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What kind of culture would embrace Paris Hilton?
Creators Syndicate ^ | June 1, 2005 | Ben Shapiro

Posted on 06/01/2005 9:27:48 AM PDT by UltraConservative

Paris Hilton is at it again. The 24-year-old hotel heiress is the feature attraction in Carl's Jr.'s new Spicy Burger ad campaign, aimed at the horny male TV-watching population. Scantily clad in a one-piece leather outfit plunging down to below her navel, Hilton struts into an empty warehouse, licks her finger, then suds up herself and a Bentley automobile, as a stripper-styled "I Love Paris" rendition slowly plays in the background. At the end of the spot, Hilton bites the burger and sucks her finger clean. The commercial closes with Hilton's tagline flashing across the screen: "That's Hot."

The spot is pure, soft-core pornography, beginning to end. The website for the commercial, spicyparis.com, touts the "too-hot-for-TV spot." And while Carl's Jr. CEO Andy Puzder defends the ad as "a beautiful model in a swimsuit washing a car," it is clearly designed to capitalize on Hilton's target audience -- porn watchers.

As I explain in my upcoming book, "Porn Generation: How Social Liberalism Is Corrupting Our Future," the plain truth of the situation is that Paris Hilton would be a relative nobody today were she not incredibly rich and profligate with her favors. Hilton made perhaps the most infamous porn video outside of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. That hard-core work, starring then-boyfriend Rick Solomon, brought her international fame. At least nine other sex tapes are said to be floating around somewhere, including a lesbian sex tape with Playboy playmate Nicole Lenz. The sexually uninhibited Hilton became a target for Larry Flynt of Hustler fame, who released pictures of Hilton sharing some lesbian tongue at a nightclub. As Conan O'Brien observed, "Hustler magazine announced that it will feature photos of Paris Hilton making out with another woman, while the woman fondles Paris' breasts. So the search continues for a photo of Paris Hilton not having sex."

Because of her pornographic involvement, Hilton has grabbed an endorsement deal as the Guess? Jeans girl (the New York Observer reported that "her bad-girl image jibes with the clothing company's porn-lite ad campaigns"), endless tabloid headlines, and now, this deal with Carl's Jr. As Brad Haley, marketing chief for Carl's Jr., stated, "Paris was chosen to star in the ad because she is an intriguing cultural icon and the 'it girl' of the moment."

Here's the big question: How, as a society, did we allow Paris Hilton to become a cultural icon? Clearly, no one likes her very much. Liberals and conservatives alike agree that she is vacuous and silly. Media commentators all over the map label her "spoiled" and "stupid." Maureen Dowd, hardly a cultural right-winger, lumps Hilton together with "vacuous, slutty girls on TV sitcoms."

No, Hilton is today's "it girl" for one reason and one reason alone: Individual scorn, though that opinion may be shared by a vast majority, does not control the river of a culture. It is those who push the envelope who do. Over the past few decades, we have implemented a "live and let live" culture whereby abhorrence for immorality is seen as illegitimate if promoted through governmental means. Instead, we are supposed to let our culture be poisoned slowly -- and if we protest, we are told that as long as we turn off our own TV's, all will be well.

That's why it should come as no surprise that Hilton's spicy ad has ardent defenders, who proclaim that just because you don't like pornography doesn't mean that it can't make someone else very happy. One man's pornography is another man's means to happiness. And so Keith Olbermann of MSNBC ripped the ad's detractors: "I'm reminded tonight of H.L. Mencken's definition of Puritanism: the haunting fear someone somewhere may be happy. Is that at the bottom line here, I mean, that the people who have to protest crap like this ad -- and it's crap -- but are they afraid it will corrupt somebody, or are they afraid somebody will enjoy it?" Paul Begala labeled the offended "the sanctimonious Republican right." And Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times simultaneously condemned the commercial as "a new high (or low) in television crassness" and slammed the ad's opponents as members of the "manufactured outrage industry."

This is the new pattern: individual condemnation and societal acceptance. The moral among us have been forced into tolerance of immorality. Paris Hilton is a cultural icon because of it. As long as the moral majority is impotent, the lowest common denominator will continue to define us.

©2005 Creators Syndicate, Inc.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: California; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: benshapiro; california; carljr; carlsjr; cheesecake; ckerestaurants; culturewars; cyberburger; hardees; libertarianism; minimumwage; morality; nannysquad; needlebutts; parishilton; pornography; sex; socialliberalism; tennessee; tramp; unwadthepanties
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To: UltraConservative
A sub-culture...


221 posted on 06/01/2005 4:05:52 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: Modernman

Absolutely not. On the other hand, neither should he be able to shut up the parishioners if they decide to proselytize to him.


