Re: Honorific, degree, name and label

[Phan Thanh Lam <phtl@freenet.tlh.fl.us>]

Hi,

Are we somewhat over sensitive when addressing this issue?  I mean, what's 
wrong with using one's highest degree (such as PhD, MD,DDS, PE or CPA or 
whatever) in books, publications, proposals, business cards and other 
documents.  I am sure that when you submitted proposals for research funds, 
you would want to list every papers you wrote, every degrees or awards 
you have received.  

Recently, I came accross a book entitled "Ve~ Vang Da^n Vie^.t" .  This 
is a compilation of biographies of over a hundred Vietnamese living 
overseas that have had some worthy achievements in academic, scientific 
or financial fields.  Quite a few of them listed their advanced degrees
in addition to their achievements.  I read thru them and I thought it was 
all right.  In fact, I thought it would be incomplete without them.

I don't see anything wrong with using these titles, as long as you have 
earned them.  I can see some situations where as one may want to avoid 
addressing selected people with titles but in general, if they have 
earned it, let them have it.

Sincerely,

Phan Thanh Lam



On Thu, 10 Apr 1997, Aiviet Nguyen wrote:

> Hello Anh Ca,
> 
>   I doubt that you have not been thinking of the sinificance of the value 
> system for much time. I have been thinking about this for more than ten 
> years.
>  How can you say O^ng Tha^`y is respectful or not, if there is no value 
> system to judge? How can you say the real value of one's work should be 
> recognised better than his title?
> 
...