Yeah, this'll work real swell:
--------------------------
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/opinion/columnists/vassilaros/s_456291.htmlDial 'S'... for 'stupid'
By Dimitri Vassilaros
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, June 2, 2006
Get ready to dial "H" for hate.
Boulder, the politically correct Colorado hometown of "Mork & Mindy" and JonBenet Ramsey, has provided seed money for a telephone line for anyone who wants to make anonymous accusations of racism.
The anti-bias hot line supposedly will help determine how widespread racism is and, of course, how much money the government should spend for touchy-feely programs and "community dialogues" to once again make Boulder a more friendly environment, according to Carmen Atilano, staff liaison of the city's Human Rights Commission, in published reports.
The supposed justification for the snitch service for racism is that "people feel it's on the rise," Ms. Atilano says.
If that's all it takes for Boulder City Council to part with $16,000 -- and its senses -- it's a wonder no one has asked for seed money to start a stupidity hot line since people surely must feel that's on the rise, too.
And speaking of stupid, the identity of the caller and the accused will be anonymous. It will be something like "person one complained about person two," says Judd Golden, chairman of the Boulder County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Mr. Golden said that while hot lines about crimes and other issues are not uncommon, this is the first time to his knowledge that the government is involved. "To what extent will government be involved in accessing uncorroborated allegations?" asks Golden.
He also is rightly concerned about another issue. The hot line could have a chilling effect on free speech that might be offensive or controversial but not unlawful. "Did ya hear the one about the priest, minister, rabbi and ayatollah ... ?"
Oops, never mind.
The anti-bias hot line will be up and running as soon as enough money for full operation is raised by the three nonprofit organizations that have been pushing for it and will be in charge of it.
And when that happens, don't be surprised to see anti-bias hot lines popping up faster than Starbucks Coffee stores across America as politically savvy nonprofit organizations dare their local politicians to turn down a request for seed money to fight supposed racism.
How long did it take for essentially useless human rights commissions to sprout like weeds nationwide? "Useless" as in try to name one -- just one -- accomplishment of your local human rights commission.
Why is it so difficult for people with an ounce of common sense to laugh at leftists? Why didn't the city council members unanimously laugh at the very notion of the telephone line? Why not call 911, a city councilman or the local municipality if someone thinks he might be a victim of whatever?
Since there will not be a system to determine if members of organizations wanting money to fight racism are calling repeatedly, it is not difficult to predict that calls to the hot line will indicate that Boulder is little better than Birmingham before the civil rights movement.
How can anyone, including the three organizations pushing for it, take this hot line thing seriously?
Memo to Boulder: The emperor has no clothes. Don't give leftist groups a free pass to call a community racist, because if you do, they have everything to gain with their self-fulfilling prophecy. It's OK to laugh.
So there was a priest, minister, rabbi and ...
