We’ve all seen those signs identifying some group or another that has adopted a highway to remove litter and spruce up the surrounding road areas.

There have been some odd adoptions signs, such as “MN Fans of the Dave Mathews Band” and “In Memory of Jerry Garcia (1942-95),” but many more are of the normal variety: church groups and the Boy Scouts of America and the like. In any of the aforementioned cases, the groups are generally looked at for the highway adoption without anyone batting an eye.

Recently, a group not many folks find to be welcome made an attempt to adopt a highway in Georgia, raising many eyebrows: the Ku Klux Klan.

That’s right, the pointed-hood, white-sheet wearing members of one of the most loathed groups in the country has made a move to maintain the beauty of a highway on Route 515 in the Appalachian Mountains.

And let me tell you, there are some seriously pissed off people at the notion that the KKK would be listed on a road sign alongside their neighborhood in any manner that isn’t demonizing the group.

And who can blame them? It isn’t as if the KKK only has a few bad apples in the barrel. The group’s platform promotes racial segregation and mandates its members be whites of non-Jewish heritage and be Christian. KKK members have been linked to lynchings and other violent imagery for years.

Despite the bad apples, the KKK remains a legal organization. And with that in mind, denying them a highway adoption is not going to fly when it hits court. And believe you me, the KKK is well-funded enough take any such case all the way. In 2005, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Missouri to prevent a KKK group from participating in a highway litter-cleanup program.

Now, a lot of people are going to cry out anyway because they don’t like the KKK and what it stands for. That is fine. Continue to inform folks about your particular bone to pick with the KKK, but understand that the group’s adoption of a highway is a part of that whole equality system we strive so hard for in the United States.

When someone mentions the Westboro Baptist Church, my eyes glaze over, my muscles begin to twitch and flames almost ignite along my body as anger attempts to overtake me due to sheer loathing for that religious group of awful people. And I’m certain the KKK brings out the same sort reaction for others when mentioned.

Regardless of my, or anyone else’s, dislike of a group that spins intolerance or hatred about another person for no good reason, the First Amendment protects bigoted ways as much as it protects those wishing to make change in a more positive manner.

I mentioned earlier the Boy Scouts have adopted highway areas. But take a moment to look at the Boy Scouts.

It denies gay men and boys and non-God-believing men and boys from participating because the group adopted some cockamamie ideas in the 1980s that belief in God is necessary to be a charitable and helpful member of society and that homosexuality prevents one from being a good person. Some Boy Scouts will say homosexuals are criminals.

And what did those segregationist ideas stem from? Well, if you look into a bit of historical timing, it appears that the far-right in American politics became much more involved in the Boy Scouts; particularly the Mormon faith. And as many are well-associated with, the far right is less about understanding politics, and more about pushing a religious agenda.

And that brings us to the other group mentioned for frequently adopting highways — religious groups, specifically Christian groups. Christian organizations have often supported segregation throughout history, though many have righted the idiocy of their ways. Some Christian groups still speak of killing off homosexuals. Some folks that identify as church-going Christians have beaten homosexuals to death.

But note only some. Not all Christians think the Bible should be adhered to without considering how times have changed. Many Christians are fine folk that only want peace and happiness. Not all Boy Scouts are close-minded douches. Recently, the Boy Scouts upper echelon made a statement that it will “consider a resolution asking that local units be allowed to determine their own standards,” according to a CNN brief.

Back to the subject at hand: The KKK is not all full of those that act out in violence. KKK.com has this message on its homepage:

“There is a race war against whites. But our people — my white brothers and sisters — will stay committed to a non-violent resolution. The hatred for our children and their future is growing and is being fueled every single day. Stay firm in your convictions. Keep loving your heritage and keep witnessing to others that there is a better way than a war-torn, violent, wicked, socialist, new world order. That way is the Christian way — law and order — love of family — love of nation. These are the principles of western Christian civilization. There is a war to destroy these things. Pray that our people see the error of their ways and regain a sense of loyalty. Repent America. Be faithful, my fellow believers. “

I’ve heard similar claims from church sermons, sans the war on whites bit. Far-right politicians, pundits and activists preach regularly that the Obama administration is waging a war on religion. Should those people be banned from adopting a highway should they attempt to do so?

Not all those claiming membership to a religious belief or group dedicated to helping society are going out and committing atrocities. They are only speaking their minds under the freedom granted by the First Amendment; it is only a few that are breaking the law.

Hate speech is rotten, and it would be great if we all lived as shiny, happy people holding hands, but that isn’t going to happen. The KKK is a group like any other, a group that has policies I and many others find repugnant, but rallying to prevent adoption of a highway is sending the often far-right and far-left message: “Unless you agree with our views, you are in the wrong and should not be given your due rights at all times.”

Rally to get rid of the adopt a highway programs if you don’t want to let everyone have a go, because allowing it to continue means giving KKK members the same opportunities as others, no matter how much it will irk you to allow a group rooted in hate to continue to prosper.

And while you are at it, why not rally to get rid of practices in job applications and college applications that give minorities preference or extra consideration in order to promote racial diversity? Groups promoting those ideas are unfair, and if you would protest the KKK getting a highway stretch, then you need to keep other groups and ideas that promote preference for one group over another out of government programs.

Loose associations aside, no matter how much we might not like the practices of the KKK or any other group, as long as we work toward equality, we have to allow those preaching intolerance to participate. All we can do is try to educate others about how idiotic it is to think of one person as less than another because of race, religion or sexuality.