Theresa Santoro

Released early today after just three days in jail is Ms. Paris Hilton. She is a girl famous for doing nothing except partying and making her family name a household name other than the hotel chain that it was intended. She is the head of the Hollywood bad girls. Girls with too many "yes" people, too much cash, and too much fame. According to the press, many felt sorry for Paris. I was not one of them. Frankly, I was glad she went to jail. I was hoping the time served would snap her out of her distasteful public behavior.

As a parent, I wonder about her parents. Why, oh why have they not stepped in sooner? Why do they continue to show support for a grown woman and her behaviour. Or do they?

It is a slippery slope to walk when you have a child in crisis. Paris is clearly in crisis. What goes on behind the closed doors of the Hilton mansion? Is there yelling and screaming, or is there complacency? Oddly in the news, Mr. Hilton never speaks, yet his wife Kathy always speaks up to how proud she is of Paris. Proud? Is there something special that Paris does, that the public is unaware of? I see her in the news, partying. She seems to be having her own sexual revolution, dressing as provocavitly as is possible. She is certainly not anything to be proud of. Look deeper. Smoke and mirrors of media. Photos of her parents look pained. I wonder what they really feel. A big name such as Hilton would not do well to ignore their oldest daughter. Pillars of old money could never plan for such bad behaviour. When Paris speaks, she sounds stupid, and uneducated. Yet she attended the finest private schools. Are her parents hoping she will grow out of her behavior?

One hoped that jail would scare her straight. Instead, she was released, and re-assigned to house arrest. What are the restrictions of house arrest? Can we make sure she has no chef, and no maid? Can she take in other peoples laundry to wash and iron? Perhaps cut off television, movies, and limit her telephone time as it was in jail? What about parties, and drinking? Can you do that under house arrest?

I don't know, it actually sounds not so bad. Maybe I am missing something. When my schedule is so full I can't see straight, I pray for house arrest. Just lock me in for a few days so I can rejuvinate my soul, and catch up on the laundry, and tackle the closets that need to be cleaned out.

Joking aside, what is it that Paris does that is so important, that she was able to ignore warrants, and such, and claim it was her publicists fault. And what is so special about her that she cannot do time in jail? Drunk driving is what she is getting out of. What if she killed someone? Would it be set aside, because she is a professional partier? Would her lawyer use that as a defense ( she needs to drink to excess your honor. It is what she does for a living), and the reason Paris is a household name?

Too often, parents with means do whatever it takes to "buy" their child out of trouble. It can start as early as elementary school, and continue through young adulthood. When did parents become afraid to discipline? When did Paris become someone who can garner so much important news time, when young men and women are dying in Iraq?

Back home in between her Pratesi sheets, down comforter, fluffy pillows, and hot showers, I hope Paris, can really get it together. Perhaps taking a look around and realize how very lucky she is.

As a wealthy woman, was Paris able to buy her way out?

To whom much is given, much is required. It is time for Paris to step up to the responsible citizen plate. And time for her parents to show some tough love.