Hotel Rwanda Hilton?
Soon after Paris Hilton’s 23-day jail stint related to DUI charges, she announced that she wanted to go to Rwanda to “help save some people’s lives.” The head of the charity group she was to accompany revealed that Ms. Hilton’s five-day African trip would be documented by a camera crew. The footage of Paris Hilton visiting schools and clinics in Rwanda was reportedly going to be used to sell a new reality TV show called The Philanthropist. “There’s so much need in that area, and I feel like if I go, it will bring more attention to what people can do to help,” Ms. Hilton said.
In Rwanda, where the country continues to recover from the trauma of the 1994 genocide in which a million people perished, news of Paris Hilton’s impending visit was met with unique diplomacy.
Spare Us the Traumatic Experience of Paris Hilton shrieked one Rwandan newspaper headline. Hilton Trip Will Bring Embarrassment to Country and Herself warned another news article, claiming that a reality show based squarely on Ms. Hilton’s quick trip would be “a truly awful scar on Rwanda.”
After the fuss hit the fan, the charity group postponed the trip. But a different charity stepped right up and offered to bring Paris to Rwanda, despite—or because of—the intense global interest in seemingly everything she does.
What do you think? Is the Rwandan media justified in its condemnation of Paris Hilton? Or could she actually do some good for the long suffering country?
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Maybe Means Justify End
First of all, if the Rwandan govt. is against her visit, she should not go. Period. My further comments also assume the project employs responsible journalism that accurately depicts the situation, rather than consisting of a bunch of photo ops. That aside, I’m thinking that altruism is admirable, but altruism combined with total selflessness is much different and rare. Consider average, non-celebrities-parents who volunteer tirelessly at their children’s schools, for their sports teams,etc. Admirable? Yes. Selfless? No…they are doing it for their kids. I am not criticizing, but how many stay at this after their kids move on? Why should celebs be held to a higher standard…if they “do good” in exchange for publicity, so what? In this case, the benefits could be enlightenment and education about a very important issue to a group of young people (Hilton’s fan base)who may not be otherwise exposed. Perhaps some of them will be moved to type “Rwanda” into Google and learn something. Perhaps a few of those will be moved to action of some sort. Maybe for some it will be the beginning of an interest in world events, politics, ending human suffering. Should we or the Rwandan people look to Paris Hilton to make even a measurable difference in the problems that country faces? Of course not. But if even a little good comes from it, and Paris gets some good publicity (after we stop laughing), what’s the problem?
Sandy | 1 year, 8 months ago
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Nothing wrong with a little bit of Paris in Rwanda
Right on Sandy!
Why is not considered the ultimate in superficiality to attack the Paris Hilton’s of the world? There are far more destructive things deserving of people’s criticism. Say perhaps the system that continues to allow genocide in this world? I actually have the good fortune to be currently working on this very issue. There cannot be enough people working on this. Paris, you go girl! I’m wondering how many of Paris’ critics have bothered to lift a finger for Rwanda or Darfur? A phone call. A letter. Anything.
jojo | 1 year, 8 months ago
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genocide system same as paris system
it’s one and the same – the superficiality, GREED, EXPLOITATION, etc. paris and her TV producers chose rwanda because IT WAS IN A MOVIE, guys – pathetic and insulting to all victims of violence and misery everywhere. her presence will be a circus and focus will be on her, not the victims. also the children will see her and think that that is the great coming of the blond blue-eyed queen of heaven – when she is in fact neither blond nor blue-eyed, nor anywhere close to heaven
liztang | 1 year, 8 months ago
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At Home
What’s wrong with starting at home instead of going over seas and propping up yet another dictatorship, who’s only purpose is exploitation and barbaric abuse of the local people. What about the exploitation and barbaric conditions right here in the United States? What purpose does it serve to throw people out of their homes to satisfy more corporate greed, adjustable rate mortgages? How come nothing has been done about these barbaric conditions? Why aren’t the people who created this mess having their feet put to the fire? Why is it getting harder every day to even get help at any level of our government for basic necessities?
