Paris, when she's sober

But one item for sale gave even rich-guy Dave pause. Paris is pushing a line of designer doggie duds. One such clothing item can be purchased for about $40 and it isn't even close to the most expensive. As Dave held up and showed off the Fido formalwear, he made the comment that "this, right here, is why the world hates America". The comment drew laughter and was meant as a joke. It should have drawn nods. From somewhere in the recesses of Dave's Midwestern upbringing there must have seeped some unease or embarrassment with the spaniel sportswear. As with much of comedy and satire, there was much truth in his jest.

There will be many who say that selling Chihuahua cut-offs and giving the money to charity (if that is where it's going; I'm giving Paris the benefit of the doubt here) is as worthwhile as Paul Newman selling his own salad dressing and spaghetti sauce and funding his favorite children's charity. I beg to differ. While they're not bread and milk, at least there is some value in selling items that can be eaten. Pet clothes are superfluous except possibly in the dead of winter for pets that are out of their element and into the inclemency for the day; and then they're donning sweaters, not polo shirts and Bermudas. Pet clothes smack of a society with nothing left to shower money upon.

If somewhere near the dirt floors and cardboard shacks of the world including our own country there is some TV store access to CBS, there must be a lot of shaking heads and bewilderment. How is it that some societies or individuals are so seemingly and undeservedly blessed and others so seemingly and randomly cursed? A luxury car is, after all, a high priced donkey cart and a mansion just shelter, though larger and dryer than packing crates. But how can anyone, even pet lovers, possibly justify expensive designer clothes for dogs when there are children living nearly naked due to circumstances beyond their control? Not exactly a Kodak moment for the Stars and Stripers, but hardly a unique one either.

George W. Bush had it wrong when he said that the world's extremists hate Americans because we're free. They hate us because of what we've chosen to do with our freedom.