My Junior Girl Scout troop and I are refusing to sell cookies this year because the national Girl Scouts organization decided that the girls can pledge service to the spiritual power of their conscience or none at all. There is no attempt to interpret or define the word "God" (but words have meaning). This was voted on a secret ballot at the national convention on Oct. 23 so individuals couldn't be held accountable.
Currently in California, there is a lawsuit about a girl who wants to be a Girl Scout but her parents won't allow her to say "God" in the promise. A person who was on the Utah board of directors for Girl Scouts told me that "God was too expensive to defend."Who do the Girl Scouts represent, people who believe in God or atheists? I think that God can be Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic or whatever religion.
In Girl Scouts, we have spent lots of time emphasizing the fact that God is an important factor in our lives. We take pride in raising our three fingers (knowing that one of those stands for God) and saying the oath every week.
If they take out the meaning of God, then sometime down the road they'll be telling us that we can't go to nursing homes and sing Christmas carols. I can see that the Girl Scouts have opened the door for taking God out and who knows what will follow next. It's time to stand up and say enough's enough.
In October, a local radio show had a national leader of atheism on, and he gloated over the change the Girl Scouts made and said we should make this the best year ever for Girl Scout cookie sales, to show our approval.
Last year my troop sold $6,630 worth of cookies, and we kept 10 percent. The rest went to our state and national councils. Since the challenge was laid down, the majority of parents in my troop voted to support me and not sell cookies.
We invite the community to take part in our efforts to show that the word God does have meaning. I am doing this because I love Girl Scouts and want to see a strong foundation built for the future, not one that shifts with every whim that comes along.
Cheryl Frey
Troop 769
Provo