Paris Hilton Doesn't Take Your Eye off the Ball

[ElboRuum]

You know, I've seen a pile of threads around here discouraging further talk about Paris Hilton.

'You're only dignifying this by talking about it.'
'There are more important things to discuss here.'
'This is just another media circus to keep us from real news.'

Or some such other thing paraphrased for your enjoyment.

First off, let me address the point that the Paris crap takes your eye off of more important matters:

My brain can hold an impressive amount of information and process it with relative ease. Paris Hilton's current state of affairs is an enjoyable subroutine in a program otherwise occupied by more worldly concerns. If you find yourself distracted by this Paris thingy, well that's something you'll have to work out on your own, but please, as you do so, speak for yourself.

Second, let me address the issue of importance.

DU often discusses the issue of the inequity of justice in this country, that there is a protected class and then there are the rest of us schlubs who actually have to follow the rules, and that this inequity follows socioeconomic lines. For the edification of those who have initiated and participated in these discussions, your points are well taken, and no one would question that if you want to really question what is wrong with this country, you must spend a great deal of time questioning how people of privilege and of public life never seem to suffer for missteps most of us would have to suffer for without question or reprieve.

Whether or not you realize it, Paris is one of many public faces of this inequity. The reason why I'm enjoying it so much is because the judge is taking the time to point out an object lesson to Paris and exposing an example to the rest of us:

Just because you are rich and famous will not excuse you from societal obligations.

I, for one, am happy to see this because I am so tired of seeing the justice system wilt in the face of power begotten by wealth. That we have an example that not everyone who sees that our laws are enforced and its violators punished is cowed by the cult of wealth, power, and personality makes me feel like everything is not broken. It does my heart good to say that those who scoff at the law because they believe they are shielded from "commoner" law by a wall of green paper bearing the faces of former Presidents are not above the law should we be forthright enough to apply it.

So I attach a little more importance to this than that of just some Schadenfreude for the travails of a snotty, spoiled little party brat.

[L. Coyote]

1. It is tiring to hide threads. Period. Back to work. Read this SCOOP

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0706/S00061.htm

[Zodiak]

2. As a populist-leaning DUer

I must say that the Paris Hilton thing gives me hope that our forefather's dream of everyone being equal under the law is not dead.

[Kagemusha]

3. I must cynically ask out loud, what else is that important right now?

Is a new chairman of the joint chiefs going to really make that big a difference? Roger Clemens starting for the Yankees? The latest car bomb to blow up in Iraq? Chewing people out for watching Paris would be inflating my personal self-importance way too much, anyway.

That said I'm personally opposed to making examples out of people on principle - rich or poor alike. But at least Paris has habeas corpus rights and will be able to get an actual (the actual?) reason for the judge's ruling, besides 'I don't like your face'.

[Stuckinthebush]

4. This Paris Hilton thing is actually wonderful

I was thinking about this last night and am glad you posted it.

The events surrounding her verdict, jail time, release, and re-jail time are very important to us and our society. You have done a wonderful job pointing out why. Yes, Paris Hilton in all of her Parisness is rather unimportant, but the deeper story is about privilege and justice.

[piesRsquare]

5. AMEN! n/t