LETTERS: ABOUT THOSE ENTITLEMENTS

To the editor:

Years ago someone wrote in one of my school yearbooks: "May everything you deserve keep coming your way." That, of course, was a clever way of saying nothing good or bad.

In our day we read and hear a lot about entitlements. To what are we entitled? What does one really deserve?

We have heard all about our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but nowadays there is a clamoring for more than our human rights.

In recent years with the many changes taking place, many people make their plans based on what they consider their entitlements. They know they deserve their pensions, and they may include their medical benefits and other rights they think or insist they have earned.

I can recall discussions among students working on their doctoral degrees. Some said they were sure that their degree would entitle them to a minimum $10,000 more a year than those who did not have the title. There are others, fewer in number, who study and earn their title mostly for the sake of learning and a sense of accomplishment.

In Britain, some are granted titles which seen to give them additional entitlements. I once had as my guest Lord Luke of Pavenham, the head of a British meatpacking firm. The Pavenham sounded appropriate. Often the crown will also give official endorsement to their products when one reaches that station in life.

In our country we do not have that kind of title, but we do have celebrities who give their endorsements to a product, whether deserved or not, and which then gives that product entitlement to the use and prestige of a name to help sell the product. At times, some such entitlements are given as much out of compassion to assist the needy or to help raise funds for a worthy cause.

I read that Mike Tyson has stated he thought he was underpaid for his last professional fight and was entitled to more than the $20 million he received. His heavyweight boxing title will undoubtedly entitle him to many more opportunities to support himself.

There are others who out of compassion feel that most are entitled to get a bit of assistance when genuine needs appear. They are entitled to breathing space and the right to live. Most have heard of a man called Cain, who was not interested in being his brother's keeper. Yet compassion has its place.

I believe in the old work ethic that one works or does not eat, but in these days it seems to be human nature to want something for nothing. At times the law limits our right to entitlements to which we may or may not agree.

For what does one deserve entitlement? The list has grown to include many things. It becomes necessary to set priorities.

Possibly most would agree that the whole idea of titles and entitlements is overdone and overused. I remember some in South America who said their goal in life was to get an early pension after having worked a certain number of years or, better still, without having worked at all.

IVAN H. NOTHDURFT

Cape Girardeau