Is there a place for irreligious bigotry?

I am writing in reply to Louis S. Guagent's Dec. 11 letter on discrimination. The question is: Is it ever right to discriminate — to be a discriminating person?

Is all discrimination on the level of judging someone on the basis of “eye color”? Of course, not. We all rightfully discriminate when it is on the basis of morality. If a person is caught stealing, we discriminate by making a difference between such action and action that respects personal property.

Every court case is somehow related to discrimination based on behavior. We must understand that; otherwise we equate all discrimination with difference in eye color. The writer talks about “religion-based bigotry.” Such labeling could easily be classified as hate speech. One could counter just as well that there is irreligious bigotry. It serves no purpose.

Elton Heimsoth

Lombard