These girls feel right at home.
One in every 10 American girls is a girl scout , about 2.6 milliongirls. The number has remained pretty steady for decades, but in thelast few years it has been Hispanic, Asian and ”immigrant” girls whohave accounted for the organization growth.
”On my honor, I will try to serve allah and my country, to helppeople at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.’ A promiseAmerican girls have made for almost a century – with a new twist.
This is Girl Scout troop 12119 in Minneapolis. Recently, the GirlScout council here looked at dwindling numbers and reached out tominorities for new members. Now almost 300 Muslim girls are in 10mostly Muslim troops in the city.
Sara Mustabshira’s family moved here from India 12 years ago. Shegoes to a private Muslim school where she joined the girl scouts. Hermother says scouting has helped the fifth-grader bridge two worlds -Islam and America.**
Sara says, ”Before I was shy to talk with other people and now Italk with other people.” And, about feeling comfortable in herAmerican skin under traditional Muslim dress. Sara says, ”Sometimeswhen I go to public places and I’m wearing my hijab and people arestaring at me.”
Historian Susan Miller says scouting has always been a way forimmigrants in America to assimilate. Miller says, ”We think about theGirl Scouts sometimes as a traditional organization, as very much apart of the American culture, and they were, and they were a part ofthat culture because they did from the beginning include just abouteveryone.”
Sometimes that means tweaking old traditions, in Minneapolis, thes’mores are the genuine article, but the hot dogs are made according toIslamic dietary law.
Susan Miller says, ” These girls can wear the Girl Scout sash andthey can wear the hijab at the same time. This is not a contradiction.”
All of which makes these girls feel right at home.
**What does something like this portend in the face of European Americans’ oncoming minority status in one more generation? — Ed.