I would definitely have to agree with you. With the internet making it so much more convenient to find answers, it is so much easier to earn merit badges. They say that only 2% of all scouts make eagle, but that number is calculated if you look at all eagles since the start of the program; if you just looked at the eagles for one recent year, the number would be more like 10%. I have gone to local merit badge fairs where eagle required merit badges are basically given to you just for being in attendance in the class.

I really do respect this accomplishment; I earned 102 myself, so I understand all of the work that has gone into earning the merit badges. I do think, though, that the publicity for this one scout earning all the merit badges has been blown way out of proportion, with several articles written about him and even interview spots on national television stations. I know two people in 8 years from the Longhorn Council that earned all of the merit badges, but the most they got was a handshake from the District Executive.

Alot of people dont realize that there is a story line behind this scout; he earned his last 60 merit badges in the last 3 months of his scout career because he promised his dying grandma that he would earn them. It makes for a good story, but someone that "earned one merit badge every three weeks until they are 18" will most likely not make headlines. With an average of one merit badge being earned every 1.5 days, it shows how easy merit badges can be earned nowadays.

One last personal observation-- having two sashes is very unnecessary; the large sashes are made to fill every merit badge.

My son is 15 and is 2/3 the way toward his goal of earning all of the badges and I hope he does. What a concept... a teen that has goals and works hard to achieve them. No, he's not some nerdy kid. He's also starting wide receiver for his league champion high school varsity football team.

Kudos to him, it will help him immensely later in life.

I find it AMAZING that this kid earned all the merit badges. Some kids choose to earn straight A's or ace the SAT or to earn as much money for college or to sleep with as many people possible, but this kid chose to earn all the merit badges. I think he's on his way to a great life.

Courageous Grace "SparkS, way to be an asshole. It seems you can’t be congratulatory to him without dissing other people in the process."

Truth getting a bit disturbing Grace? I stand by what I wrote. You talk like that around your parents? Your son has a wonderful role model.

I'm hardly jealous. In fact, I think it's pretty awesome that he managed to earn all of the badges. Yet it makes me wonder if he has many friends, school activities, how his grades are, if he's going to college, etc. If all the other areas of his life are doing as well as his earning all of the possible merit badges, then all the more power to him and he has a great future ahead of him.

And just for the record, I'm proud of my Eagle Scout husband, my recent Eagle Scout brother-in-law, and my future Boy Scout son (I hope. He's not yet 1). Getting his Eagle was a great accomplishment for my husband and I do believe it helped him, an introvert, to be more assertive and outgoing based on stories I've heard of him as a boy.

Again, congrats to Mr. Goldsmith.

and 20 years in the big house.

I had been a Girl Scout when I was little. When I discovered that I didn't believe in god, I was pushed out. You see, we had a prayer before and after the meetings. I told my troop I didn't want to pray. From that moment, my troop leader and the other girls included me less and less in activities. When it became obvious that I wasn't welcome any more, I left. I was 10 years old, very hurt and quite confused.

I didn't learn of the Campfire group until I was an adult, too late to be a troop member. They have this wacky idea of accepting all, regardless of religion (or lack thereof) or sexuality.

For me, that ruins the BSA and the GSA. They are good organizations for kids, but will not be great until they accept all children. I think if they're going to exclude kids, they just need to come out as the religious groups they obviously are ...

As for the virginity, would it be more of an accomplishment if he were famous for having sex with 121 teenage girls? I would think that would get him at least one badge.

If the Boy Scouts of America was the same organization it was 40 years ago when my uncles were Eagles and my Grandfather was a troop leader, I'd be right there with you cheering this kids accomplishments. It's taken a lot of hard work to collect all of those badges, and he should be commended for that. Sadly though, since being taken over by the Church of Latter Day Saints, I've lost all respect for BSA, and anyone who is associated with it in it's current form.

What does this have to do with his accomplishment?
There's also a U.S. flag so perhaps he's American?
Or maybe he's 1/2 American and 1/2 Israeli? Then there's a third flag that may be from El Salvador.
Hmmmm, that muddies the issue even more. Lastly there is a fourth flag with no visible markings. Wow, perhaps we need to get to the bottom of this.

Courageous Grace/CheeseDuck/The Other Parker/Lenny Nero/Oliver/Jenny - Don't be so jealous.

I find it rather sad that among 16 comments only THREE were complementary without equivocation. The large majority of the others were either full of jealousy or sour grapes or other negative comments.

gailW & CrypticJ & Nathan Miller are obviously comfortable enough in their own skin to give credit where it is due. A tip of the hat to all of you.

Oh yeah, to this young man I say simply Bravo, Well Done. Make it 4 out of 17.