After reading the posts on this thread I feel compelled to add my 6 bits to this conversation. I was a cub scout (1963-66)Boy Scout (1967-1974) and a Scouter who has completed Wood Badge and has served as Scoutmaster,Asst Scoutmaster off & on from 1975-1991.
First, I totally agree the Scoutmaster HAS NO RIGHT to add his own personal agenda to the Eagle requirments. That is the rule "no one can not add or subtract from the requirements" . A scout for any rank must those requirements. no more , no less period. However one of those requirements are adhearing to the principals of the Scout Oath & Law "To Keep myself Morally Stright" and "A Scout is Clean" means not only in Personal Hygine but also of Good moral fiber. I believe if a boy who would cross dress,wear panties and so on. Would ,to most of us, seem to violate that rule. Enough said, I do not think the simple fact one who has long hair would violate in any way that rule. And no organization can (Chartered Organization,Troop Commitee, PLC or Otherwise) Cannot create a local rule that violates or superceeds the national bylaws.(The same way States and Local governments cannot pass laws that violate Federal Law) If the chartered organization does not wish to abite by the national bylaws. Then they are free to not sponser a scout unit. But, If they wish to sponser a scout unit. Then do so with the understanding that they cannot modify the program or change its requirements to suit there own agenda. If this were possible we would have units that discriminate on the bases of ,race,size ,family background and so on. That would not be right.
Getting back to the Scout in question. I can only say stick to your guns because you have right and justice on your side. If any such award can be dictated by a Scoutmaster likes or dislike of you. Then its an award not worth having in my opinion. I can say this because what is happening to you .Has in way happened to me. Except my case , I was not able to get my Eagle. Back then (in 1974)the Scoutmaster was consirdered a god. My Scoutmaster did not want me to become Eagle because my father (Who was a steelworker, And had to work weekends) was unable to go camping trips. Although my parents did try to help the troop in other ways. Going on Camping trips was not one of them. My father simply could not afford to take the time off and lose 3 days of pay. Since he had bills and a family to support. My Scoumaster held this against me. He effectively blocked my Eagle progress by not even talking to me about my proposed my Eagle project. Nor apporoving the last required merit bage (It was Nature, I had earned over 24 at the time. Nature was the last required I needed). The troop commitee knew this was wrong and did nothing. I contacted my district and Scout council who replied it was the scoutmaster's decision and did nothing. I even thought of just going to another Scout troop to complete the Eagle requirements. And was told that idea would be sabatoged and "no Troop would touch me". After feeling totally screwed I finally gave up and quit .(I had been the Troop almost 7 years at point) I felt no awared was worth giving up my dignity for. And if earning such an award is to be depended not ones own merit .But ,only can only be obtained by playing along with someone's agenda. Then its an award I do want no any part of. To me, the whole thing was a sham. It may not be true but,thats how I felt at the time.
Again this my opinion and I wish to make everyone aware this went on back then and still goes on today. If we can bar a Scout from Eagle simply because he has long hair what is next ? Can we bar a scout because they come ,as someone said to me once, "from the wrong side of the tracks ?". Or perhaps barring them if their family does not have minimum income ? This could happen if we do not put stop to this kind of behavior here and now. Because the old saying "fanaticism and ignorance are forever busy and needs feeding ".If there is no justice for one of us then there is no justice for all of us. We are practicing democracy here not running a dictorship.
