It was a week filled with pests.

At first it was the fruit flies – a swarm of them – that greeted me one day last week after someone left some peaches in a trash can in our restroom. They were everywhere. They were on the walls, in my face, in my ears and even in my coffee.

Now I know something of what afflicted the Egyptians all those years ago. It was horrible. I made my way across the square and picked up some fly traps and spray and went to work. Now, a week later and they still haven’t been eradicated completely.

But the flies had nothing on what was to come.

If someone had told me a couple of months ago that pretty soon rapper 50 Cent would come here for a VH1 television show and that doggone robed members of the Ku Klux Klan would hold a rally on the steps of the Edgefield County Courthouse I would have looked at them funny and suggested a good drug screening.

Yet here he came and there they stood.

At least “Mr. Cent” was respectful and cordial while he was here. I have no real use for his music, mind you, which he used to amass a fortune by encouraging young people to view irresponsible sex, drugs and violence as something that’s “cool” to do. But it is what it is.

The same, however, cannot be said for the costumed folks who gathered on the steps of the courthouse to offer their version of the facts. Really, it was the most colorful collection of phooey I’ve ever seen. It was an explosion of ignorance.

It was laughable and unbelievable all at once. I thought the state museum was staging a living history play. How in the world can people like this exist?

As a student of history I should know better.

In our country hate groups have traditionally increased in popularity during times of economic downturn and immigration controversy – both of which we are currently experiencing right now. People feel the need to have someone to blame for the ills in society and so they lash out at things and people they do not understand.

I do understand that all groups have a right to free speech. A Klansmen has just as much right to those courthouse steps as I do. But when groups enter a community from the outside in an attempt to incite the residents with anger and slurs (which took place on Saturday) I say they have no business here.

Also, don’t try to convince me that you serve the same Jesus I do with your “rainbow coalition” of colors. That’s a joke. The only reason members of the Klan wear things like that is a weak attempt at intimidation. They have their secret signs and strange symbols to try to make members feel they are part of something special and something bigger than it is.

If the Klan is so big and growing as fast as their leaders claim, then why did they have to draw people here from four states just to put 13 sheets on the steps of the courthouse?

Doesn’t say much for all of the Grand Lizards and Imperial Blowhards does it?

But I digress.

I’ve heard that some members of the Klan felt disrespected. So what? What do you really expect? There are some people here who support the Klan, but they are few and far between. For the most part, the folks here just want to get along and live their lives out in peace and privacy.

Know this Klan members, we don’t need or want you here. Don’t thank us for our hospitality, because it’s only that which must be shown you by the law.

The only thing you seem willing to contribute to our community is hate and ignorance and we already have plenty of both thank you very much. We don’t want yours as well. So until you have something more to offer I’d say that about wraps it up.

And given the choice between pests – I’ll take the flies, all day long and twice on Sunday.

Now git.

Skedaddle.

Scram.

Don’t let the hate hit you in the backside on the way out.