Faith Salie: Girl Scouts get my vote
The Girl Scouts are in the news, and for more than the very big milestone they've just passed. Here's our contributor Faith Salie:
Have you bitten into the Girl Scout cookie controversy? No, I don't mean whether Thin Mints are better than Samoas. When it comes to this year's Girl Scout cookies, are you buying, or boycotting? Because it says a lot about who we are.
Girls Scouts of America celebrated their 100th anniversary this past week. Five years after founder Juliette Gordon Low created an institution based on service, leadership and love for nature, the first Girl Scout cookies were baked by the Mistletoe Troop in a small town in Oklahoma, and sold out of a high school cafeteria.
Those industrious girls never predicted how the cookie would crumble.
Today the Girl Scouts sell nearly 200 million boxes of cookies a year. Even if they're old-fashioned enough NOT to sell them online, they're still keeping up with the times: You can download an app that will locate a cookie sale near you. You can pay with a credit card - just swipe it through a Scout's smartphone. You can find Samoa ice cream, Trefoils lip gloss - and Thin Mint Crunch bars arrive this summer.
And now you can find Girl Scout cookies in POLITICS.
Last month, Indiana State Rep. Bob Morris was the only one who refused to sign a House resolution recognizing the centennial of the Girl Scouts.
Like some kind of cookie monster, he wrote an open letter, calling the Girl Scouts a "radical" organization that promotes abortion and homosexuality.
Indiana lawmaker defends slam on Girl Scouts
In reply, Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma bought 278 cases of cookies and passed out Thin Mints to his colleagues.
A few years ago, the Girl Scouts were criticized for selling cookies with trans fat. Now they're being boycotted for accepting a child who is transgender. Seven year-old Bobby Montoya identifies as a girl and found welcome with a Denver Scout troop. This apocalyptic inclusion has prompted a cookie boycott from those who are outraged by the sisterly acceptance.
Uh, that's cutting off your Do-Si-Dos to spite your face!
Texas Girl Scouts fight fight back during cookie money robbery
Times change, recipes change (whatever happened to Lemon Coolers?). But Girl Scout cookies are a wholesome American hallmark. These girls in uniform donate thousands of boxes to women and men in uniform. They help us welcome Spring.
Cookie season is coming to a close. Right now, there are a few men asking for your vote. There are also a lot of little girls asking for your vote.
It comes in a box, it's kosher, and it's very delicious!