Annapurna wrote:I know I didn't resurrect it, Peter.
I hit : View new posts, and there was a new post...
Thaibebop wrote: There is nothing challenging and she has even admitted that some of these meetings were boring. .
I wouldn't say there is nothing challenging, Thai.
The biggest thing she has done is sell cookies. If that's all the scouts want her for then at least pay her
WHAT?
Excuse me, Thaibepop, but I hope you are not teaching her to expect payment for learning something very valuable and having fun with other kids?
Baking cookies is something kids are crazy about, it's a big, big thing for them! It's just small for you!
She is only a little girl...!
I have thought of talking to the den mother but I think it would just cause problems. See, the Girl Scout website even has this god stuff posted on it. The organization says that the children don't have to say or do this religious aspects but they won't stop the den mother from doing it.
If the organization says this, then YOU speak to the den mother, kindly.
That should do the job.
Plus, I am in Kansas, should I say more. My daughter is coming home with homework that ties in to Christianity. The other day she had an english excerise that was all about a man and a woman trying to get to church to get married. This is 1st grade and this homework was only four paragraphs she had to practice and it included church four to five times. I Am BESIEGED!!!
So?
We're living in a land where this is normal. One day most of her girlfriends will get married. Most of them in a church....should she stay away and consider this an evil den of demons?
The Buddha would have said: "What do you expect?"
Let me ask you one thing, that might hit home.
My parents were 100 % sure that their impact on me was a lot stronger than anybody elses- and right they were.
How come you are so worried about yours, that you think strangers have more influence than you? [/quote]
Hello, so sorry it has taken me so long to get back. Well, I think there are a few things I should clear up.
One: the challenge issue. My daughter is seven and the projects that are choosen for her troop are pre-school type things. Like, color something in, trace your hand and draw feathers to make a turkey. She might sit at a table with other girls but they work alone on these overly simply projects. She is not being taught any new skills at all. My short time in the Boy Scouts I was at least introduced to woodworking and survival skills, and that was all at the same age she is at now.
Two: the cookies. It is clear you are not familiar with the Girl Scouts of America. The girls don't bake anything. Girl Scout cookies are mass produced, like Oreos, by a large company that the Girls Scouts hire. So, the girls have the job of selling them. This means going door to door, asking family members, standing on sidewalks during the winter I might add, to sell to people going in and out of stores. Some troops might work together on this but it is mostly an individual excerise as well. So, the Girls Scouts make millions of dollars nation wide by little girls going door to door selling cookies. Free child labor because the orgainization is classified as non-for-profit. A jaded way to look at it I supposed but it's a lot of work to sell these boxes of cookies and they don't get anything but a bagde, unless they sell more the 300 boxes, than the girls can get a stuffed frog, at least that what is was this year.
Three: the organization. The Girls Scouts do not hide that they were founded by Christians. They have a little plegde on the website that includes serving God. They say that if a child does not share this faith that during the pledge she can change the words or just not say them. The website has nothing about activties though. See my daughter had in activity which was her having to draw a picture about how best to serve God. I am sure the organization isn't to keen on that, but I am not sure they would back my complaint. So, talking to the Den Mother wouldn't help, she is the one in charge and it would be too tough a fight for nothing really. Plus, since they make no bones about the Chirstian, I feel the fool for even joining.
Four: I understand way you think I am fearful of Chirstianity, and you're right, I am. I am not teaching my daughter to be hateful or fearful, but I am worried. I don't care if she learns about the religion, keeping it hiden would be impossible anyway. I wish to enpower her. You see I experienced hate right here in the same city and state. I was picked on, spit on, (really), told I was trash, I was going to burn in hell, and so on. I am more afraid of someone destroying my daughters self esteem because she doesn't share their faith, like what happened to me. I want it clear to her that this behavior, not the religion, is what is unaccpectable and is wrong. They should not shove their ideas on her and should not belittle her. She has already come home telling us that some of her 'friends' think is is strange because she doesn't go to church. Some of these 'friends' are in her girl scout troop as well. The adults are smart enough not to say too much but they teach their kids this intolerence and the kids aren't so good and keeping their mouths shut. So, when these moments occur I want to draw her attention to it so she can understand this behavior is not right. This isn't about the religion so much as the behavior of the people.
Okay, sorry for the mouthful but I wanted to make sure I was understood. Yes, I have problems with the philosophy behind Christtianity but that is not for my daughter right now. When she asks me the questions that would address my opinions on such matters is when I will speak to her on them. For now it's seeing how these behaviors are hurtful and disrespectful. My harsh words are for me alone and adults I speak with in approriate settings. My harsh words are also my short coming that I am having to struggle with, but rest assured I am not passing this on to my daugther. Hate from inside you is more damaging than hate from without, this I know very well and I do not wish this upon my children.
Again, thanks for all the posts, I love it and it helps.