As the New York Times reports, the Girl Scouts are being more than accommodating to their needs.
Sometimes when Asma Haidara, a 12-year-old Somali immigrant, wants to shop at Target or ride the Minneapolis light-rail system, she puts her Girl Scout sash over her everyday clothes, which usually include a long skirt worn over pants as well as a swirling head scarf.
She has discovered that the trademark green sash — with its American flag, troop number (3009) and colorful merit badges — reduces the number of glowering looks she draws from people otherwise bothered by her traditional Muslim dress.
“When you say you are a girl scout, they say, ‘Oh, my daughter is a girl scout, too,’ and then they don’t think of you as a person from another planet,” said Asma, a slight, serious girl with a bright smile. “They are more comfortable about sitting next to me on the train.”
This article depicts Americans as bigoted.
Muslim girls in traditional dress have to put up with glowering looks from intolerant Americans. But when the girl is wearing a Girl Scout sash, everyone is happy.
...By teaching girls to roast hot dogs or fix a flat bicycle tire, Farheen Hakeem, one troop leader here, strives to help them escape the perception of many non-Muslims that they are different.
Scouting is a way of celebrating being American without being any less Muslim, Ms. Hakeem said.
“I don’t want them to see themselves as Muslim girls doing this ‘Look at us, we are trying to be American,’ ” she said. “No, no, no, they are American. It is not an issue of trying.”
The parents and their daughters aren't looking for a way to assimilate into American culture. Not at all.
The parents have reservations about allowing their daughters to participate.
...[A] more common concern among parents is that the Girl Scouts will somehow dilute Islamic traditions.
“They are afraid you are going to become a blue-eyed, blond-haired Barbie doll,” said Asma, the girl who at times makes her sash everyday attire. Asma noted that her mother had asked whether she was joining some Christian cabal. “She was afraid that if we hang out with Americans too much,” the young immigrant said, “it will change our culture or who we are.”
Troop leaders win over parents by explaining that various activities incorporate Muslim traditions. In Minneapolis, for instance, Ms. Hakeem helped develop the Khadija Club, named for the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad, which exposes older girls to the history of prominent Muslim women.
What's wrong with this picture?
A Muslim mother would only allow her daughter to join Scouting as long as she was assured that it wouldn't turn her into a "blue-eyed, blond-haired Barbie doll."
The mother asked if her daughter was "joining some Christian cabal."
Girl Scouting a Christian cabal?
What a tolerant mother!
What's the problem with being blue-eyed, blond-haired, and Christian?
I used to be a blue-eyed, blond-haired, Christian Girl Scout.
Muslim mothers freak out over the thought of blue eyes and blond hair?
That's bigoted.
Can you imagine if a Christian mother had been quoted saying she didn't want her daughter "joining some Muslim cabal"?
The outrage would be ricocheting from sea to shining sea. The mother would be condemned. Organizations like UWM's Muslim Student Association would probably protest. They would probably fear for their safety.
Notice the leader Ms. Hakeem is quick to point out that the girls are definitely American. Then, scout Asma Haidara says her mother doesn't like the idea of her hanging out with Americans too much because it might change who she is.
Let me get this straight...
Participating in Girl Scouting is meant to give young immigrant Muslim girls a feeling of belonging, "to help them escape the perception of many non-Muslims that they are different."
Nothing wrong with that.
It's a way to assimilate to their new country.
BUT--
The immigrant parents fear assimilation.
They don't want to be "American."
These immigrants WANT to be different, yet they want to escape the perception that they are different.
That's a dramatic difference from past immigrants.
So much for the melting pot.
...Troop leaders win over parents by explaining that various activities incorporate Muslim traditions. In Minneapolis, for instance, Ms. Hakeem helped develop the Khadija Club, named for the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad, which exposes older girls to the history of prominent Muslim women.
Suboohi Khan, 10, won her Bismallah (in the name of God) ribbon by writing 4 of God’s 99 names in Arabic calligraphy and decorating them, as well as memorizing the Koran’s last verse, used for protection against gossips and goblins. Otherwise, she said, her favorite badge involved learning “how to make body glitter and to see which colors look good on us” and “how to clean up our nails.”
Scouting is OK as long as it incorporates Muslim traditions.
It's a positive thing.
The Times is applauding the Muslim troop leaders for transforming an American tradition to fit their needs.
Are these the same libs that get bent out of shape whenever there's a relationship between Scouting and Christianity? I guess they see the Muslim version of Girl Scouting as a victory over Christians.
This is priceless:
Predominantly Muslim troops do accept non-Muslim members.
Can you imagine predominantly Christian troops NOT accepting non-Christian members?
The Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God* and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
* The word "God" can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one's spiritual beliefs. When reciting the Girl Scout Promise, it is okay to replace the word "God" with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate.
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