Being True to the Boy Scouts

* Re “Agnostic O.C. Twins, Gays Lose Scouting Fight,” March 24:

Even though the state Supreme Court stood with the Boy Scouts in this case, the moral victory belongs to the Randall twins and to Timothy Curran because they were true to themselves.

The message from the Scouts is that Michael and William Randall could remain in the organization if they lie. Curran could be a leader if he were not gay.

Not that it should matter, but the Randalls are not atheists. They do not go to church or temple and they are not members of an organized religion, but they believe in a force greater than themselves.

Even though the Boy Scouts is not a business, it should not be able to discriminate against someone on the basis of their religious beliefs. That’s a part of our Constitution. That hasn’t changed, has it?

LYNDA LONG

Irvine

* To all those dumping on the Boy Scouts because of their position toward atheists, agnostics and homosexuals, I’d just like to say that if being a bigot means not wanting to associate with those whose behavior you find morally repugnant, then I’m guilty. And if being intolerant means not equivocating on your religious convictions, then I’m intolerant.

It amazes me that the reactionaries criticizing the Boy Scouts for their lack of religious tolerance are so intolerant of the Boy Scouts’ religious beliefs.

Anyone, regardless of their religious affiliations, can be a Scout. The only requirement is an acknowledgment of a duty to God. That’s hardly what I’d call religious intolerance.

And if discrimination is really such an issue with these hypocrites, would they be as eager to attack the United Negro College Fund because it discriminates against whites or Asians, or the Daughters of the American Revolution because it’s only open to women?

What distresses me is that so many would be willing to wield the power of the government--via the courts--to force a private organization to abandon its constitutional rights to religious freedom and free association.

Finally, common sense says that the time to question an organization’s value system and membership rules is before you join. Any person who has ever read the Cub Scout and Boy Scout oaths knows that the religious requirement is plainly stated. Only an illiterate boob--or a lawyer--would disagree.

KEN WILLIAMS

Costa Mesa