Paris Hilton May End Up Loving Jail

It is difficult to think of anyone more deserving of jail time than Paris Hilton. What with her irresponsible behavior, her self-absorbed flaunting, and her wealthy conceit—a month or so in prison is just what the doctor ordered. She’s long overdue.

The benefits are twofold: a) Paris will have a chance to cool her heels and reflect on the responsibilities of her privileged existence,and, b) other rich kids will see that they are not above the law. Often when one grows up in an affluent household, one can develop an air of superiority (as is the case with George W. Bush, for example) and a sense of entitlement. This attitude can be very unhealthy and even dangerous. Parents have an obligation to create a sense of right and wrong in their children, and, if they fail, it is up to societal institutions to take over, as painful as it may be.

By its very nature, incarceration is a very humbling experience, and it can do wonders for a person’s character and moral makeup. It can instill a sense of limits and personal strength and perhaps even a calm oneness with the universe. When things are going well and life is easy, you can be lulled into a feeling of infallibility. Being in jail is a rather rude and welcome awakening from that feeling. The Tao te Ching reveals, ‘We mold clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that makes the vessel useful’. Thus, when she is deprived of all the trappings of wealth and sits in the confines of a prison cell, Miss Hilton may fully realize the true beauty of existence.

So, Paris may fret and fuss, but, just like summer camp, the jail experience will be one she will remember forever; it could well be a turning point in her life. In the end, she’ll be much richer.