In a crazy bid to modernise its image the Girl Guides Association of Australia has changed the Guides' Promise to delete references to out-dated personages- "I promise to serve God and the Queen". Now Guides are required to promise to be "true to myself" and “serve my community and Australia”.

The Queen bit you can understand as it would be offensive to people from migrant backgrounds to serve the Queen of Australia. What relevance is that when you live in Australia? (Turn sarcasm off).

The bit that gets me is this idea of being "true to myself." You hear a lot of this rot amongst inspirational speakers.

The fact is that we are sinners. Being true to myself means let my true sinful nature reign over what I do. Is that something that would promote cohesion amongst the Guides and urge them to a noble life of serving others?

Maybe the whole idea of sin is, like God and the Queen" antiquated also. In that case being "true to myself" means "I will do what I feel like." Do you need a promise to do what comes naturally?

Next we will be requiring all citizens to swear an oath of allegiance to themselves.

The trouble with watering down what you believe in to be more "relevant" is that eventually you don't stand for anything at all.