We are getting into extremes faster than ever. Witness the lawmaker trying to do something that no one really wants, that’s laughable. How can he expect this to fly? Sure, Republicans (read: lapdogs) control Congress right now, but *really*? This is absurd and Trump will be furious it’s not all about him. From AlterNet:
One Republican state lawmaker in Oklahoma now wants to require every public university in the state to erect statues to slain far-right activist Charlie Kirk. On Friday, Jeffrey Sachs — an assistant professor at Nova Scotia’s Acadia University — called attention to a bill by Oklahoma state senators Shane Jett (R) and Dana Prieto (R) that would mandate every public university in the Sooner State build a “Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza.” The bill, which has been filed as Senate Bill 1187 and does not yet have a formal name, would force universities to set aside a portion of real estate in a visible public location — like the quad, the student union, or main entrance pathways — “to maximize public awareness and utilization.”
You have *got* to be kidding me. Charlie Kirk was no saint. He was anti-this or anti-that. He was so far right that he was out on Pluto. Or out in space. His death has generated something useful for Trump and *his* Republicans. They certainly don’t give a damn about the people who elected them. It’s disgusting. And sad. So, so sad.
Senate Bill 1187 would also make it a requirement for schools to erect a statue of both Kirk and his family, and to include a plaque honoring Kirk as “a voice of a generation, modern civil rights leader, vocal Christian, martyr for truth and faith, and free speech advocate. Square or plaza plans shall include a statue of Charlie Kirk sitting at a table with an empty seat across from him or a statue of Charlie Kirk and his wife standing and holding their children in their arms as a central element of the square or plaza design. The statue design and size shall be approved by the Legislature as part of the overall design review and approval process,” the bill reads.
This is excessive. The man was an RWNJ. They want to memorialize him? Why? Get real!!! There is no reason to force schools to do this. There just isn’t. Republicans and Trump are using this to drive anger against “The Left”. Anything that can be used as a weapon is used as one. Anything. Now they want to turn Kirk into some kind of hero. No. No, no, NO. He doesn’t deserve such accolades. The only thing he left behind is Turning Point, a rightwing organization that celebrates excessiveness, overblown conspiracies, and such. Yuck. Let’s pass on that craziness.
Additionally, the bill makes it clear that any “student, employee, or faculty member” who vandalizes or defaces statues of Kirk on their campuses could face steep punishment, including immediate termination of their enrollment or employment. And the legislation even includes an emergency declaration it deems “necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety,” in order to immediately have the legislation go into effect. In July, Wallethub found Oklahoma ranked 50th out of 51 states (when including Washington D.C.) in public education. Only New Mexico ranked further behind the Sooner State. Criteria used to determine rankings included “test scores, graduation rates, school safety, and bullying rates.”
Oh, my dear sweet lawd. Seriously? 50th out of 51. What the hell school system do they have? Or maybe the better question is what *don’t* they have. If you look at the 4 qualities listed, you would think it would be fairly simple. Apparently, they just fail all the way across the board. I’m betting the two qualities bolded are a large part of what’s dragging them down.
Now they want to put statues up of Kirk. As if that would be something schools want to emulate. I think not. They’ve made him a symbol of something that he really isn’t. He’s a RWNJ and doesn’t deserve *anything*. No, just let him be buried and the hoorah to fade away. Please. This is ridiculous.
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Well, I think it’d be a great idea. Especially when these same public universities turn to the Legislature for the FUNDING to erect said statues. I mean, if it’s a state-sponsored MANDATE, the state government should expect to cough up the funding. Isn’t that how right-wingers have attacked/criticized “mandates” that were “imposed” by Democratic-led Congresses and Administrations? It shouldn’t work any differently with a State legislature controlled by right-wing nutjobbers trying to impose a “mandate” of its own.
Unfortunately they do just that here in Texas all the time. After the Uvalde school shooting, they mandated that all public schools have police/armed security present during school hours.
No money to help the districts afford this, after they have been underfunding public schools for years. Apparently some things are more important than giving kids a quality education.
so donors have to cough up the monies to the Okies colleges? Not sure why turning point can’t donate the money for statues, isn’t that CK’s organization?
Wasn’t Kirk one of the MAGAts demanding release of the Epstein Pedo-files?
If so, every reporter should throw that in Drumpf’s fat face every time he invokes his name.