Drucker’s Remarks Are Insulting to Proud, Honest Balkan Peasants

This letter should be titled “Drucker’s Supreme Folly” for that is what it deals with. It regards the Oct. 22 story, “Wall Streeters Had It Coming, Veteran Guru Drucker Says.” To quote from the article:

“Peter F. Drucker, the celebrated observer of corporate America, Wednesday likened Wall Street traders to ‘Balkan peasants stealing each other’s sheep’ and said that their lack of restraint made the recent stock market plunge inevitable.”

Whether or not Wall Street traders have used restraint in trade is beside the point. The point here is Professor Drucker’s obvious racial bias. Portraying Balkan peasants as unrestrained thieves is a totally outrageous and inaccurate analogy.

Although this may very well be a futile attempt, let me assure you, Professor Drucker, that Balkan peasants are not unrestrained thieves but, quite to the contrary, hard-working, very honest and hospitable people. I should know, I grew up with them! It’s sad and ironic that a person of his bias should be in an academic environment and in a position to influence others.

SONJA DJEKICH

Glendale