Strawberry Switchblade

*smirks* All I see is cruel, cruel irony. Personally, I think it's a bit more comforting to people to see the animal being put to sleep just slowly drift off, but not wake up, rather than die in a blood spatter.(This message has been edited by Strawberry Switchblade)

Hi! The name is Erica, most call me Eri. I'm an 18 year old Lifetime Girl Scout, and a Gold Awardee (think: Eagle Scout). My interest in scouting came a bit late, alas, even though I've been in s outs for thirteen years of my life. I always wished I had been born a boy so I could have been a boy scout, but I'll have to settle for dating an Eagle Scout and having him put up with my curiosities. Hi.

What you saw is true, though the story isn't as shallow. The Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts differ greatly when it comes to funding. We tend to be rather underfunded at times, so we have to take what we can get. GSUSA became involved with Planned Parenthood after giving an award (which award escapes my mind) to one of it's board members. This initially through right-wing conservatives into a commotion and they attempted to boycott our cookies. (Key word? Attempted.) It is also true that Planned Parenthood sponsers troops, but by no means do they push their political views onto the troop. THey just give funding so that the girls can enjoy activites. The Junior handbook and up also have sections regarding physical, emotional, and personal health. I actually saw those quite helpful at that age, since my school's sex ed program was along the lines of "This is a vagina...it does this." It also saved my tail in a few threatening situations with strangers. Though, in my experience, these sections are not actively taught. The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rule exists in a way, I suppose.It certainly does in Boy Scouts. The number of homosexuals/bisexuals in scouts is quite a bit, and nothing to sneeze at. Though they are not there to harm your son or daughter; they are there to enjoy scouting. I've met gay Eagle Scouts, and I myself an a Gold Awardee. Responsible people, which account for dang near all scouts, gay or not, do not bring their sexuality into the camp site. They know better. In short, nothing to worry about. (This message has been edited by a staff member.)