Letters: Apr. 28, 1997

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I would like to thank Jack White for pointing out that Robinson "endured incredible abuse without fighting back." The black athlete did so because his philosophy was in the same vein as that of Martin Luther King Jr., who wrote, "To retaliate in kind would do nothing but intensify the existence of hate in the universe. Along the way of life someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate." ARTHUR H. PRINCE Memphis, Tennessee

In his commentary, Jack White highlights the hypocrisy of contemporary black sports superstars with his example of the refusal of role model Michael Jordan to acknowledge that many of the multimillions of dollars he gets are at the expense of poorly paid foreign child labor. And how many more of those dollars come from kids who buy sport shoes to cover their feet with a logo rather than expand their minds and opportunities? DAN THOMPSON Elgin, Oregon

BUSH KNOWS HOW IT'S DONE

Three cheers for former President George Bush [THE PRESIDENCY, April 7]. He's 72 years old and goes skydiving. Now there's a President who knows how to get (legally) high. BOB SKOCIK Elysburg, Pennsylvania

NPR'S RECORD ON EMPLOYMENT

We are disturbed by the imbalance of your article on charges of racial and sexual discrimination at National Public Radio [NATION, April 7]. NPR has had excellent results in the placement of minorities and women in positions of authority. Seven of our 30 most senior managers are members of a minority, and 11 are women, and I, the CEO, am African American. Of NPR's total staff of 459 people, 29.2% are minorities, and nearly 48% are women. For NPR, the advancement of minorities and women is an ongoing commitment, and our record compares favorably with that of other broadcasters. I have made it my objective to ensure that our employees are treated with dignity and respect. We at NPR are significantly improving what Nina Totenberg, one of our top correspondents, already calls a "great place to work." DELANO E. LEWIS, President and CEO National Public Radio Washington