I know at least a couple of Eagle Scouts who told the Scouts what they wanted to hear just so they could finish. I'll take the 5th on my own experience getting my Eagle rank. They're both good guys. I'm a bit torn, since the Scouts are a private organization but also serve an important public service.

Every troop is different. Some ignore the central office on the rules they don't agree with. But when it comes down to the final Eagle step you are basically dealing with the local office and not your own troop. That's when you have to start dealing with the "official stance" on the big issues.

But hey, it's their ranking system...they get to pick the rules. If you want the rank you have to play by their rules, or at least pretent to play by the rules. Yes, I know that by pretending to play by the rules you are in effect lying and there by breaking the rules and technically aren't deserving of the rank.

"Sometimes you just say 'big deal.'" -- Jed Bartlet on Red Mass and separation of Church and State