Pupils claim Hilton's, like, admirable

LAWRENCE GULLERY We see her on television, we read about her in newspapers and she has starred in her own movies but is Paris Hilton more relevant to our lives than say, William Shakespeare? Apparently she is, according to the results of the Great Debate held at the Hasting District Council chambers last night contested by the Napier and Hastings youth councils.
One influenced the English language, inspired poets, authors and film makers while the other had probably never worked a day in her life and offered to the literature world the phrase "that's hot" and over use of the word "like".
Those were some of the arguments put forward by the two teams but when a "cheer meter" from the crowed failed to select a clear winner at the end of the debate, Hastings decided to forfeit leaving Napier the winners.
The affirmative Napier team, led by captain Pip Parsons, from Napier Girls' High School, kicked off the debate and argued that Paris' media profile was enough evidence to prove the heiress' worth.
"Paris had learnt by her mistakes, after spending 45 days in jail for drink driving offences had become remorseful and now had strong religious beliefs.
"She has life experiences that other people have. So she's had a sex tape broadcasted - but so has maybe Kate Moss, Britney Spears - or even someone in this room," she said.
Lead speaker for Hastings, Sophie Duggan, from Iona College, said Paris offered little in the way of significant contribution to the world and while she might have appealed to teens, did not hold value for others.
"I assure you if I went to a retirement home, people would have no idea who Paris was.
"I don't think she ever worked a day in her life and got her wealth inherited, really it's not your every-day life she lives," Sophie said.
Second speaker for the affirmative, Olivia West, from Taradale High School, said people pretended they weren't interested in Paris but couldn't escape the media hype.
She argued the only time people delved into Shakespeare was at high school.
"Don't get me wrong I respect him ... but all that thinking ... we are a lazy society now and we want quick answers. Shakespeare's deep thinking is a way of the past," she said.
Second speaker for Hastings, Gemma Lambert, Havelock North High School, said Paris was not in the same league as Shakespeare.
"Shakespeare's plays have been studied and performed around the world, let's compare that to Paris' (home) video she released a few years ago.
"It has been studied, performed and quite enjoyed I am sure, but Shakespeare will be enjoyed more than Paris Hilton, I would hope," she said.
Napier's third speaker, Ryan Gold, from Napier Boys' High School, dressed in Paris Hilton attire, admitted the millionaire's daughter had starred in a sex video but Shakespeare had "killed people to get where he wanted" in his novels.
"Paris is just having a little bit of fun," he said. Abraham Ropitini, from Lindisfarne College, wrapped up the Hastings' team case.
"Shakespeare gave us 1600 words and 800 are still in use today.
"He deals with justice and death, things that affect our lives, something Paris Hilton can't relate to apart from using words like "like" and "that's hot".