Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the Boy Scout movement, would have been surprised! He wanted his Scouts to be troopers for the British empire. Young British boys and girls, learning the techniques of survival and camaraderie and civilized behavior even in stressful conditions.
But the Scouts movement has spread worldwide, and now the New York Times reports that Muslim girls are joining the Girl Scouts in many American cities. Why? Basically in order to assimilate and become American! "It's kind of cool to say you are a girl scout," one Muslim girl says. "It is good to have something to associate yourself with other Americans. I like to be able to say that I am a girl scout just like any other normal girl."
Sure, some of the Muslim clubs are a little different in that they incorporate Muslim traditions. In Minneapolis one of the Scout groups is called the Khadija Club after the prophet Muhammad's first wife. So far Muslim groups have shown no hesitation, however, in extending membership to non-Muslims.
To some liberals, it may seem surprising that young Muslim girls are joining a conservative group like the Scouts. Recall that the Scouts have been hauled into court several times for refusing to embrace homosexuality. Some liberal groups are outraged that the Boy Scouts is uncomfortable with the idea of gay troop leaders taking young boys into the wilderness! Such prudery!
But it is precisely the traditional values of the Scouts that draw young Muslims. Somehow these religious and modest girls are not attracted by what liberal culture has to offer. Given the choice of trying out for "The Vagina Monologues" or taking up Scouting, they prefer Scouting. If he knew this, that wily old imperialist Lord Baden Powell would have chuckled.
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Muslim Girls Choose Scouts Over Vagina Monologues
Posted Nov 29th 2007 8:43AM by Dinesh D'Souza
Filed under: Islam, Gay and Lesbian, Cultural Left, History
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Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 12)
76. I don't think Dinesh was very effective in making his point, given the examples used (Muslin girls choosing girl scouts over vagina monologues). Though the reference to the monologues was in part an attempt to be funny, it did take away from the article. However, Dinesh's point remains, which is that Muslims are not as likely to subscribe to so called progressive, secular values as they would to more traditinal values.
The article's reference to homosexuality in the Boy Scouts was appropriate. I thought this point was obvious, but given some of the postings, maybe not. The Boy Scouts has taken and been taking for some time an open stand against homosexuality. So it would be a little disingenous to allow a homosexual to be a troop leader.
kulari94 at 8:31PM on Nov 29th 2007
77. At times we take offense at the likes of Dinesh and wish to lash out personally. However, that all too often backfires as it enables them to "paint" themselves as victims and gain sympathy. If there is sympathy to be given, it is probably at what some of us see as their total lack of education. They went to college or university and, although they may have picked up a skill (In Dinesh's case English), yet nothing seems to lay beyond that point. Nowhere is there much semblance of any understanding of issues nor, sadly enough, is there much in the way of "solutions" to anything. As a result they spend their own, and everyone else's time, regurgitating the saem thing over and over. As to whether they are attempting to convince themselves or others, I would suspect the former. Maybe, if they repeat it often enough, it "might make it true." After reading the gentleman's most recent book I have come to the sad conclusion that Dinesh may understands words (to a limited extent), yet he clearly does not comprehend ideas or concepts expressed. He may browse through many books but, as so many do, does not seek to learn but to impress. As a result, such people look for toothpicks (quotes) to bolster their intellectual structures. They scavenge through books and other sources looking for isolated quotes that would seem to support their point of view. Unfortunately for them, some of us have read the same books, and not searching for a "piece" that will fit into a cutout. We are the same who, when looking at a painting, or listening to a symphony, realize that looking at a single brushstroke or listening to a single note does not provide us with any true appreciation of the work. Perhaps Dinesh believes differently. That would certainly seem to be the case in most of his writings.
Robert I. Laitres at 8:48PM on Nov 29th 2007
78. Mr. D'Souza, I would feel FAR more uncomfortable allowing Catholic Priests to lead young boys into the wilderness.
Frank at 9:19PM on Nov 29th 2007
79. re: "Some liberal groups are outraged that the Boy Scouts is uncomfortable with the idea of gay troop leaders taking young boys into the wilderness."
Homosexuality IS NOT equivalent to pedophilia, Mr. D'Souza.
deborah at 9:34PM on Nov 29th 2007
80. If young girls of Muslim origin want to join the girl scouts to be cool, I think that gives these young students a near look at what scouting is all about and the comaraderie in a group that they would otherwise only meet when they are much older and under economic conditions. I feel that they will gain more than they realise today.It also means that their parents gave their concent, which will positively influnce their activities. Those of us who have been fortunate to have school friends of many religious denominations have a deeper understanding about the reasons for their actions- this does not mean that bad or immoral behavior is condoned but it is helpful in understanding the reason why.I hope that all girls of minority communities have this opportunity. This country has a different demography than a generation ago,let us hope that this sort of friendships that are forged through scouting help these young ladies become culturally and economically significant and will foster good will in scouting at large.Good reporting D'souza- it does not have anything to do with religions and more to do with understanding our differences and cementing the cracks.
