No reality in 'reality programming': [ALL Edition]

Your article "Behind the curtain of TV voyeurism" (July 7) unintentionally provides the best explanation for why shows like "Survivor" and "Big Brother" are so popular. By calling these shows "reality programming" the article fails to distinguish what is real from what is false. There is nothing "real" about stranding a bunch of strangers on an island to eat rats in front of TV cameras in the hopes of winning a million dollars. The same tendency of viewers to mistake fake for real is what gives these programs high ratings. A better term for these shows would be "unscripted," which may just sound too dull - or too real.

Matt Orr San Francisco

How ironic that these peep shows hiding behind the "reality" label are so popular just at the time when we are most threatened by the loss of privacy on the Internet. How can those who drool over scenes of others' misfortunes demand privacy for their own foibles? And how easy it is for corporations to spy on the personal habits of people who now accept the idea that such "24/7" spying is not just normal, but popular and desirable. As for me, give me a book and leave me alone.

Lisa Aug Frankfort, Ky.

Harry Potter vs. Pikichu?

Thank you for your July 5 article "Coming soon: Harry Potter and movie's curse?" I love the books (even at the cynical age of 24) and am extremely upset at the speed at which the movie is being made. I equate it with inviting all the muggles of Harry's world into Hogwarts for a tour.

The idea would sicken any wizard with any sense and it should scare us all. I do not want Harry to have to battle Pikichu in the next Pokmon movie and at this rate it is not far off. Let us all protest with our noses firmly placed in the Potter books.

Louis Wells St. Louis

Thank you for the article about adults thinking about not making a Harry Potter movie. I totally agree with them. I am 14 years old and just graduated from junior high. In one of our classes, we were each given a chapter (from the first book) to read and to summarize it for the class. Everyone enjoyed the assignment. I can tell you that more than half of my class hated to read, but this gave them the chance to read a very good book. Most of them say, "Why read the book if we can see the movie?" I love to read but even I say that.

Alissa Conrad Chicago

Stereotyping terrorists doesn't help

Your July 6 article "Chechen rebels go kamikaze" about Chechen resistance tactics making greater use of suicide bombings contains a prejudicial stereotyping that weakens the effectiveness of an otherwise important analysis. The use of suicide bombing is described as "unleashing Middle East-style tactics." Unfortunately, many people try to identify terrorism and "suicide bombings" as being the common handiwork of peoples of the Middle East rather than recognizing that, in the modern world, such tactics have been and continue to be used by people from many different regions.

The tactics of guerrilla warfare and suicide bombing are used by terrorists in many places outside of the Middle East and by non- Muslims (like the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka) as well as Muslims. Using inaccurate labels only harms our ability to understand such terrorists and may further strengthen existing prejudices.

John Voll Washington

Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding

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