An Open Letter to Paris Hilton

Dear Paris,

I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am for all of the troubles you're having right now, whether by your own hand or by the hands of other people. I would like to apologize for the part I may have taken in all of this when I "puh-leezed" the reports of your statement that you were this generations "Audrey Hepburn." Perhaps, when all is said and done, that will end up being the case but, as a die-hard Audrey fan I felt called upon to defend her unique and beautiful legacy which, unfortunately, you do not seem to be creating for yourself.

You are still very young and, having grown up (or trying to grow up) sheltered as you were by the wealth of your family, you may have missed a few beats here and there in your odyssey. I feel badly that you were taught that your behavior was somehow above the law; that wealth could prevent accountability for personal actions in this life. Perhaps in some situations this is the case, but in so many others that information is not only erroneous, but potentially deadly. What could ever give an otherwise intelligent young woman the idea she could drink and drive, thereby endangering her own life as well as the lives of others? You may actually be getting away with a much lesser sentence than many others that have done what you have done and lived to talk about it. Be grateful that it is only 45 days and that you are alive to live them. I am glad you are alive to live them and so you should be, too.

I feel very badly about the behavior of those in the court and legal system that feel it is somehow "OK" to importune you for autographs and such while you are trying to attend to your legal difficulties. Perhaps they were raised with an erroneous idea of what is acceptable behavior as well. You certainly do not deserve the taunting I have read from people who do not know you at all and you do not deserve to be made fun of for a fault that so many before you, and who will come after, have been guilty of also. You do not deserve to be condemned solely upon an issue of mere human weakness as though it were a premeditated or vicious criminal act. Fortunately no one was killed or maimed and, hopefully, the sentence given will stand forever as a reminder to you that inebriated driving is not the "good idea" it may seem like at the time.

You need to take the law and those who are tasked with enforcing it more seriously despite their failings, just as I am hoping people will start to do with you. Police officers and judges, for the most part, are just trying to "get the job done" and are people who genuinely care enough about other people and their lives, as well as the state of society as a whole, to work in law enforcement - we, and you, need to be thankful they are there to help keep us from harming ourselves and others when we are not at our best as adults. Because you are an adult, you must learn to accept adult responsibilities and, unfortunately, part of your responsibility is accepting the error of your prior actions and accepting the ruling of the court that has been deemed a just retribution for those actions. I do not feel victorious or somehow "right" or vindicated now that you are in this situation, just a little sad.

You are a pretty young woman with your own set of trials and tribulations to overcome. You are still trying to find yourself, I think, just as many young adults in their twenties are, and you will succeed as long as you are determined and willing to accept the burdens that accompany the privileges. You seem to be a member of a group of misfits, somehow. Wealthy, famous misfits to be sure, but still misfits, as though none of you really seems to know where or how you are supposed to fit in to life or what you're supposed to do to discover that place you need and want so badly. The secret to that is that you get to create your own place in this life. You learn to see how important you are in the lives of those you love, just as they have importance in your own life. You get to decide what you believe in, who you want to be, how you feel an adult should behave and then emulate your own thoughts. If you want to behave like a princess I would suggest taking your cue from Sarah Crew in Frances Hodgekin Burnett's book, "A Little Princess." In its innocence and sentimentality there is a great deal of common sense about handling the wealth you are so used to it seems common place. Such monetary wealth as yours is far from common and you are placed in a unique position to actually , materially, be able to better the world around you if you choose. That is both a gift and a burden and I sincerely hope you are able to handle it well.

Most of all I would like to tell you to stand tall. Do not merely accept your punishment, but soar through it triumphantly. Do not let those who taunt you cause you the undue stress they hope and intend to cause. Remember that those who do not have the privileges you share are often jealous and do not control themselves well when given someone to scorn who has always seemed above such things. Maintain a brave face, cry privately, hold fast to those who love you and be glad you will soon be back home with them. Most of all never, never get back behind the wheel of your car after you have been drinking or indulging in any other mind-altering substances. And, finally, never forget the love and support of your mother and family and know that anyone of your current friends who remain true to you through this will be the better friends for it after this is over.

I am rooting for you, Paris. You can do this!

Izzlebug