What Justice System?
Obviously there is not a single thing happening in the world today than the game of judicial ping-pong being played with Paris Hilton so I'm going to go with it. I don't care much about Paris one way or the other but her case does bring attention to a few points I think are relevant.
If the purpose of our judicial system is, as we usually claim, to protect the safety of the public, protect the rights of individuals, and last but not least...change the behaviour of the offender then I have to ask: WHAT THE HELL ARE WE DOING????
One side screaming "free Paris" and the other side screaming for her blood. Both sides are idiots. Paris is a vacuous, narcissistic little bitch who has been raised by a vacuous, narcissistic bitch. We have a few million of those running around the country, this one just happens to be filthy rich and famous...courtesy of a vacuous and narcissistic public.
Making her stay off of our streets for 45 days certainly increases public safety so I don't have an issue with that regardless of where she spends that time. That covers the public safety aspect.
Protecting her rights doesn't seem to be an issue, there are dozens of people vying to protect every strand of well-bleached hair on her head.
Changing behavior is a bit more problematic though isn't it? Does anyone know a single person who became a better person via an extended incarceration? I don't and I worked in the system. Some got meaner, many got sneakier, a few who were lucky enough to get some help via rehabilitation services did improve their lives and their behavior. I had to conclude that "punishment" does not work, all it does is satisfy our need for retribution. Often it leads to even more tragedy for some innocent person down the road. I can't really lobby for harsher punishment for this idiot than I would for a penniless idiot when I don't believe it would be very productive in either case.
If we're serious about wanting this young woman to change her behaviour I'd suggest we stop screaming for either her release or her blood and sit down and write to the networks requesting no further coverage of her antics. While you're at it please consider adding Donald Trump, Rosie O'Donnell, and a few dozen others to your "do not cover" request. Quit feeding trolls.
If we're serious about improving our so called "justice system" then now is a great time to put our money where our mouths are and start looking at ways we can honestly bring some reason and justice to the system instead of just howling for revenge based upon how much we dislike a particular person.
24 comments:
Amen sister, you tell it. Every day that something happens in Paris Hilton world is a day I can't watch cable "news" programs. Between the endless re-telling of the story and the endless teasing of the re-telling of the story, it's all Paris all the time. It's nauseating.
If only our "justice" system put as much effort into nail and packing away the corporate thugs contorlling our country like the efforts put into this stupid fiasco ...
Mama, on Paris, she's just a spoiled little rich girl that thought that taking responsibility for her actions, and the judicial system's attempts to get her to cooperate, through probation, were beneath her. In the process her cavalier attitude truly pissed off a judge. That is the reason the judge landed on her, not the bogus reasons of the free Paris crowd. My fear is that Bush will pardon her and, 30 minutes later, pardon Scooter Libby. By the time the MSM got around to reporting Scooter's pardon, everyone would have forgotten who he is.
I am a long term proponent of restorative justice, because retributive justice does not work. Long sentences change nobody. The only thing that will change someone is the person making a genuine commitment to do whatever it takes to change and getting support to help implement the changes.
I had to turn it off yesterday. I don't like the girl but what the judge was doing in his quest to show us all how big his penis is was disgusting. What I saw was shameful and barbaric.
We protest Gitmo but it's ok to shatter the psyche of a 20-something year old dingbat just because she's obnoxious????
I don't know if you saw the press conference with Sheriff Baca but he was laying out some truth that John Q. Public needs to hear even though they'd rather not hear anything and just run around screaming for whatever side they're on.
The damn truth is Paris didn't behave any worse than Sally-from-the-Valley or Shaniqua-from-South Central and neither of them would have been dragged out screaming and hysterical or bounced in and out and in and out the way this girl has been. This is not justice, this is judicial dick pulling.
The Towers where she is now incarcerated is the mental health lock up. That is another story unto itself.
There simply are no facilities appropriate for housing non-violent offenders with mental health issues. The judge isn't punishing Hilton, he's torturing her. The only one he's punishing is the sheriff's department that has to try and follow his ruling and also keep this girl safe.