Chuck | 1 year, 8 months ago
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yeah! charity starts at home
right on, chuck – but you forgot that it’s not as glamorous going to impoverished areas in the usa (except new orleans now that brad pitt’s all over it)
i’ve also wondered why angelina does so much for africa while her native american fellows (her mom was part) get none of her glamor.
also people in the usa refuse to believe that there are lots and LOTS of poor WHITE people here who aren’t “lazy” but because of corporate greed and structural inequality are starving and miserable – entire communities in upstate new york, the deep south, all over. and we already know what suffering persists in many black and brown communities. and ps – paris hilton’s fans are gonna, what, start school projects for rwanda and then when she’s no longer there, the fans are gonna keep going? yeah right – on to the next fad,more likely
liztang | 1 year, 8 months ago
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Motives and complexity
Ok Liztang and Chuck, while it’s true that this Paris thing could simply be a publicity thing for her, there’s no need to attack people that practice overseas philanthropy in general. Charity doesn’t start at home, it starts even closer: Charity starts with your own personal motives. It’s is an action as well as a personal characteristic. A lot of people are doing a lot of good overseas, and for the right reasons too. Would you attack their contributions simply because there is suffering at home in the USA too? Of course not. Truth is, the people helping out overseas usually help out at home too.
What about the poor parents that decide to give to a beggar even when their own children have very little? Are they wrong to do this? I think not. Parents like these teach their kids to give and to sacrifice, to look out for those that have even less. Parents like these get it.
I think that what bugs us all about Paris going to Rwanda is the fact that we don’t trust her motives. And she’s given us good reason to not trust them. But motives are hard to ascertain, and you’ve gotta be careful not to judge too quickly. She deserves a shot to give charity, like all of us. I think the Rwandans have every reason to fear her coming, and I would feel a lot more comfortable if I trusted her. But if she’s gonna change (big maybe!), she’s gotta start somewhere. Sigh. The question is, who wants to let her in?
AB | 1 year, 8 months ago
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Misled or misguided!
I have not much debate about Paris going to Rwanda, she can go or stay! But where on earth do you get the courage to declare “she is going to prop up another dictator”? You would not say this if you knew that the current Rwandan president fought to end the horrible genocide that so called powerful countries indifferently watched! Let us do ourselves good by not airing out baseless remarks.
Michael | 1 year, 8 months ago
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also
at least she cares about the Rwandan people because there was a lot of damage after the genocide. I know this because i had to do a research paper on the Rwandan genocide. A lot of people were murder in the genocide, at least 500,000 people and a 1,000 little boys and girls my age were raped, tortured and beaten to death. Paris Hilton donating money could really help the Hutus, Belgians, and Tutis people live a little better. THANK YOU PARIS HILTON!!!!! :)
mandy smith | 1 year, 8 months ago
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no trip needed
If Paris Hilton truly wants to help the people of Rwanda, she can do it right here in her own country. She has all the recognition a person who wants to draw attention to a charity needs, not to mention rich friends and family to boot. She can campaign for Rwanda from home. A trip there I believe, would be for personal publicity.
terrance tattrie | 1 year, 8 months ago
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Los Angeles
Back in my 12-Step days, I remember there was one particular meeting where all the “rehab-hotties” would attend—party girls that were attempting to clean up their lives. The short skirts and pouty lips attracted a lot of men and women that later confessed that they were “seduced into sobriety” because those girls made the 12-steps looks so good.
Most of the people that flocked to this meeting dropped away over time, however, there were a few that actually stayed and became pillars of service.
I say who cares what motivated them to come to sobriety, as long as they got there. It is, after all, our egos that inspire us to do most of the things that we do throughout the day anyway. Who cares why Paris goes to Rwanda, as long as she does. I know it will be impossible for her to see the Rwandan children, hold the babies, hear their stories, and witness first hand the effects of genocide without her heart being cracked open (at least a little bit.) If Paris goes to Rwanda for an egoic pat on the back, so what…and if Paris’ short skirts and pouty lips inspire others to jump on the “help others” bandwagon, then who cares why they do it, as long as they do.
Kelly | 1 year, 8 months ago
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