SDSU Collegian

Issue date: 10/4/05 Section: Opinion & Editorial

Media Credit: Charlie Johnson

Paris Hilton.  The pure example of how you don't need any talents in this world to be famous.  Unless of course you consider the ability to stare into a camera with a sexy look and being able to throw up all your food on command a talent.

Oh yeah, and having a lot of money.

The very essence of Paris Hilton annoys me.  Maybe it's because I'm not blonde, tan, too skinny for my own good or filthy rich.  Or maybe it's because she is viewed as an icon and a role model. She has absolutely nothing to offer society.

She's celebrated as this hot pop icon, the party girl everyone wants to be.  She has a massive amount of influence on many people in this world, simply because her grand daddy or something was a really hard worker who achieved something for himself.

And we get stuck with a spoiled little princess.

 How does she use this influence?  She shows little girls that it's OK to be stupid if you're pretty, and she coins intelligent sounding phrases like "That's hot."

Holy crap.  That alone will end world hunger.

But let's not forget her book "Confessions of an Heiress," in which she marvels over how people would actually be expected to get a full-time job and take care of their bills and other trivial responsibilities.  'Cause, like, when would they have time for themselves?

You laugh, but this pop-tart waif is influencing little girls and adults alike.

I present you with exhibit A: the trucker hat.  After our beloved blonde icon began sporting these awful fashion statements, preteen girls everywhere ran out to stores to get their hands on.  What?  These things were never socially acceptable to wear if you drove anything with less than eight wheels.  Hey look guys!  I'm dressing like a trucker!  Isn't that cool?!  Too bad I don't actually spend long hours on the road or even work for a living.

But I digress.  I would really just like everyone to consider who we are idolizing.  Paris isn't the only one guilty of this shallow, materialistic crime.  Many of the celebrities Hollywood is pumping out today are in a neck-to-neck race to see who can land in rehab first.

Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff, Nicole Richie, Mary-Kate Olsen.  They're all trying to deny what nature has been telling us for years: you need to eat to live.

So then we get little girls with eating disorders and big girls who think carrying around your ugly little dog is the newest form of an accessory.

Continued...

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