This is simply a master piece by you, Mama mia! I don't wish to punish you with a long rant of mine but I like, once again, to tell you how much I appreciate your incredible wisdom. That's why, you would make a lousy, unelectable politician and that, in a way, is the reason to our world wide problems. The peddlers of all sorts, snake oil salesmen, hucksters, type A achievers, power hungering frauds and folksy simpletons with assorted preachers do the leading now. And we elect them.
I appreciate what you have to say here, I really do, especially that quagmire between the judge and the sheriff’s department. Incidentally, throughout this somewhere I read an interview that someone had with Heidi Fless. It seems that old Heidi is hanging out in your neck of the woods. <---How Bama of me to use that phrase! Nevertheless, as a feminist I take issue with this statement, “Paris is a vacuous, narcissistic little bitch who has been raised by a vacuous, narcissistic bitch.” I want dissect or criticize your use of the word “bitch” even though it may be wince, but I must point out that Paris Hilton is the child of Richard and Cathy Hilton. As far as I can gather, Richard and Cathy Hilton are still married or at least were married throughout Paris’s childhood. In other words, her mother did not raise Paris alone, therefore, I find (hear me sounding like that arrogant judge) focusing the outcome of a child’s development on the mother or blaming that child’s faults on the mother alone is, I hate to say it, sexist.
I hope this does not make you angry at me, but I could not rest until I got it off my chest.
In another vein, I say shame shame shame on the public. The depth of hatred being displayed by many (not here) is unreal. It seems as if their thirst will not be satisfied until Paris kills herself.
Edit:
I won't dissect or criticize your use of the word “bitch” even though it made me wince,
Sorry I have a form of dyslexia that mostly affects my writing (and speech).
Again Mama, you've knocked it out of the park. The circus surrounding this whole thing has been insane. And, where once I was a Paris mocker, I now find myself sympathizing with her. I agree with you that the "punishment" has far outstripped the "crime" and yes, while other celebrities have been given preferential treatment, it seems that in Paris' case the opposite has occurred. The judge should be ashamed, as should the entire MSM for their behavior.
Oh...and we* don't really want her to change her behavior. Don't you see? Watching the antics of Paris and Britney and Lindsey, et al, make us all feel oh-so-superior about ourselves, so that we* eat this shit up.
*Present company excluded
E.K.: sorry, got sidetracked with other things. I did consider dad and odds are he's a narcissistic bitch as well but for whatever reason he hasn't advertised himself in the media so it would be impossible to say what role he plays.
The most I could safely accuse him of would be of producing offspring with an idiot who encourages their daughter's behaviour. He hasn't made himself, his role, or his views public so any more than that would be pure speculation.
Great post...I agree.
The argument about the rehabilitation is about the same way I feel about jail as a deterrent. If most of the people arrested thought before doing the crime, not as many of them would have to do the time. Thinking is the critical things missing.
As for revenge, the moral part of me says, forgive and forget. The human side of me says, "fry the guy".
Confusing.
Come on now!
Are you on holiday or something?
Yeah, ANYTHING other than Paris Hilton. The middle east, stupid people in your town, Goatse, ANYTHING!
NYM, I hope you're doing okay!
NYM, I tagged you. I know you'll hate me but I bet it will jog you back to life. LOL.
Hey I got the same widget guy coming by !!!
Been trying to make myself say something for days but the only words that keep coming to mind are "facking idiots" LOL.
Ahhhhllll be bahhhhck ;).
Clearly innocent people spending most of their lives in jail - now that is an interesting justice story. Media whores - who cares?
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Will we see anyone here............................................................Knock Knock.............................................................................................................................................................................................Bush in Maine with that Russian guy..............................I know you got something to say about that....................did you how angry Condi looked when she was standing next to old Barbara Bush?................................................................................................................
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.
These days, even people who out CIA agents can avoid going to jail.
Helluva country, ain't it?
Yo Mama! how ya'all doin'?
Have a nice 4th of July 'eh?
Love from Canada!
N.Y. Mama, where are you? You know, you can run, but you can't hide! Who do you think you are, O.B.L.?
Ok, ok, I'm outta hidin' ;).
The 4th was lover-ly with 128F down the road in Death Valley. Even O.B.L. doesn't want to come here, nothin' but heat-crazed locals carrying guns....he'd be out-matched.
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