Anna and New York

Anna Nicole Smith.\nThat's all I have to say, really. I do not have to say anything specific about the stories swirling around her or her death. She has become a punch line unto herself.\nThat is the problem.\nYes, it is tragic she died at such a young age, and yes, it is tragic that a young baby is left without a mother. It is an even bigger tragedy that so many men are claiming to be the father of the baby in a thinly veiled attempt to capture the millions of dollars Anna Nicole's daughter may soon be inheriting. \nThis is the problem with American culture. We are addicted to superfluous situations and issues that do not concern or affect us. We have all heard about Anna Nicole's death, but have any of us made drastic changes in our lives as a result?\nIn another classic example of America's love of the irrelevant, VH1 is putting on a show titled "I Love New York." The basic premise is that some chick Flavor Flav dumped on his own reality show now deserves her own program. How much more ridiculous can television get?\nMeanwhile, the stories we should be focusing on get relegated to the back burner.\nFor example, there is the soldier who committed suicide after returning from Iraq.\nIf you have not heard, Marine Jonathan Schulze took his own life after failing to receive the treatment he needed for post-traumatic stress disorder. Some facts and failings of the case are still in dispute, but the bottom line is that a brave American is dead by his own hands.\nRegardless of whose fault that is, this is the type of story we should be reading about and analyzing.\nAnother story that seems to have gotten buried in the Anna Nicole blitzkrieg is the latest chapter in the Iranian saga.\nThe White House claims to have evidence that Tehran approved a shipment of bomb-making materials to Shiite insurgents with the understanding that they be used against U.S. forces. The specific pieces of evidence have not been released as of this writing, but nobody in their right mind truly doubts these claims. They simply confirm what many have suspected all along.\nWhat are we to do about all of this?\nWell, first of all: Stop watching the ridiculous shows!\nNo sane person would think "I Love New York" has any kind of redeeming value. Even "The Real World" has become a ridiculous reality show to be despised. This is especially tragic considering the quality social commentary "The Real World" had in its first few seasons.\nSecond, start paying attention to stories that matter.\nCall me crazy, but I think Marines committing suicide and weapons-trading among America's enemies are just a little more important than who is sleeping with whom on what reality show.\nThe current lack of interest in important issues is not only sad, but dangerous. If Americans continue to care about the ridiculous and superfluous, we will see our sole superpower status reduced to Third World cesspool within a generation.