222 posted on 06/01/2005 7:29:09 PM PDT by myrabach
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To: cubram

Who says that the 10 Commandments constitute an establishment of religion? Are the people in the court house worshiping the 10 Commandments? Since one of the commandements is not to commit murder, is the law against murder a religion?


223 posted on 06/01/2005 7:34:21 PM PDT by myrabach
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To: UltraConservative
Rome circa Third Century AD, around the time when they flooded the Colosseum with water and imported dolphins, sea creatures and hapless victims that were then summarily executed for the popular entertainment of the day.

People who focus on her for popular entertainment are like sick, passive, nihilistic patients looking into a mirror and being entranced by their own maladies.

Where are Paris Hilton's parents and mentors to guide her with all of this ?

224 posted on 06/01/2005 7:36:00 PM PDT by Red Sea Swimmer (Tisha5765Bav)
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To: myrabach
For a great discussion of the Pornography Culture, check here.
225 posted on 06/01/2005 7:38:13 PM PDT by JusPasenThru (http://giinthesky.blogspot.com)
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To: myrabach

The Ten Commandments are to certain "Religions" as a Solid, Great Foundation is to a poorly constructed house. The foundations are essential and are fine. The people building on top of the foundations are the problem. They build dilapidated and flimsy houses that offer the occupants no peace, shelter or sanctuary.


226 posted on 06/01/2005 7:39:27 PM PDT by Red Sea Swimmer (Tisha5765Bav)
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To: JusPasenThru

Thank you... excellent read!


227 posted on 06/01/2005 8:06:58 PM PDT by myrabach
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To: jonrick46
Does anyone remember Mae West?
Not I, I go about as far back as Farrah Fawcet:

And Catherine Bach:

-Eric

228 posted on 06/01/2005 8:52:26 PM PDT by E Rocc (If God is watching us, we can at least try to be entertaining)
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To: E Rocc
Farrah Fawcet was an "angel" to many of our generation. Paris Hilton from what I have seen of her is the photographer's dream for her ability to deliver every physical motion and facial expression flawlessly. It is incredible how she is able to deliver it so natually. This is the main reason she is getting the media attention. She is good at what she does.

Also, if you examine what she is doing, you will see that she is purposefully conveying images that are purposefully saying what she wants to say. This is not all that spontaneous. It is planned and executed to look spontaneous. That takes a natural talent which is why she is getting so much attention.
229 posted on 06/02/2005 2:46:08 AM PDT by jonrick46
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To: myrabach

Any reasonable person would conclude that an agent of the state, especially the punitive one, displaying one religious symbol over all others constitutes an endorsement of that religion. The law against murder is not religion, but is part of our legal code. We also have laws against theft. We do not have laws against adultery, lying (unless under oath) coveting, misusing God's name, etc. Should we display only those two commandments that are actually part of our legal code?


230 posted on 06/02/2005 7:35:57 AM PDT by cubram
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To: cubram

And what "religion" would the 10 Commandments be endorsing? I do not think of "religion" when I see the 10 Commandments... only a very reasonable moral code of ethics. I am a reasonable person and have never concluded that the 10 Commandments were an endorsement of a specific religion.

Sorry, but I am firm in my opinion about this and have seriously considered your side of the argument. I find your side to be shallow and without merit and an effort to shove amorality down our collective throats. I find it a dark day in the history of America when said document has been removed from courthouses across this country.

Hopefully reasonable people will prevail eventually and we will see the 10 Commandments reposted where they rightly belong, without the rediculous notion that somehow posting them constitutes a state sponsored religion.


231 posted on 06/02/2005 8:41:43 AM PDT by myrabach
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To: myrabach

The Ten Commandments for the most part is a reasonable moral code of conduct that should be taught in the home and church. The problem is, the courts exist to interpret, and hold people accountable to the laws as dictated by our legal code, not religious rules, however reasonable and common sensical they may be.

And how do their absence constitute equate to shoving ammorality down our throats? Do courtroom displays prevent the advertising industry from forcing risque Paris Hilton ads onto our airwaves? Does it prevent networks from showing more and more skin during prime time? I don't think so. The reality is sex sells, and will continue to be sold until consumers no longer buy it.

I have also seriously considered "your side," and I find it a heavy handed effort to shove judeo - christianity morality down our collective throats in an inapproriate forum for it. I believe in parental responsibilty and the power button approach to immorality. When enough people stop allowing this crap into their homes and minds, TV execs will try another approach. Until then, no court room display will curtail it in the least.


232 posted on 06/02/2005 9:39:50 AM PDT by cubram
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To: myrabach
Absolutely not. On the other hand, neither should he be able to shut up the parishioners if they decide to proselytize to him.

So, in this case, the fact that the one guy engages in conduct that the vast majority find highly offensive does not give the majority the power to silence him.

