Letters | One Reader's View

OK, stop the world; I want to get off. According to news reports, Paris Hilton is "emotionally distraught and traumatized" over her 45-day jail sentence for violating the terms of her probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case. A doctor who has been seeing the 26-year-old Hilton for the past eight months said she has a "fear of incarceration."

Boo-hoo! Hilton ought to go to jail, serve her time and actually do something with her meaningless existence. I, for one, am tired of celebrities, particularly younger ones, who think that because they are famous for all of 15 minutes they can get away with offenses that Joan and John Q. Public would be sent away for without any fanfare.

No one would make "Save Bill" signs and start blogs and Web sites devoted to my "cause" if I were pinched for drunken driving. Furthermore, I'd expect to be jailed as a decent, law-abiding citizen who recognizes that laws are meant to protect and serve the public.

Hers is a simple case of spoiled little rich girl who doesn't want to own up to her own actions and wants to get out of the penalties. In case any of you missed it, she also claimed the incident "was nothing."

Since when is drunken driving "nothing"? Try saying that to the family and friends of the reported 16,885 people killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2005. She's rich. Why not hire a driver for the evening? Phone a friend? Something. Anything, instead of wasted media time that could be devoted to real issues facing normal citizens.

Bill I. Larson
Marlton