Remarks on Paris' Incarceration

I’m getting really tired of running across articles and blog entries about Ms. Hilton’s excesses, entrances and egresses to/from jail, and so forth. None so far have touched on what I see as the most important issue, so I thought I’d write about it here, and then when I find more inane commentary I can just link to the page.

Al Sharpton’s determined to make it a racial/privilege thing. The Sheriff of L.A. County says it’s reverse discrimination. Any number of mean-spirited people, all too ready to snipe at a woman they envy (Yes you do — be honest with yourself for once!), have pontificated on the subject of her entitled-ness — a ridiculous complaint coming from any American, IMNSHO.

What no one has bothered to mention is the fact that this is a matter of extreme importance — indeed, of life and death — for Ms. Hilton herself.

Based on commonly-accepted statistics about multiple DUIs and long-distance observation of Paris’ activities over the past couple of years, it should be clear to anyone with a grasp of the basics of addiction that she is addicted to alcohol, and probably other drugs as well.

Addiction is a fatal disease. You may say that it is a matter of background, of morals, of weak will, of willfulness. That only proves that you’re not entitled to be throwing your opinion around (even though “everyone is entitled to their opinion”). If you don’t believe Addictive Disease is a deadly syndrome — and also the biggest health problem in the United States — then you don’t know what you’re talking about and your opinion sucks. Period.  Your compassion could use a good overhaul, too.

Paris Hilton has a deadly disease that will almost certainly kill her if she doesn’t do something about it. That’s the bottom line. With addicts, in order for us to become cognizant of the problem, overcome our denial, and get the willingness to recover, something has to get our attention in a big way. In many cases, the thing that does it is an experience like a few weeks in jail.

This isn’t an issue of privilege, or reverse discrimination or something that’s “not right,” it’s a matter of life and death. The judge knows that, and had the guts to do the right thing when he could easily have sat back, blamed Ms. Hilton’s release on the Sheriff, and avoided getting involved. I don’t know if someone crossed the Top Cop’s palm with silver or what, but he should know better, too. Any professional cop should.

I say good for you, Judge. Good for you, and Godspeed to Ms. Hilton. May she discover what some of us other addicts have discovered — before it’s too late.

And you media jackasses, and you who feed on the garbage they dribble — go get lives of your own.