Twins Greet Scouts Ruling With Tears

Twin brothers, self-described as the “two of the best examples of Scouts on the face of the Earth,” responded tearfully Monday to the California Supreme Court ruling that the Boy Scouts could expel them because they refused to affirm the existence of God in the organization’s oath.

Michael and William Randall, 16, said they were proud of their actions and only wished the Scouts had shown as much “integrity and character” as the twins have.

“The Scouts teach you to tell the truth, that is one of the most important things you learn,” said Michael Randall as he pinched the top of his nose in vain attempt to quell a torrent of tears. “We feel we showed truthfulness and courage.”

The boys, who were on the verge of becoming Eagle Scouts, stressed that they were not atheists, but had declined to take the Scout oath because they are still pondering their religious beliefs.

“I have an open mind to all religions,” said William Randall. “A person just can’t say I’m a Christian, or I’m a Jew or I’m a Muslim. I have studied Hinduism and Buddhism. I’m open to looking into all religions.”

“Anyway, boys join the Boy Scouts for adventure, not for religion,” he said.

The boy’s father, James Randall, an attorney from Anaheim Hills, repeatedly said how proud he was of his sons.

“The Boy Scouts should be lucky to have two 16-year-old men who are proud to be squares, but they chose to discriminate instead,” he said, adding that the boys would sleep with Boy Scout merit badges slung over their bedposts.

The elder Randall said he will do what he can now to “financially hurt the Boy Scouts.” A campaign is planned to encourage large corporate sponsors of the Boy Scouts to stop making donations.

Companies “should not support discrimination,” said Taylor Flynn, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union who introduced the family at the news conference.

Still, for all the tears and anguish that the family has been through, the elder Randall said that “If the Boy Scouts suddenly got religion and invited my sons back, they would run back to the Scouts.”

The boys agreed.

“It’s like when you love an amusement park ride and then you see the underworks of the ride and it scares you, so you don’t want to ride it anymore,” said Michael Randall. “We saw the underworks of the Boy Scouts, but we still want to ride it.”