Amy Biehl

I was moved by the story of the parents of Amy Biehl (Aug. 1), who, through the miracle of forgiveness, are bringing life from a tragic death. While “it’s not a religious instinct” that motivates the Biehls, I could not help but reflect that many of the intolerant “Christians” we see strutting about the country these days would do well to emulate the behavior of this remarkable couple. Is this not what Jesus was about, after all?

ROBERT E. GOYETTE

Rolling Hills Estates

* That Peter and Linda Biehl raised a bright, idealistic daughter who sought to improve life for the millions of black Africans who suffered under apartheid is commendable. That they now “forgive” and “understand” the racist African thugs who savagely stoned, stabbed and beat their lovely young daughter to death, solely because she was a white European American, is not commendable; rather, it is as reprehensible as it is incomprehensible.

BRIAN J. DONNER

Porter Ranch

* What a novel excuse the South African amnesty committee has come up with to release the murderers of the innocent, young student, Amy Biehl, saying that the attackers were “so aroused and incited that they lost control of themselves and got caught up in a frenzy of violence” (July 29).

Shall we use this same hideous reasoning to pardon the mobs of whites who lynched and hanged innocent blacks in the South? What about other atrocities in the world? Where does the buck stop?

PAUL MALEVITZ

Los Angeles