Girl Scouts sponsored a Planned Parenthood sex education seminar for 4th through 8th graders.
* The national organization openly acknowledged its acceptance of lesbians in leadership positions.
* Kathryn Lopez with the National Review wrote, “The time is long past when parents decide what a girl’s lifestyle should be.”
* Some years ago, Girls Scouts began purging materials of positive references to homemakers.
* The Scouts now promote “girl empowerment,” focusing heavily on a narcissistic devotion to self.
* On NBC’s Today Show, Kathy Cloninger, the CEO of Girls Scouts USA, admitted that it “partners with Planned Parenthood across the country to bring information based sex education programs to girls.”
Here's the thing that we AHG leaders and members hear the most around here from families reluctant to leave GSA: "But our Girl Scout troop has wonderful Christian leaders!" Yup. Our troop did, too. But what our hearts told us was that we were supporting, both financially and physically, a national organization with values we simply did not share.
There are a number of articles on the AHG website about why American Heritage Girls is different from Girls Scouts. (I was shocked--and thrilled--to see that the article I wrote for the upcoming summer issue of TOS is now available to download on the website!) I am excited to be part of this rapidly growing organization. I don't think I've ever met a homeschooler who at some point has not felt burdened to share homeschooling information with--or even "convert"-- our public schooling friends--to convince them that homeschooling is the better choice. I am burdened with a similar desire right now. My burden to share AHG is always strongest at Girl Scout cookie time, as I pass the groups of girls outside of Walmart, hawking their wares. "No thanks!" I've been telling girls for the past few weeks. Next year, I'm going to be prepared with some kind of AHG informational cards to hand out--something gentle and non-abrasive so as not to offend--because quietly refusing just isn't working for me anymore. |
Posted: 10:31 PM, Mar. 23, 2007 |
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Untitled Comment
That is precisely why my daughters are not in girl scouts even though I was. And by the way, we stopped buying their cookies...because they don't taste good! We prefer to make our own! Keep up the good work.
Sandy |
Posted by fallinglikerain at 11:47 AM, Jun. 9, 2007 |
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I never knew that
I didn't know all of those things about Girls Scouts. It amazes me how organizations founded on good moral principles give in to the world's philosophy over time and become something that we don't even recognize anymore. Thanks for posting this.
Blessings,
Missy
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Posted by smokeybutter at 2:53 PM, Nov. 17, 2007 |
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