Hitchens and Damsel Hilton

Christopher Hitchens extends more mercy to Paris Hilton than he usually does to Christians. Perhaps it’s because, like many men, he is prone in the face of hysterically crying “pretty” females. I’ll leave off on speculation about any other reasons for his empathy.

At some point toward the middle of last Friday, it seemed to me, [Hilton] was being made a spectator to a small but important injustice. Those gloating and jeering headlines, showing a tearful child being hauled back to jail, had the effect of making me feel sick. So, you finally got the kid to weep on camera? Are you happy now? [SNIP]

Not content with seeing her undressed and variously penetrated [in her self-submitted and unseen-by me sex tape] it seems to be assumed that we need to watch her being punished and humiliated as well. The supposedly "broad-minded" culture turns out to be as prurient and salacious as the elders in The Scarlet Letter. [SNIP]

[T]he treatment she is receiving stinks—indeed it reeks—of whatever horrible, buried, vicarious impulse underlies kiddie porn and child [sic] abuse.

To be fair, Hitchens’ observations about the coverage of the Hilton saga are mostly accurate—with the notable exception of the latter.

In spite of what much of her heretofore public behavior may indicate, the woman is an adult and, just as other adults of similar mindset must accept the consequences of their actions, so must the one in question. And what Hitchens surprisingly gets wrong is that, once again, Hilton isn’t sentenced to “prison” for a “tiny infraction,” but sentenced to jail (there's a difference; she's not housed in, say, Chowchilla) for violating the terms of her probation after continually endangering the lives of others.

Hitchens spares no contempt for most who profess to accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but has sympathy for rich, self-exploiting drunk-drivers who don't care about anyone but themselves. Bizarre.

(Thanks to Hot Air)

UPDATE: Allahpundit--who may need an intervention for that View addiction of his--watched as View hostess Barbara Walters reports on her telephone conversation with Hilton. Of the effect that being jailed has had on her, Hilton reportedly said:

I have become much more spiritual. God has given me this new chance… My spirit or soul did not like the way I was being seen and that is why I was sent to jail. God has released me.

I hope that this is so, but it will be interesting to see whether Hitchens' empathy "magically" evaporates. I say 'yes.' Wagers anyone?

Comments

[Bane]

As I have already posted, I totally agree with Hitch on this one. That jail is an absolute hellhole, and this falls well withing the purview of the Cruel and Unusual Punishment clause.

There are so many other things a thoughtful, competent judge could have done to her, instead we get this grandstanding monster who is hoping for his own show, torturing this pitiful woman-child, to no benefit whatsoever.

He could have given her house arrest, a huge fine with the proceeds going towards charities, and gotten her to make PSA's for years. Among other things.