My 7-year-old daughter recently asked if she could join the Brownies like some of her friends. I am inclined not to let her join, because my understanding is that the Brownies (and the Girl Scouts) are not what they were when I was growing up in the 1950s. Still, I hate to deprive my daughter of a valuable experience with her friends. The fact is, I really don't know much about the Brownies, since I was a Cub Scout (and Boy Scout) back in the days when we were allowed to proudly wear our uniforms in school, replete with the...