by A. M. Gilbert

Created on: June 11, 2007   Last Updated: July 23, 2010

Will Paris learn her lesson?

Once upon a time, Paris Hilton, celebutante, gained fame for a reason that no one has actually figured out yet. And when she was arrested, well, every major news outlet stopped reporting on silly things like war and growing economic issues to focus on "Paris Watch." And, of course, now we are supposed to speculate on the odds of her learning a lesson from all of this, which means we also have to make ourselves care. So, will this lesson be learned?

Looking at this issue empirically, anyone should find "no" the obvious answer, simply because Hilton has had multiple DUIs. Clearly, she has learned little more than flagrant disregard for the law. This has nothing to do with who she is or if she's a "bad" person; most people do not know her, so most people should not care. However, she can be viewed as any other person who repeatedly ignores such legal policies: The implication is that she really could not care less about the people she is endangering.

Paris Hilton is 26 years old, and has not yet learned that drinking and driving can lead to death. She parties like she just turned 21, and does not show a shred of maturity. Maybe it is easy to be a party girl when you apparently do little that is actively useful with your life. I wouldn't know. The point is, she broke the law and did something stupid and dangerous. Ergo, she faces legal repercussions. The media says this is to "make her an example." Yet how is she, or anyone, to be scared straight by landing in a "special circumstances" county jail cell for a month and a half? While that will be uncomfortable, it is neither here nor there; the punishment is not quite a slap on the wrist, nor is it a truly severe, example making gesture. Most people in that position would see it as a reason to act a bit more responsibly, but learning to avoid jail time does not exactly constitute learning some big moral lesson.

So, will Hilton have an epiphany and become the girl America just knows she could be? Maybe. I don't think so, myself. She has had 26 years to learn to behave. If 45 days in jail make her a better person, than I am all for it... or as Paris would say, in my opinion, "that's hot."

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