Through the Looking Glass

I can't get Larry David out of my head ... and it's driving me crazy.
Let me explain. I can't stop thinking about the ad promoting his show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, where he's looking at a glass of water that's half-empty (or half-full) and the tag line reads "it's all a matter of perspective." That's because the war in Iraq continues to drag on with no resolution in sight.
The ties that bind the United States with Saddam Hussein date back to the 1980s, when America provided intelligence information and military support to Iraq during its conflict against Iran -- despite being "officially neutral." In 1990, the former dictator invaded Kuwait; his actions drew global condemnation and led to the battle in the Persian Gulf.
More than a decade later, when Osama bin Laden orchestrated the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, U.S. officials perpetuated the misconception that Hussein was somehow connected to the incident. All of these events set the stage for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
America's presence in Afghanistan is justified because it was the headquarters of the Taliban, who provided bin Laden with a safe harbor from justice for his crimes. Meanwhile, Hussein had limited freedom in his own country, due to a no-fly zone and U.N. sanctions -- which begs the question of how he posed a threat to the U.S. in the first place.
It's been said that America is on its way to victory in the "war on terror" because Hussein was quickly toppled from power and eventually executed. As for al-Qaeda, critics say its influence is waning. But these two occurrences aren't mutually exclusive; other than their hatred of the U.S., bin Laden and Hussein had little in common.
Overthrowing Hussein's regime has come at the expense of geopolitical stability in the Middle East (and, by extension, the rest of the world) ... and bin Laden is still on the loose somewhere along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border -- despite President Bush's promise to capture him, dead or alive.
Speaking of Bush, more than four years after he declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq, he addressed the world on Memorial Day by saying "one day, this war will end -- as all wars do." Regardless of one's "perspective" on this issue, that day can't come soon enough.

Dance the Night Away

After weeks of denial, my conscience has forced me to come out of the closet: I watch Dancing With the Stars. (Oh, yeah, I'm a heterosexual, too.)
The appeal of watching a ballroom dancing contest that pairs celebrities with professionals lies in seeing the stars out of their element. Unlike most "reality" television shows, backstabbing skills are of no use in an environment where one has to learn routines like the foxtrot and waltz in a matter of days. As for photogenic looks, they're not a disadvantage ... but the competition boils down to how well the pair combines aesthetics and athleticism.
On that note, I think Laila Ali and Apolo Anton Ohno have the best chance at winning the mirror ball trophy this season. Part of me wants Ali to win because the other female celebrities didn't do well this time around (and no woman has ever won the contest, unless you count Kelly Monaco) ... but Ohno has been so consistent in his performances until this competition is his to lose.
These observations don't say much about the remaining contestants. Joey Fatone is doing well, but doesn't seem to be taking it seriously. Ian Ziering is at the other end of the spectrum, taking it so seriously until his self-consciousness overshadows his efforts. Billy Ray Cyrus has two wooden left feet, despite his sincere attempts to put his best foot forward. And while John Ratzenberger stepped up to the plate by replacing Vincent Pastore at the last minute, he's better off not stepping on the dance floor.
I applaud the celebrities for having the courage to venture out of their comfort zone, since "reality" television is too often associated with ordinary folks being put in contrived situations for the sake of entertainment. I used to be a fan of the genre, but lost interest when I figured out that most people who appeared on such programs were molded into one-dimensional stereotypes. (I reached this epiphany in 1996, while watching The Real World during its season in Miami.) As shows like Survivor rose in popularity, I became disenchanted with the emphasis that was placed on shock value.
If a glut of programming is to blame for the backlash against "reality" television, audience input is the key to its salvation. Allowing viewers to have a say in the outcome is guaranteed to bring in huge ratings, as American Idol has proven since its debut in 2002. But the best way to rejuvenate the genre is to focus more on shows that spotlight people who deserve their 15 minutes of fame and less on programs that pander to the lowest common denominator.