Dialogue

Re "Oasis of Understanding in Desert of Despair" by Kathleen Hendrix, April 12: Proposals for an Arab-Jewish dialogue and support of an independent Palestinian state, sounds just great! When are we going to hand over California to the Mexicans? AL GORDON Hollywood

"Waiting for Godot" is perhaps the best example of a great work of art where absolutely nothing happens. Beckett's masterwork is exactly what it sounds like — two guys waiting for Godot. But over its tragicomic dialogue they unpack some of the deepest mysteries of life. Presented by the Center Theatre Group. Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. Prices vary. Through April 22. Centertheatregroup.org.

This isn't about Howard Rosenberg's position vis-a-vis Southern Baptists versus the Walt Disney Co. ("Why Has What You Watch Become Their Business?," June 20). This is about the acerbic words from his pen when discussing Christians, of whom I'm one. Thus, in his eyes, we're "vision impaired . . . cultural bullies . . . zealots [a buzzword] . . . Disney bashers . . . seeking to impose their values and tastes on the multitudes, no matter how loopy their theories . . . Christendom's grinning bag of bilge, the Rev. Jerry Falwell.

About four times a week, before heading to bed, George Gaffoglio retreats to the upstairs bedroom of his Irvine home, where he settles on his couch, picks up his guitar and fires up his laptop. For the next half-hour or so, the 54-year-old sets aside his daily worries and dives into a website called ArtistWorks, where he plays along with instructional videos by Martin Taylor, attempting to mimic a British jazz guitarist who has collaborated with George Harrison, Dionne Warwick and other musicians.

I do not know Elisabeth Hasselbeck personally, and I am not a viewer of "The View." But I would like to respond to the three readers who attacked her last week [Letters, April 29]. What I find hilarious about these three letters is the arrogant, elitist attitude they present. Words and statements like "ignorant," "self-centered" and "Hasselbeck's disingenuousness is only exceeded by her hypocrisy" tell me how liberals really view others' opinions. These letters are stark, real, in-your-face examples of how they talk of diversity, consensus, dialogue and cooperation, only to detest and look down upon those who offer it. What liberals really mean is they want consensus and dialogue only with other liberals.

Prof. Benjamin J. Hubbard's comments and observations are very accurate ("Rise in Hate Crimes Signals Alarming Resurgence of Bigotry" April 4). I find that people don't seem to relate their particular brand of disliking a particular group to the general rise in bigotry, hate and animosity. It doesn't seem to matter whether it is the far right, far left or ultra-religious; it is the extreme positions of groups and individuals in our society that cause polarization. I hear racial and ethnic epithets mouthed by all kinds of people against others and that seems to grow, not shrink.

I wanted to express my gratitude for Kathleen Hendrix's article on local Arab-Jewish dialogues ("Oasis of Understanding in Desert of Despair," April 12). It was a fine, comprehensive report that gave a clearer picture of what, at times, seems like a vague, confusing situation. As a participant in a number of the organizations mentioned, I've seen firsthand how attitudes can change for the better once people start communicating openly with each other. We don't kid ourselves that problems will be solved overnight.

Obama administration officials have pledged to talk to world leaders no matter their views. On Tuesday, they showed the offer extends to Islamists who spend the day denouncing America from the street corners. U.S. envoy Richard C. Holbrooke met with Liaqat Baloch, a leader of Pakistan's Jamaat-i-Islami party. About an hour later, as the bearded scholar prepared to depart for an anti-American rally across town, the veteran diplomat said that despite their disagreements, the meeting had begun "a very useful dialogue."

You are free truly only when your neighbors are free! BETTY O' MEARA Malibu

"Conan the Barbarian," starring the excellent rippling chisel of Jason Momoa, is brutal, bloody beyond belief, and has no socially redeeming value. So it is with a certain amount of guilt that I say it's kind of a wicked blast to watch, especially if you're in the mood for some righteous revenge. For those who decry gratuitous violence, this is not a flick for you. For the rest of you bloodthirsty lot, it's not like the filmmakers were attempting a bait and switch. The movie is set in the fictional Hyborian Age, roughly post-Atlantis and pre-Facebook by my calculations, where monsters and sorcery were ever a threat and humans weren't exactly civilized.

