Paris Hilton: Nix Judgment and Show Compassion

Paris Hilton deserves to spend forty-five-days in jail. Hilton drove drunk. She received a sentence that included thirty-six-months probation and suspension of her license. Hilton snubbed her nose at the court and drove anyway. Unfortunately for Hilton, she was pulled over by police. We all know that ignoring a court order and driving with a suspended license suggests Hilton's jail time. I am sure Hilton knew that driving without a license was wrong, but thought she'd be ok "just this once." I have no problem with Hilton having to serve the sentence.

Two of my family members were killed in the same car crash caused by a drunk driver. I believe strict penalties should be imposed. I do not think that Hilton's celebrity or privileged lifestyle entitles her to special treatment. I do not respect the outrageous way Hilton has behaved in public, her immoral behavior, or her drinking. Hilton is not a kid anymore. She is twenty-five years and needs to get her life in order.

I do have a problem with how Hilton is being treated by the media. She is fodder for insensitive jokes on news shows and talk shows. I have heard so many flip remarks about her. Steve Doocey laughed about her on Fox and Friends' this morning. He and Brian Kilmeade joked about the color of her uniform, what her cell would be like, her "guard dog," and whether she would serve her time in Phoenix, where male inmates are forced to wear pink. Joy Behar, on TheView, has joked about her several times and calls her names such as "ditsy."

I feel concern for Hilton. She obviously has many "issues." She made a big error of judgment, and is in a terrifying situation. Hilton deserves to be safe while in jail. All inmates deserve that. I hope whatever happens in this situation will be used for Paris Hilton's good. She has the opportunity to turn her life around, but she needs emotional support to do that.

We have all failed and have been in embarrassing situations, but generally not anything like the limelight that Hilton is in. I realize that she put herself there, but imagine the impact if she receives cards from sincere people who encourage her to be strong and who tell her that they will pray for her. Maybe families who have lost a family member to drunk driving could tell her what it was like to go through such a loss, without being unkind to her. A forty-five-day-jail sentence gives her a lot of time to reflect on her life.

It is not our job to judge. Our legal system does that. Women and mothers especially should support each other. It is never a good thing to name call and to make jokes at another's expense. I especially hate the jokes coming from men. Paris Hilton is a human being who needs compassion. Some would call it "unmerited grace." For Christians, that is exactly what we receive from Jesus Christ. The scripture says over and over to "love one another," and "forgive and you shall be forgiven." Paris Hilton's situation is no exception. I wish her well.