So recently two efforts have been circulating around the internet to keep people out of jail. Let's deal with the first thing first. The following is the Paris Hilton petition. I have highlighted the portions I find particularly comical:
To:
The Honorable Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Paris Whitney Hilton is an American celebrity and socialite. She is an heiress to a share of the Hilton Hotel fortune, as well as to the real estate fortune of her father Richard Hilton. She provides hope for young people all over the U.S. and the world. She provides beauty and excitement to (most of) our otherwise mundane lives.
Hilton is notable for her leading roles on the FOX reality series The Simple Life and in the remake of the Vincent Price horror classic "House of Wax". In addition to her work as an actress, she has achieved some recognition as a model, celebrity spokesperson, singer, and writer. (sidebar: didn't she receive recognition for something else?)
As most of America now knows, Ms. Hilton was just charged in a Los Angeles court with DUI and sentenced to 45 days in Century Regional Detention Facility in California beginning on or before June 5, 2007.
We, the American public who support Paris, are shocked, dismayed and appalled by how Paris has been the person to be used as an example that Drunk Driving is wrong. We do not support drunk driving or DUI charges. Paris should have been sober. But she shouldn't go to jail, either.
As depicted on Friday night's episode "Nancy Grace" on Headline News (May 4, 2007), countless celebrities have been "slapped on the wrist" for similar incidents recently. Nick Nolte, Mel Gibson, Tracy Morgan, Wynonna Judd, to name a few, were arrested and never did a day in jail after their initial arrests for drunk driving /DUI /DWI charges. Rappers Busta Rhymes and Eve still walk free after both being arrested for the same charges as Ms. Hilton just this past week. Brandy's California Highway accident, although no proof of DUI was evidenced in her accident, resulting in the death of a young wife and mother in California, yet Brandy walks free as of today, never doing any time and A WOMAN HAS BEEN KILLED most likely due to her reckless driving!
Yet, Paris Hilton did not hurt, injure, or kill anyone or anything, and yet she must do jail time.
This petition is to ask Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to pardon Paris Hilton for her mistake. Please allow her to her return to her career and life. Everyone makes mistakes. She didn't hurt or kill anyone, and she has learned her lesson. She is sincere, apologetic, and full of regret for her actions as she explained tearfully to the Judge handling her case in court yesterday.She is distraught and understandably afraid. (worl'd's tiniest violin playing for Paris Hilton)
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT to save our Paris from ending up at the Century Regional Detention Facility! Please sign to tell The Honorable Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of the State of California, to think about the welfare of this young woman who has made a mortal error and deserves a second chance like so many others in our great nation have been served with after a mistake they have made . If the late Former President Gerald Ford could find it in his heart to pardon the late Former President Richard Nixon after his mistake(s), we undeniably support Paris Hilton being pardoned for her honest mistake as well, and we hope and expect The Governor will understand and grant this unusual but important request in good faith to Ms. Paris Whitney Hilton. (hilarious!!!!)
Okay, I obviously don't have much sympathy for PH. Forty-five days in resort, girl's camp prison don't strike me as too bad. I hope Arnold pardons her sometime in September. That would be funny.
What's not funny is an email I received from a friend of mine this week. I'm not sure if the Mumia Abu Jamal case was big on the West Coast, but it was a big deal in PA for awhile. Here's the letter I received:
Hi Friends,
Perhaps you may know about Mumia Abu Jamal and his situation, why he is an icon and/or his writings. In the last few weeks I have been meeting with a group of folks from around Pittsburgh (including Say, my housemate) who are quickly trying to raise awareness on his case because he is going in front of the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia on May 17. If his case is approved, he will be able to attempt to have his case overturned again. If he is denied, Governor Rendell will probably seek a moratorium and he could be killed within a year of the decision.
I find this case of great importance not only because Mumia has maintained his innocence of killing a police officer since arrest in December 1981, but because of its implications in the fairness of the law.
The United States Justice System is supposed to stand on 4 main pillars of justice. The right to 1) a jury amongst peers, 2) an impartial judge, 3) evidence of facts, and 4) a competent lawyer. Mumia received none of these. Instead...
1) In a city (Philadelphia) of 40% African Americans, only one jury member was black.
2) The judge had been heard by another judge and a stenographer as saying "I'm going to help them (the jury) fry the n******."
3) There was no ballistics test on Mumia after the crime was committed. The bullet in the officer was not the type that went in the gun Mumia legally owned
4) The lawyer assigned to Mumia went in front of the judge asking to be removed from the case because of his own incompetencies and lack of resources. The judge denied the request.
This case is of great importance, not because of only one man who had was unjustly convicted, but because of its implications for justice in a racist system.
I strongly urge you to raise your voice against injustice in our world and take part in the vigil to occur on May 16th. Thanks for reading and for your consideration in taking part in such important event(s). I realize some of you are not in the Pittsburgh area, but if these issues are important to you, I am sure there is a group meeting that is also concerned about the life of Mumia and the cause of peace and justice on his behalf.
Now this is a real issue of justice that will not get the kind of press that Li'l miss "American Celebrity" will receive, but it is a matter of a man's life and it seriously questions the integrity of our justice system. I'm proud that I have freinds whose faith compels them to seek out justice for those whose voices go unheard. I hope any readers I have that are in the Pittsburgh area will attend the planned vigils. My own faith compels me the see what I can do to be of service.
Let justice roll down like water...
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