Is "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" the ultimate disguise? Have they simply reimagined the legendary sleuth as a sort of grand mash-up of Eddie Izzard and the Terminator, which not only endows him with substantial brain and brawn but some very interesting wardrobe choices? After the box-office success of 2009's "Sherlock Holmes," you knew the filmmakers would be pressed to find a way to up the ante. Nonstop action, a possible world war and cross-dressing are indeed the answer.

"The Artist" is the wonder of the age, as much a miracle as "Avatar," though it comes at things from the totally opposite direction. Far from embracing the most modern cinematic techniques, "The Artist" is a glorious throwback, a black-and-white silent movie that manages the impossible: It strikes an exact balance between the traditions of the past and the demands of the present, managing to be true to the look and spirit of bygone times while creating...

Syrian opposition activists reported at least 24 people were killed Saturday as the deadline for Syria to begin implementing an Arab League-sponsored peace plan expired. The 22-nation Arab bloc had given President Bashar Assad until Saturday to start putting into place a plan that calls for a withdrawal of troops, a release of political prisoners and a dialogue with the opposition. There was no official word from the league as to whether it believed Syria had complied with the demands.

Deep fissures in the Syrian opposition were evident Wednesday when egg-throwing dissidents attempted to prevent other opposition figures from meeting with Arab League officials in Cairo. Some activists reportedly chanted "Traitors!" as a delegation of Syrians attempted to enter the league headquarters. The head of the visiting delegation, Hassan Abdel Azim, was eventually able to go inside and meet with the Arab League's secretary-general, Nabil Elaraby, reported the pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera.

"Margin Call" takes ripped-from-the-headlines events and dramatizes them for all they're worth. Which turns out to be quite a lot. Starring a top cast including Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Stanley Tucci and Paul Bettany, "Margin Call" returns us to where previous films, including the Oscar-winning documentary "Inside Job" and the HBO drama "Too Big to Fail," have gone before: the opening days of 2008's global financial crisis. But this time, it's different. It's different because this confident, crisply made piece of work does an expert job of bringing us inside the inner sanctum of a top Wall Street investment bank in extremis, giving us a convincing and coolly dramatic portrait of what it must have been like when titans trembled.

When a political thriller is called "The Ides of March," it's safe to presume it's not going to celebrate the gracious pleasures of good government. Referencing the betrayal and assassination of Roman emperor Julius Caesar lets us know that darker forces are going to be given free rein, the darker the better. Directed by George Clooney (who headlines along with a powerhouse cast that includes Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei and Jeffrey Wright)

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, aiming to end his country's isolation, challenged an audience of European scholars Wednesday night to open a "profound, thoughtful dialogue" with the Islamic world. Then he canceled a scheduled question-and-answer session and left the stage. Khatami's abrupt exit, which embarrassed his hosts at the European University Institute, appeared to undermine the message of his three-day visit.

Politics is making Americans dumb and mean. It's turning a generous, forward-thinking people into glib, defensive, narrow-minded bores. Pundits tell us that the answer to all this nastiness — from the disgusting comments on message boards to the smarmy lies of TV political hacks — is to get more people civically engaged. By their logic, the moderation of crowds will temper the zealotry of activists. But I don't buy it. The solution to the corrosive spirit of U.S. politics is not more politics.

"Conan the Barbarian," starring the excellent rippling chisel of Jason Momoa, is brutal, bloody beyond belief, and has no socially redeeming value. So it is with a certain amount of guilt that I say it's kind of a wicked blast to watch, especially if you're in the mood for some righteous revenge. For those who decry gratuitous violence, this is not a flick for you. For the rest of you bloodthirsty lot, it's not like the filmmakers were attempting a bait and switch. The movie is set in the fictional Hyborian Age, roughly post-Atlantis and pre-Facebook by my calculations, where monsters and sorcery were ever a threat and humans weren't exactly civilized.