Weapons of Mass Distraction

Re “ ‘Kidnapped’ by Drivel, We Invite World Hatred,” Commentary, Feb. 7: Although I appreciate Norah Vincent’s effort to flag the “soulless frippery” (great words) of current shows like “Fear Factor,” “The Chair,” “Kidnapped,” etc., it was overkill to use the seriousness of reporter Daniel Pearl’s abduction for contrast, as was the suggestion that these programs justify “world hatred.”

We should simply hate ourselves for the decayed educational system that produces the mindless audiences for this “teledrek.” We might consider apprehending the bottom-feeding TV executives responsible for green-lighting these travesties, depriving them of sleep and forcing them to watch this drivel on a round-the-clock basis until they scream for mercy.

Hal Greenfader

Los Angeles

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Vincent’s denunciation of drivel TV “reality” programs is well stated, and I’m fully prepared to agree with her, even though I never watch these programs. In fact, that is my point: There are certainly many Americans who are not watching such programs but instead tune in to (for example) programs such as “Search for Destiny” that aired recently on PBS and gave such invaluable historical background to the seemingly incomprehensible violence in Israel and Palestine--violence that cannot be understood if one does not go beyond current events.

The real problem, in both cases, may be the same: The mass media pander to the worst instincts in Americans and then are taken up abroad as an image of all Americans. It is the same as when we watch coverage of demonstrations in Pakistan or violence in the Gaza Strip and then generalize such images, extending them to all Pakistanis, Israelis or Palestinians.

Or is that the problem? Perhaps it is actually the soul-numbing consumerism that characterizes our country and invites people to seek relief from deadness in any easy way they can find. Even President Bush urges us to consume more to bring the economy back to strength.

Bill Snyder

Van Nuys