Last week I wrote about Christians and the Girl Scout Cookie Boycott.  In that post, I concluded that although I disagreed with the Girl Scout Organization’s glorifying of pro-abortion activists, I would still buy Girl Scout Cookies.  I felt that, as a Christian, and considering my long history with Girl Scouting, I could do no less.  There were sixteen comments on my post, and almost all the commenters disagreed with me.  I read each comment, but I didn’t feel bad about my decision until . . . 

In my post I mentioned that I had sent a very polite email to the Girl Scouts headquarters expressing my dismay with some of their associations and actions.  In my email I encouraged them to be completely  non-political.  A couple days ago, I received their reply.  No greeting, no “thanks for your comment,” no closing.  Not even well written.

Girl Scouts has not endorsed any politicians. This confusion stems from tweet that linked to an article that mentioned Wendy Davis. The tweet simply asked folks to share their opinion about what women should be added to a year-end list originated by the Huffington Post.

When I showed the response to a friend, she responded that it was probably a canned response.  If so, they need to go back to cooking school and learn to can properly.  I’m Southern, and I’m accustomed to businesses using good manners.  A “canned” response should have included a greeting and an acknowledgment of my email.  For example: “Dear Melanie, thanks for your email concerning the Girl Scouts and the recent cookie boycott.”  The Girl Scout response merely trivialized my concern.   But letter-writing techniques aside, why lie and trivialize?

First, there is no “confusion,” and the cookiecott is not about a single tweet.  Girl Scouts USA has had a relationship with Planned Parenthood for quite some time.

However, as early as 2004, then-Girl Scout CEO Kathy Cloninger confirmed in a Today Show interview that Girl Scouts works with Planned Parenthood nationally. “We have relationships with our church communities, with YWCAs, and with Planned Parenthood organizations across the country, to bring information-based sex education programs to girls,” said Cloninger.

Additionally, they don’t offer girls with Conservative values an equal opportunity to support pro-life causes.

But putting aside GSUSA leadership associations, if GSUSA is neutral on abortion, then why does it refuse “to allow pro-life advocacy to count towards badge work” but “reproductive health” advocacy is specified as meeting GSUSA leadership program objectives?

These concerns are just the ones related to abortion.  There are other concerns as well.  

I hate to admit it, but the folks who commented on my original story were right.   I really intended to buy some Girl Scout Cookies this year – simply because I loved the Girl Scouts so much when I was growing up, and I didn’t want to “abandon” the organization over one issue.  I was also appalled when I read a story about a boycotter being verbally abusive to Girl Scouts who were selling cookies.  Because of those feelings of loyalty and wanting to take the “high road”, I gave them a lot of slack in my previous article.  You have probably heard the old saying that “I gave them enough rope to hang themselves.”  That’s what happened.  In a brief email, they lied, trivialized and ended any loyal feelings I had for them.

I had to go to Kroger this morning, and as I walked in, there it was:  a card table set up with Girl Scout Cookies.  A young Girl Scout was there with an adult leader.  They were  busy talking to a customer and didn’t look my way as I walked into the store.  Later, as I was leaving the store, I was prepared to simply smile and say, “No, thank you.”  Even that wasn’t necessary.  As I walked out, they, again, never glanced my way.  

I will miss the Girl Scouts, but really, Oreos and home-made chocolate chip cookies are way better than any Girl Scout Cookie ever was.