Back in 2022, when Ryan Walters was a more unrefined version of his disturbing self, he hopped in front of a little bookcase and went on a nervous rant calling for the U.S. Supreme Court to put God back in schools.
The clip is kind of funny to watch – especially when he says that Clarence Thomas is the greatest Supreme Court justice of all time – and shows just how much Ryan has polished the delivery of his warped right-wing rhetoric.
Prayer, football, God - these are Oklahoma values and I’m hopeful the Supreme Court will make the right decision. pic.twitter.com/4VsLDNDxyl
— Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) April 25, 2022
I have no clue if the Supreme Court is going to put God back in schools, but it doesn’t look like Ryan Langston-Walters is going to wait around to find out!
Yesterday afternoon, as notorious Edmond crazies, self-appointed ticket ushers, and other various culture war fighters packed the hallways of OSDE for the latest Oklahoma State Board of Education Royal Rumble, Ryan Langston–Walters unveiled some recommendations he recently received from the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Founding Principles on how to bring the modern-day Christian god to Oklahoma classrooms.
You can read the full letter here, but here’s what the Council – which just happens to be a wacko right wing religious group that wants to see America become a full-fledged theocracy – recommends.
• Hold a minute of silence at the beginning of the school day with the following announcement: “We now pause for a minute of silence in which students and teachers may use this minute to reflect, meditate, pray or engage in any other silent activity.”
• Display a “durable poster or framed copy” of the Ten Commandments in each public school classroom.
• Require a “Western civilization” course for graduation “to strengthen the heritage which was integral to the nation’s founding and its western culture, as well as to foster gratitude and informed citizenship.”
That’s interesting. I’m surprised they also didn’t suggest that communion replace free school lunches, bibles be placed in bathroom stalls, and all students start the day with a set of naked up-and-downs with Coach Koons for Jesus!
Not surprisingly, Ryan enthusiastically endorsed the recommendations of the fringe Christian Taliban Group which had its only non-Christian member resign the day after the letter was released.
Ryan also made sure to rail against liberals and atheism:
“The current national left-wing indoctrination is attempting to destroy religion as a way to destroy our entire country. This report provides a very thorough and well-thought out series of recommendations that I have heard from the public time and time again.”
“A long history of Supreme Court positions have created, in fact, a state-sponsored religion: atheism,” Walters said. “Atheism is now the de facto and sponsored religion, and it is indefensible in a place like Oklahoma that we would allow this to happen.”
Wow. I can’t wait to hear what the pastor has to say about those comments this Sunday at the state-sanctioned Athiest Church. See you there, Comrades!
The first item the council recommended – a one-minute-long boring-ass moment of silence at schools – is already required under Oklahoma law and will now be strictly enforced, giving students a full minute each morning to pray or sleep or respond to inappropriate text messages from a teacher.
Probably because posting a list of ancient religious laws that warn students not to worship other gods or face eternal damnation in a classroom is blatantly unconstitutional, Ryan said the other recommendations would need further examination for implementation:
"We will be coming back soon with actions around the other recommendations. We are looking at all options."
I wonder if there could be other reasons for Ryan's delay in mandating the 10 Commandments be displayed in every Oklahoma classroom?
For example, I'd bet a cappuccino from Harbor Mountain Coffee House that he’s worried some of the commandments make him look like a hypocrite.
Hehe. Just kidding.
Ryan doesn’t care if he looks like a hypocrite. I bet he’s just waiting to work out a deal with Mardel where he gets a cut of all 10 Commandment posters they sell.
Anyway, we’ll continue to follow Ryan’s quest to make Oklahoma Public Education a de facto vacation bible school and keep you updated.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
