The Boy/Girl Scouts of America

Earlier this week, everyone got all up in arms when the Boy Scouts of America announced it was going to allow girls to join. On the surface, it looks like another move made by an organization to put half the country up in arms and the other half on the defensive. But when you look at all of the information that came out about the decision, it becomes readily apparent that the Boy Scouts made a business move and really did not care who it offended. It was a pretty good business movie if you ask me.






It did not take long for the pitchforks and torches to come out, which I fully expected when I first read the headline. I was even a bit put off myself by the announcement but, unlike most people, I actually read the article. If you would take the time to read the article, then you would realize that you just wasted more torch oil over something that is not nearly as controversial as you hoped it would be.

What everyone THINKS is going to happen is that the Boy Scouts are going to integrate genders at all levels and try to thoroughly confuse little boys and girls as much as possible. Little girls will be wearing little boy uniforms, conduct at Boy Scout camping retreats will be suspect, and the world as we know it will come to an end. Unfortunately for those who like to be angered, that is not what is going to happen.

The Boy Scouts will keep the very youngest members separated into groups of either all boys or all girls, and it will stay that way until the scouts reach their teen years. When the teen years roll around, scouts will have the option of staying with a same sex group, or they can join a group that integrates boys and girls. I am pretty sure that conduct at camping retreats will be discussed thoroughly with the integrated teen groups.

Wait? What about the Girl Scouts of America? Ahhh...this is where the story gets interesting. When I was growing up, I seem to remember that most of the little girls in my old fashioned American neighborhood were tomboys. While some of them liked the frilly stuff associated with young girls growing up, the majority were more interested in smashing Big Wheels in the street and playing kick the can late into the night.

As I understand it, the Girl Scouts have kind of been ignoring their clientele for a while. (Please know that I am going on what I read - I have never been a Girl Scout). What I mean by that is that members of the Girl Scouts all over the country have been asking for more rugged activities that go beyond the arts and crafts types of things the Girl Scouts are known for. When the Girl Scouts did not respond, it looks like the Boy Scouts stepped in to help fill that need.

This was a business move, folks. Pure and simple. If the Boy Scouts can take one step closer to being able to just call themselves The Scouts of America, then they are going to take that step. That is exactly what has happened. The Girl Scouts are not happy about what the Boy Scouts are doing, and that is to be expected.

My only concern is making sure that nothing disrupts the annual supply of Girl Scout cookies. I think America would riot if those cookies were ever taken away.

George N Root III is a Lockport resident who likes reading about smart business moves. Follow him on Twitter @georgenroot3, or send him a message at georgenroot3@gmail.com.