Letters: May 25, 1981

M.B.A. Craze

To the Editors:

The starting salaries enjoyed by Masters of Business Administration [May 4] reflect a need for their talents and a recognition of their potential contributions to the firm. The degree is a ticket. It says, "I'm highly motivated, hardworking, ambitious and knowledgeable." Just saying these things will open some doors, but once through those doors, the M.B.A. is on his own.

Alan W. Robertson Charlottesville, Va.

As long as companies think of M.B.A.s as all knowing, all seeing "superexecutives" who will push the firm toward the FORTUNE 500 top-ten list, an M.B.A. is the best degree to get.

Nestor A. Arreaza Babson Park, Mass.

Money is the long hair of the '80s.

Rick Brewer Tampa

The real problem with M.B.A.s is corporate management. Many able top managers lack a bachelor's degree, and, sadly, all seem to have a reverence for any degree. Consequently, M.B.A.s are allowed to run loose when they really need firm guidance and direction.

Claude Pate Hutchens Clearwater, Fla.

Ireland's Anguish Bobby Sands [May 4] had a choice to live or die—a choice his fellow militants didn't give the innocent people they killed and maimed.

Paul Kerslake London

As an Englishman, I say both the I.R.A. and the extreme Protestant factions are murderers and must be treated as such. If only Bobby Sands had struck for truce talks or had suggested a workable solution, he would have been a real hero. Northern Ireland does not need a Bobby Sands, whose hunger strike was planned provocation. It needs a new peace movement. It needs the majority of sensible Irish to tell the minority of senseless fanatics to stop.

Nicholas John Chambery, France

Bobby Sands spent most of his young Irish life under the inhuman conditions of a British prison, judged by British judges. His simple plea to be recognized as a political prisoner was the only way he could show his protest against British tyranny over Northern Ireland.

Elizabeth Minogue Franklin Lakes, N.J.

Helms' Clout

So Jesse Helms says that Ronald Reagan has "got to remember who took him to the dance" [May 4]. Such a crass demand shouldn't surprise anyone. That's what happens when you go out with that kind of guy.

Philip M. Willis Albany

Jesse Helms should have to look the poor of this country in the face, especially the children, and explain why Government support of the poor is being drastically curtailed while subsidies to the tobacco industry, which is causing cancer in many Americans, are not touched. Larry G. Patton Houston

What a shame that we conservatives who worked to elect Ronald Reagan in 1980 will possibly not repeat that in 1984 because of a right-wing radical, "never compromising, out to reshape the world in his image." Don't coddle this redneck, Mr. President. He'll undo us all.

Kenneth B. Larkin Punta Gorda, Fla.

Schlafly and the Temptress