Divergent Histories of Boy and Girl Scouts

When the Indiana House of Representatives took up a resolution to honor the Girl Scouts' 100th anniversary, freshman Republican representative Bob Morris refused to sign. Instead he sent colleagues a letter warning that the Girl Scouts were not a benign, cookie-peddling kids' organization but rather "a group that has been subverted in the name of liberal progressive politics" with "surprisingly radical policies" -- and, in fact, "a tactical arm of Planned Parenthood." His February 18 letter made the national news, and while he later walked back some of his criticisms - writing, in part, "I realize now that my words were emotional, reactionary, and inflammatory" - Morris reiterated his objections to the Girl Scouts, citing the group's support of reproductive health education and quoting "Blessed Pope John Paul II" on the topic of abortion.