Kevin at 9:48PM on Nov 29th 2007
81. OK, dumb ass
The reason we get upset with the BSA, you just said it, "gay troop leaders taking young boys into the wilderness". It's assholes like you that make gays out to be child Molesters, your such a racist. I love the way CT handled the BSA when the court sided with them, out Republican Governor bared them from state contributions. They were pissed. That was great
george at 9:49PM on Nov 29th 2007
82. Actually,GSUSA are not affiliated in any way with BSA, nor do they engage in the bigoted practices of BSA. Girls Scouts is an inclusive organization and it has been since its founding. If Muslim girls are joining, that's terrific! The "traditional values" of being anti-lesbian or requiring that girls take an oath to God do not exist in GSUSA.
Get your facts straight!
Marianne at 10:33PM on Nov 29th 2007
83. Marianne, facts do not concern Dinesh. He just likes to spew intolerance.
brandon at 11:28PM on Nov 29th 2007
84. I'm post menopausal and I couldn't care less about the vigina mono. But I'm not going to re-up in the Girl Scouts.
Dinesh you really are so far out there with ... Hell, you can't even call it an comparison. What is your point, do you have one?
You might as well have said, I hate chocolate but I wear pink socks on Tuesday. Huh?
They pay you to write?
Annie at 11:31PM on Nov 29th 2007
85. To be honest, I firmly believe that a vagina could craft a more intelligent monologue than the ones Dinesh posts on his blog.
Frank Sories at 11:52PM on Nov 29th 2007
86. #6 (Knight_of_BAAWA) No, Scouts AREN'T Mormon. There are Mormon churches with troops b/c Scouts teach the values that Mormons work to have in their lives...as well as Catholics, Christians, Baptists. There are Scout troops sponsored by / affiliated with ALL sorts of different religions. Pull your head out of your anti-Mormon ****.
PetLover at 1:25AM on Nov 30th 2007
87. Very good, Dinesh!!!
As always, by the way...
Felipe Miguel at 6:38PM on Dec 11th 2007
88. Dinesh Idiocy #1:
Once again, a neocon blowhard fails to discern between homosexuality and pedophilia. What Dinesh calls prudery any thinking individual would dismiss as a stupid prejudice against gay men, as if straight men don't think or behave inappropriately with youths in their charge. Newsflash, Dinesh: most pedophiles are straight and choose children based on opportunity rather than gender. Most pedophiles are men, so perhaps we shouldn't let any men take scouts into the woods. But wait! There's that icky rise in reports of female teachers going after their male students. And they're mostly running away with boys! Maybe we shouldn't let any adults go onto the woods with the scouts! Perhaps we should evaluate a Scoutmaster based on character rather than gender or sexual orientation? Or would you call that prudery, Dinesh?
Dinesh Idiocy #2:
Scouting is for young girls. "The Vagina Monologues" is a play about the lives of women and is intended to be performed by grown women. Why would a young girl be chosing between the two activities in the first place?
Amelie at 11:22AM on Nov 30th 2007
89. Dinesh! Dinesh! Dinesh! Baby, you gotta get out more. You gotta come down from that effete, neo-con ivory tower you live in. Sweetie, you gotta get out and learn about life. Little boy, you got a big mouth but an oh so little brain that matches your little weiner. Maybe you need to enlist in the U.S. Army and volunteer for duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. Maybe you need to join the Peace Corps and go to Africa or maybe even right here in American in Appalachia and see a little bit of the real hard side of life outside of the Heritage Foundation or wherever it is you've been gettin your ego or something else stroked. Dinesh, darlin, you gotta get your hands dirty, you gotta WORK for a living. You gotta get out and see how the rest of us really live. Maybe this way, you won't write such stupid, idiotic, wussy-tussy "commentary" like this. Maybe you can go over to Michelle Malkin's house and play dress-up with Michelle and all her dollies.
mike at 4:46AM on Nov 30th 2007
90. Way to compare one extreme to the other, however completely unrelated (scouts vs. monologues?) Congratulations on pushing another hard idiot conservative stereotype, D'Souza. Even though AOL is surely giving you a cut of something for posting up this trivial, intolerant dribble for hits on your blog.
Jezeroth at 11:52PM on Nov 30th 2007