June 9, 2007
Wow. Am I ever glad I don't have impressionable young kids these days. I don't think I could handle their questions about what transpired yesterday in Los Angeles County:
Kid 1: Mom, why did that sheriff let Paris Hilton out of jail so early?
Me: Well, children, it seems Paris was really, really upset because she had to go to jail, even though the judge reduced her sentence from 45 days to 23 days to make her feel better. She couldn't eat and she couldn't sleep and she cried and cried.
Kid 2: Kind of like when I went to sleep-away camp and got homesick?
Me: Yes, kind of like that.
Kid 2: But I didn't get to come home from camp, Mom!
Me: I know, honey. You stayed and you got used to it and you ended up learning lots of new things.
Kid 1: What did Paris Hilton do to go to jail?
Me: She drank a lot of alcohol, then drove a car. And when they took away her license for doing that, she got in her car and drove again. Then they put her on probation but she drove her car AGAIN so the judge sent her to jail.
Kid 1: Sounds like Paris Hilton is a slow learner, Mom.
Me: Yes. Or maybe she doesn't think she needs to follow the rules. Rich and famous people are like that, sometimes.
Kid 1: Why is Paris Hilton rich and famous?
Me: Well, she’s rich because her parents own lots of hotels. And she’s famous because she’s very pretty and, well, I’m not really sure.
Kid 2: So if she doesn't have to go to jail, is she still grounded?
Me: Sort of. She has to stay in her house for 40 days.
Kid 2: In her room?
Me: No, she can use the whole mansion, and the swimming pool. But she has to wear a bracelet on her ankle all the time so she could get a really ugly tan line.
Kid 1: Can she have friends over?
Me: Yes, I'm afraid so.
Kid 1: You don't let me have friends over when I'm grounded.
Me: I know, sweetie.
Kid 2: Can she drink alcohol?
Me: Yes, I think so.
Kid 1: So, let me get this straight. She can have her friends over and drink alcohol by her pool? This doesn't sound like being grounded to me.
Me: (Sigh.) Me either.
Kid 2: So if I grow up and drink alcohol and drive a car, then get arrested and drive again. And then they put me on probation and I drive another time, could I go swimming in Paris Hilton's pool?
Me: No, dear. You would go to jail.
Kid 2: Why?
Me: Because your parents aren’t rich and you aren’t famous.
Kid 2: But if I was really pretty, I could GET famous by drinking alcohol and driving my car around, right?
Me: Why don’t we talk about something else, like our summer vacation?
Kids: Yippee! Where are we going? Where are we staying?
Me: Anywhere but a Hilton, kids. Anywhere but a Hilton.
Comments
Margo (anonymous) says...
I couldn't believe it when I heard this. There's no doubt it was celebrity justice. Let's hope the judge reverses this outrageous decision this morning and puts her right back in the slammer.
June 8, 2007 at 7:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sheshell (anonymous) says...
It certainly sends a mixed message to the 20 somethings who all have to face the music when they screw up...... I think that they are doing the rest of the people her age a huge injustice. And what will happen next week, next month, or next year when Paris decides to go out and do the same thing again? After all, the judge has let her know that she IS special and DOESN'T need to abide by the rules like everyone else does.....
June 8, 2007 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bornin1955 (anonymous) says...
Nothing surprises me about Hollywood anymore and I couldn't care a flip about this young woman. But this did get my goat, especially after seeing video tape of her last night on the news. She was attempting to make a quick exit from a nightclub, slammed into the bumper of a vehicle in front of her and then sped off into the night. Clearly hit and run.
June 8, 2007 at 9:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tess1960 (anonymous) says...
All I can say is she is a lawsuit waiting to happen and I feel very sad for the family of the person she kills in a hit and run accident. The judge and the jail are putting themselves in grave danger of being named in that lawsuit. I can see the headlines now: hilton family sues judge and los angeles county for letting the hilton heiress out of jail. lawsuit follows a previous lawsuit against ms. hilton, the judge and the county for negligence in the killing of an inoccent bystander duering a drunk driving incident by paris hilton. the family is sueing to recoup damages awarded in a multimillion dollar lawsuit againsat paris hilton.
It's about time someone realize this young woman is no longer a child and she needs to learn to take responsiblity for her actions. I think even the rich and famous are appalled by these events. I know I would be!
June 8, 2007 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cathy (cathy) says...
I saw that video, born, and I thought the same thing. Hit and run, hello!?! She may have thrown fistfuls of money into the air as she drove away so that poor guy could get his bumper fixed but I didn't see that part.
I just read that now they're letting her phone in her court appearance this morning, rather than plead her case in person before the judge.
June 8, 2007 at 10:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
viola (anonymous) says...
My nephew is currently serving a 12-year sentence for vehicular homicide as the result of driving drunk. He entered a guilty plea to avoid putting the man's family through a trial. He is where he belongs and he knows that. He is involved in a 12 Step Group and knows that he can never do enough to make up for what he has done. It was his first and only offense.
He is locked up, earns $10 a month for difficult manual labor, cannot choose what he wears, must navigate carefully through a living situation filled with danger and hostility, but the worst thing is that he dreams almost every night of the accident and the man whose life he took.
I sincerely hope that Ms. Hilton never has to endure what he has endured, but let's face it-- this young woman is headed for disaster. She has the money to be driven around in a limo, but she persists in driving impaired while her license is under suspension for that very thing.
She has never been held accountable for anything.
What is even scarier is that my nieces think she is cool.
June 8, 2007 at 12:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Artha (anonymous) says...
I hope when this is all over with (jail time, or whatever) that Paris has a desire to serve others, rather than have others serve her!
June 8, 2007 at 1:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cathy (cathy) says...
Good point, Artha. CNN is now reporting that the judge ordered Paris back to jail to serve out her sentence. No word on whether that means the original 45 days or the reduced 23 days.
June 8, 2007 at 2:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rvonknorring (rvonknorring) says...
I just read the saga on-line about the judge ordering her BACK to jail to do her time. She cried out to her mom, then screamed as she was removed from the hearing.
I'm SURE it is a very scary situation, for Paris, but she really MUST take responsiblity for her actions. Just like everyone should.
Doing her "time" and not expecting, asking for, or getting special treatment, is a chance to REALLY make a difference in the eyes of many. Let's hope.
June 8, 2007 at 4:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lostinthe70s (anonymous) says...
Yes, let's hope. But the reality is, this young woman was raised in a narcissistic environment, as a princess, if you will. She feels entitled to special treatment and the chances of her making a difference in any life except her own are slim to none.
June 8, 2007 at 10:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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