That is my larger point- rights are not subject to a veto by the majority, no matter how obnoxious the enjoyment of those rights by the minority might happen to be.

233 posted on 06/02/2005 9:44:28 AM PDT by Modernman ("Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made. " -Bismarck)
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To: Modernman

Your example stated that he was outside the church, not inside interfering with what was going on there. If he were inside and interfering then the majority would certainly have the right to silence him.

In the same line of thinking, keep pornography on channels that identify them as such and are limited to those who select them for viewing. To show a pornographic commercial on public airwaves where one cannot immediately decide whether to view or not just isn't acceptable. It takes the choice away from me, even if I grab the remote quickly enough to change the channel.


234 posted on 06/02/2005 11:10:53 AM PDT by myrabach
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To: cubram

You see, I came from a time when the community could be counted on to back up the parents. We were on the same page so to speak. Neighbors reported misbehaviour to parents without being cussed out by the parents, the police could be relied upon to weed out the criminals, the courts prosecuted with regard to victims and not to the perps, schools were in alliance with the parents and vice versa. There wasn't any confusion... right was right and wrong was wrong. Most people knew the difference.

Parents are at a loss to find any support in society thanks to people who seem to feel our country need not subscribe to a moral standard. Taking a quick look around, the result of this thinking is quite apparent. People are appalled at the crimes young children are committing to just take one small example.

For ages those "religious" rules as you call them have been the standard for moral behaviour acceptable to an advanced society. Without them, we are just not as good as we once were and have become quite preoccupied with the basest behaviour we can muster.


235 posted on 06/02/2005 11:27:10 AM PDT by myrabach
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To: myrabach

I think you are giving parents are giving parents too much credit, you assume they are victims rather than part of the problem. The reality is many people have children for a number of reasons: because they are cute, because they want to have mini version of themselves running around, or because it is part of the societal norm. What many do not realize it takes A LOT of time and effort to raise that child to be productive member of society, and they are simply not equiped for the job. They may not want to devote time to the effort, may not know they have to, or simply not mature enough themselves to know what they are doing.

There is support out there for parents that know where to look. The schools are overburdened and overrun by incompetent or indifferent teachers and administrators, but good schools and school districts do exist, as do great and caring neighborhoods. The church is also a great community resource, and should be relied upon more.

So you see, I sympathesize with your argument in this post, but disagree on the assignment of blame, and your solution. The first and last line of defense is in the home, and parents have ample resources, especially the opportunity to instill a strong sense of right and wrong. A failure to do so is nobody's fault but their own.


236 posted on 06/02/2005 12:00:32 PM PDT by cubram
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To: gopwinsin04

That is one seriously hot ad...after watching it I went and bought the burger they were advertising.


237 posted on 06/02/2005 12:02:00 PM PDT by Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh
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To: Jersey Republican Biker Chick
Yes I long for the good old days, Ronnie in the White House, not knowing who the Clintons were, and not hearing of Paris Hilton's name everywhere.

I long for the good old days when Ike was putting golf balls on the White House lawn, the Clintons were crawling around in cloth diapers, and a movie theater poster of Jane Russell wearing a low cut peasant blouse was considered too risque.

238 posted on 06/02/2005 12:22:58 PM PDT by epow ("Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.")
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To: epow

I am sorry, but I was not born when Ike was golfing on the White House Lawn.


239 posted on 06/02/2005 12:27:49 PM PDT by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (People too weak to follow their own dreams, will always find a way to discourage yours.)
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To: cubram

Where in what I said do I ever take away any responsibility from parents? They have a tough job... I am one and my children are parents. I fully understand what it takes to be a parent.

I also understand a difference when parents could rely on a support system. My parents did not have to monitor tv to make sure I didn't see anything inappropriate. My grandkids know that the Paris Hilton commercial would be off limits... but they would get a peek before making the decision to fire the remote.

These children have to make decisions everyday that I did not have even the most remote idea about having to make. Kids are bombarded and parents are fighting against the grain in ways we have never asked parents to do. Children never came with instructions. Parenting has always been difficult. There have been good parents and bad parents forever.

It is much more dangerous these days to have bad parents than it ever was. Good parents cannot let up for one minute. And please, let's not split hairs on who is a "good" parent and who is "bad". But I am still amazed at the level of compromise even from good parents. Sometimes people just get overwhelmed at the task. Wouldn't it be nice not to have to worry about what the kiddies were watching on TV?

No one had to worry about what I watched. No one had to worry about the movies I was seeing. No one had to worry about the commercials that could sneak past in an instant. The biggest outrage was Bill Haley and the Comets and the devil rock and roll! Good heavens, not to mention Elvis the Pelvis.


240 posted on 06/02/2005 1:01:26 PM PDT by myrabach
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