The Associated Press and the Sun Journal owe an apology to the Jewish parents of Motl Brody for the cheap swipe they took at them in their time of grief when the article reported, “A Washington hospital has asked a judge for permission to stop treating a brain-dead 12-year-old cancer patient, even though his ultra-religious New York parents want to keep him on life support.” (Nov. 7)

Why are the parents derided for being “ultra-religious?” Why is it OK to imply that there is something wrong with people actually acting on their religious convictions, whether the writer agrees with them or not? If the AP and the Sun Journal were really tolerant, they would be respectful of these parents and their beliefs.

Not too long ago people were commended for acting on principle in difficult situations. Now they are ridiculed. Or even, as in the case of some supporting traditional marriage, shouted down, vandalized and physically attacked.

There is something wrong with a society that tries to silence those who dare to speak and act on what they believe because it comes from a Judeo-Christian viewpoint – the viewpoint of our history and heritage.

That is not tolerance and it is not advocating diversity.

Laurel De Lige, Turner