Boy Scouts’ Decision Dishonors Award

Re “Twins Welcome Progress on Bids for Eagle Scout,” March 17:

Legal gymnastics aside, the whole Randall twins affair (going back six or more years) makes no sense.

What honor is there in receiving the Eagle Scout award if it must be coerced via a lawsuit from the organization supposed to grant it?

Why do the Randalls seek the highest award of an organization which holds as one of its core values a principle, belief in God, which they flatly reject?

The Randall family clearly does not support what Scouting stands for, but they do crave the honor and distinction that goes with the Eagle Scout award, so they have worked to remake it in their own image.

The Scouting organization has resisted honorably, made its position clear to all, and now understandably may surrender the legal battle.

The organization will obey the courts, but its principles will remain intact. The Randalls--and perhaps others yet to come--may receive the trappings of the Eagle Scout award, but it will mean nothing.

A court of law can force papers to move and a ceremony to be held, but it cannot bestow the Eagle Scout award. A coerced, dishonored award is no award at all.

KIM APEL

San Clemente

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The winner: the attorney-father and atheism.

The loser: Scouting’s integrity.

TOM BUCKOWSKI

Costa Mesa