Paris Hilton is out of the clink and millions of men and women are still in. But Hilton's freedom is much bigger news than the freedom of a man that has been incarcerated for 20-years for a crime that he didn't commit.
It amazes me how much attention the media gives to a woman who could barely serve out the full-term of her 45-day sentence when almost one year ago, rapper Lil' Kim served nearly 10-months of a year sentence with very little complaint--and no big money offers from the media to tell all (except for a BET program chronicling her days prior to lock-down). Where was Larry King when she was released? Why didn't we get to hear Kim's testimony about how her time in jail changed her life, considering that of the two--Hilton and Kim--statistics indicate that black people are five times more likely than white people to be in jail.
But this is bigger than Hilton having the opportunity to feign redemption for an hour on Larry King (which she did last night). The problem is that we--the general public and the media--deemed Hilton's story---and her mere existence---important enough to be considered nationally ground-breaking news. We rewarded a woman used to being in the spotlight with yet another opportunity to do what she does best--be in the spotlight
And we don't do it with just with her. We've been over-saturating our lives with information about people we will probably never meet in this lifetime. We have let the lives of celebrities eclipse those of our own brothers and sisters fighting extraordinary battles.
While we are busy believing that Hilton's story deserves to be breaking news, the body count in Darfur is still rising, AIDS in Africa is still spreading, the war in Iraq is still raging on, and many in our own communities are impoverished, under-represented, and disenfranchised. This isn't to say that we don't pay any attention to these issues, because we do. But little-by-little, the irrelevant news is what is splashed across the front pages of newspapers and websites while more serious issues get second-billing.
Some would argue that we need news like Hilton's release to take the sting off of what is really going on around us, but at what point do we stop anesthetizing ourselves? I think we've taken one too many shots and need an antidote.
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The comments that may have been made during the Larry King Show, while interviewing Paris Hilton, may have been quite fascinating. If it were in the area code of believing that bologna was some kind of mystery meat and very scary, what could she have told the world that would have been worth $1 million to interview her. On the other hand, if this was her wakeup call to change her ways, i would give her that.....until wanting to celebrate her new found freedom in Caesar's Palace for a party. The fascination of wanting to hear what Paris Hilton will say or do next to many of the media would tell many that she would not go away. As long as people talk about her, the story would not go away. If she comes out and does (or says) something outrageous, the media would not let her go away.
For a young female she has been smart enough to make money from her apparent inability to act, sing, etc.. People are admiring and venerating a young beauty, who unabashidly takes it all off on or off screen and makes money from every thing she does (is this panned in the film industry the answer is yes it is...pre scripted and rehersed.. Is anyone able to do this at any stage in life and without family money or inheritance or family name?????
I really don't think she was that smart as it dosen't take much to surround herself with people who know how to make the money and get her the publicity.
Duuuuu what passage in the bible is my favorite....she could have answered I recently started to study the bible and can't remember the exact passage number but it more or less says..... and she could not even do that. Will it be blamed on post traumatic stress....where as she is in her limelight and so pleased with herself. We may have witnessed the real Paris Hilton. She just has to look good, and act innocent and men will wilt and women will envy.
So hooray for humanity they get what they want.
I am so happy I am not rich and famous. What a life that must be of just blah blah blah. I would rather sit with an elderly person who has no one is their life and listen to what they have experienced. Or teach a teen that it is okay to be who they are and the women they see in magazines and tv are really fake and have nothing to contribute to society except a little entertainment for a short period of time. They too will grow older no matter how much they inject into their faces and bodies. When no one cares anymore they will be left alone and then know they really have contributed nothing and no one will care. Sad really when you think about it.
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