This is the first thing about the never-ending Paris Hilton goes-to-jail-for-far-too-short-a-time idiocy I've thought it worth commenting on. Well, pointing to, since I don't really have anything to say about it, and the pictures are worth a good 2000 words.
Here's the source.
One of the most
iconic photos in human history, this was taken June 8, 1972, by a Vietnamese photographer whose name is usually English-ized as
Nick Ut. It shows Vietnamese children running from their destroyed village, most notably the nine year old Phan Thi Kim Phuc, who was covered in 3rd degree burns thanks to the napalm that had burned the clothing right off her body. She almost certainly would have died that day if not for Nick Ut's assistance in getting her and the surviving members of her family to the hospital. Kim eventually underwent seventeen surgeries to repair the burn damage, survived them all, and eventually married, had two children, and defected to Canada where she lives today.
Thirty-five years later, to the day, this photo was taken by the same Nick Ut, now living in Los Angeles and working for the AP. It shows Paris Hilton displaying the strength of character we've come to expect of modern day celebrities. Paris was on her way back to jail to continue serving the ridiculous slap on the wrist three week jail term she'd been sentenced to for repeatedly violating her probation and driving drunk and otherwise impaired on a suspended license.
I've never previously felt any emotion towards Paris. I've blogged about her occasionally, but just from my bemused-by-the-idiocy of modern day celebrities attitude. I actually kind of admired her, for the fact that she'd achieved her ambition. Thousands of children are born to wealthy and powerful families, and a depressing number of them wish to become famous celebrities. Very few are able to do so, despite all the advantages of wealth, power, and the best plastic surgery money can buy. And yet here's Paris, possessor of no discernible skill or talent, and she's made herself into a major celebrity simply by performing a famously-inept blow job on a grainy home movie, attending every celebrity event held in or near downtown Los Angeles, regularly falling out of her clothing, and possessing nothing even faintly resembling shame or dignity. I've often thought her life was a disgusting waste and a tragedy, but even though I didn't agree with her goals, I had to admit that she'd worked hard to achieve them.
After seeing these photos side by side, I finally feel an emotion for Paris other than disgust. I hate her.
Labels: celebs, paris hilton, photography
