KKK Denied by DOT to Adopt Highway: Agree?

How is adopting a highway free speech?

Isn't that why you object to them being able to Adopt-A-Highway?

Nope. They can say whatever they want, I just don't think we need to dignify it by recognizing them as a legitimate organization.

We?? You can't speak for the public.

I can't speak for the public, but I can speak for my own opinion, which is what this question is asking for. Or perhaps I should rephrase that as: "I just don't think THE STATE OF GEORGIA IS OBLIGATED to dignify it by recognizing them as a legitimate organization."

The state is not obligated to dignify ANYONE as a legitimate organization. But they are obligated to treat everyone the same.

We don't have a right to not be offended.

Are they really obligated to treat everyone the same? What about if a pedophile club wanted to adopt a highway? I'm genuinely curious what the law says about this.

A "Pedophile" club?

Yes. I'm just making an analogy. How would you feel if a group whose focus was molesting children wanted to adopt a highway?

I may disagree with it but they would be allowed. I'm sorry.



Case closed.

Okay. I just wanted to make sure your reasoning was consistent.

Let them just don't publicize it.

You don't have to look at or agree with everything that is "publicized."

Ugh... come on didn't these folk all get the chair? >.>; Well since they still exist...

While an organisation might say it supports, this, that, or the other, I believe that people and organisations should be judged based on their actions. The kukluxklan has a rather black history (hehehehe >=3) they have a right to express their view of a superior race, it's their actions that count and they should adhere to the rules of the country they live in and I believe you guys do have anti-discrimination laws. Therefore they do not have the right to enforce those views. So provided that they are in fact obeying the law...

Now, their action is Litter picking. Environmentally friendly, effectively community service, altruistic. Now, how many of us (non kkk members (note the lack of capitals)) have gone out and picked up litter?

So what do they get in return? The ability to adopt a street, to put up an advertisement placard...providing that the state agrees with what is on the Placard on the street.

That's a small token for the hours of work that they have put in to doing something, regardless of their views (which I abhor). It is something beneficial to the community. I wish all racist groups did things like that. The world would be a lot cleaner...

...I guess that's their point...hmmm *philosoraptor moment*

They can if they wanna. I don't see anything wrong...

What they stand for is egregious....

and what does that have to do with picking up trash?

Nothing.. I'm thinking about driving down the road and seeing a sign " This section of freeway adopted by the Ku Klux Klan ".....

That is Offensive .

Being offensive is not a legal test. To some people the sky is offensive. The term is meaningless and not statutory.

I FIND IT OFFENSIVE... iF YOU FIND THE SKY OFFENSIVE I SUGGEST YOU STAY INDOORS...

And I suggest you drive on a different road. See how that works?

I could say the same thing about some liberal ass group like PETA or ACORN. Not that I wouldn't find the KKK sign offensive either but they have every right just like the next group.

racists group of people

What if the New Black Panthers wanted to Adopt A Highway? Would they be as racist?

There is no constitutional right to adopt a highway. Given the KKK's beliefs, the DOT decision is perfectly reasonable.

The DOT decision is reasonable but discriminatory.

The entire program is not constitutional. But discrimination is unconstitutional. And you cannot exclude the KKK because one disagrees with their politics or their ideas. If others can adopt a highway than the KKK should be able to also.

Yes, it is discriminatory, but that doesn't make it unconstitutional. All sorts of discrimination is constitutional: 10 yr olds can't join the military, I'm not old enough to get social security, foreign nationals can't vote, etc. I don't understand what section of the constitution makes it a right to adopt a highway.

Just to make what I'm saying somewhat clearer, I offer an analogy: the constitution does not grant everyone the right to be on broadcast TV. The FCC has guidelines, and if you aren't within the guidelines, you're excluded. That is the case even though many people consider some of the rules (such as prohibitions on certain obscene words) pretty ridiculous. The Klan certainly has the right to express their views (which they do), but there is no obligation that the government must facilitate spreading their views by allowing them to participate in government programs (such as adopt a highway.)

Privileges, entitlements, and discrimination are not the same concept. A 10-yr-old CAN join the military when he is old enough.

Anyone can apply to broadcast on TV. But you cannot be denied if you meet the requirements.

Also, there are members of many groups who pay taxes to fund government programs. However you cannot arbitrarily exclude a group because you don't like them especially if that group pays the taxes to finance the program.

The KKK has a right but you have a right to ignore them.

The Black Panthers should be allowed to adopt a highway also! Sure! Then the two highway sections can have a race war. Hey, the highway is black and the lines are white or yellow!

I'm not an expert on the Black Panthers, but if they advocate violence or discrimination, then yes I would say the same thing.

Lester, in times of war, most governments advocate violence.

True, but I was responding to a different point: Do I believe different groups (KKK and Black Panthers) should be treated the same way for the same behavior? I do.

The issue of speech regarding war is a complex. If you support violence against a foreign government during wartime: that's legal. If you support violence against the US government at any time: that's illegal by the Smith Act.The rule seems to be that American society as a whole can declare certain types of violence legal through the normal congressional legislative process. Individuals or groups (such as KKK or Black Panthers) don't have that authority.

I don't care about what they do as long as they aren't doing anything rasict.

What if they only pick up the Black garbage? Or use black garbage bags instead of white garbage bags?

That's right! Don't do anything "rasict", Don't be racist either!

I don't think any racist organization should be allowed to clean up their image by doing this kind of thing. And that includes the KKK, the New Black Panthers, Nation of Islam. Aryan Nation, La Raza Unida, LULAC and any other such organization that bears a reference to race in their name.

Bravo you are one Texan I think that walks tall.