Readers weighed in on Gov. Stitt's signing of an order to forbid resources for college DEI.

We asked readers what they thought about Gov. Kevin Stitt signing an executive order Wednesday that forbids state agencies and colleges and universities from using funds, property or resources to grant or support diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) positions or departments.

Here are some of your responses:

DEI crucial in shaping health care system

I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent decision by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on stopping funds for Diversity, Equity, and the Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Particularly, in the context of its significance for medical students and doctors. DEI plays a crucial role in shaping a health care system that is equitable, compassionate and responsive to the diverse needs of our population.

For medical students, exposure to diverse perspectives enhances cultural competency and prepares them to address the unique health challenges faced by various communities. Cutting funding for DEI undermines the development of health care workforce that reflects the diversity of the patients it serves.

Moreover, for practising doctors, ongoing DEI efforts are essential for ensuring fair and unbiased health care delivery. Patients from different backgrounds deserve to receive medical care that respects their cultural nuances and acknowledges the impact of social determinants on health.

I urge the governor to reconsider this decision in recognition of the critical role DEI plays in shaping a health care system that truly serves all residents of our state.

— Lubna Mirza, Norman

If kids denied chance to learn about others, impact will go into adulthood

Here are the consequences of eliminating diversity in education for Oklahoma children:

∎ One, the purpose of education is to prepare our kids to survive, succeed and prosper in an adult work world out there.

∎ Secondly, the world population is getting more and more diverse by the day. It is also shrinking more and more, putting more and more people together in all kinds of situations including the workplace.

∎ Also, corporate America (indeed, the corporate world) is more and more wanting "team players." People first and foremost who can get along with others. They even post it as a job requirement in their ads "must be a team player."

If our kids are denied the chance to learn about other people, it will impact them as an adult trying to survive in the everyday world of work.

That is what Mr. Walters and Gov. Stitt are doing to our kids by eliminating diversity from education. Is this an effort to preserve white supremacy at the cost of our children's future? Also heretically, Gov. Stitt and Mr. Walters claim to be "Christians" despite the fact that from a Christian stance, they are out and out heretics because Jesus taught universal inclusion, rejecting, eliminating, no one. God loved the "world" (John 3:16). The "world" obviously includes all groups. God does not show partiality or favoritism (Deuteronomy 11:17, Acts 1034, Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9) because, all human beings are equally created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27).

Many, if not most of religious fanatics have never read the Bible. They just go by what some poorly educated preacher who cherry picked and twisted Scripture told them. It is ironic and probably in part, because of this, that many who claim to be Christians (followers of Christ) today actually reject the teachings and life of Jesus Christ, like his sermon on the mount. They claim that Jesus is too "weak," ineffective, even "woke." This is well-researched and documented by Kristin Kobes Du Mez, professor of history at Calvin University, who has written for Christianity Today, Christian Century, and Religion and Politics and is author of the book: "Jesus and John Wayne."

— Rev. John E. Karlin, Oklahoma City

Gov. Stitt's order counterproductive to top 10 goals

This is a prime example of Oklahoma leadership in search of a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist! Oklahoma’s education infrastructure has challenges that present real obstacles to the state’s ability to be competitive in a global economy. Instead of focusing on achieving outcomes that will have real and lasting impact on the future of our state, the Governor would rather spend time finding ways to polarize our citizens and disenfranchise our state.

Strategically, actions like this, are counterproductive to the Governors Top Ten campaign promises. Educators in Oklahoma deserve an advocate in the Governor’s office, not an adversary!

— Richard Mcpherson, Edmond

Racial preferences not the way to encourage mobility

The best approach is "Equal Justice Under Law" which is what is stated on The U.S. Supreme Court.

Programs to help disadvantaged people particularly students from poor educational backgrounds and failing schools should not be based on race. Racial preferences should not be the way to encourage upward mobility.

Particularly there should be encouragement of Junior College students to be able to transfer into the larger universities.

— Jon_C.

Will history of civil rights be next?

What’s next? State supported Nazi Youth programming?Why are Gov. Stitt and his political allies so afraid of diversity? Of Equity? Of knowledge?My parents were born before World War One, and lived through WWII, but they both embraced learning about and from people of other races and ethnicities and countries of origin.Perhaps because of them, and because I didn’t grow up in the segregated South, I just don’t have an innate fear of people who look different from me or come from different cultures.But, perhaps it’s time I develop a fear reaction to certain right-wing Republicans. I am worried about what they plan to do next to deny history and erode even the study of civil rights.

— Esther_H.

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(In reply to Esther) You're exactly right, Esther. It is time for fearing 'certain right-wing Republicans'. Our country had better wake up and smell the coffee before all of our civil liberties are nothing more than memories.

— Russell_U.

More comments ...

As to higher education, there are governing boards that are better positioned to deal with this issue. The governor should respect the structures created by the Constitution or the Legislature. As to state agencies, he has cabinet officers that could deal with this without an executive order.

— Harold J. Pumford, Prague

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Just watching the Netflix series on WWII. The sickening, revolting consequences of autocrats and dictators. Demonizing and minimizing groups of people for their own ambition and political power.

It is just as sickening and revolting today. And ominous.

— Ron_S.

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Practical use of civil rights laws is not wrong, nor improper. The attempt to backwalk into a lack of civil rights laws is what we are currently seeing in the 'neo-clan' groups operating with the Trump-A-Likes.

Always a wander into the past and the Oklahoma immigrant way of a century past. As many Germanic-related immigrants wouldn't even fight in WWI and WWII, due to sympathy for Germanic mixed ancestry, those were conditioned in the hundreds of thousands as committed to the classic syndrome of hostility to non-German-Irish color and culture. A majority of numbers, still trying to filter out reality, a century later. Old Money is a hardened association as a result of attempts to reduce competition and protect properties and ownership of cash flow devices.

The same cause of war in Israel/Palestine, Russia/Ukraine, and other cultural wars. Diversity is real and requires attention to detail, and diplomacy. That is the investment in inclusion training and minority protections which are a valid college topic/subject of professional training courses.

Stitt is trying to make everyday Halloween in Oklahoma for those he thinks will be swayed by excess budget cutting as a racial and political tool used to weaken the Democratic tendency to tolerate solutions of social stressed situations. Denying U.S. and Oklahoma history will not work.

Stitt's program to cover up is not a solution for the presence of history as a subject of study, and it does not allow for recognition of protections.

— Dana_J.

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I support DEI and want Gov. Stitt’s executive order on DEI removed.

— Gail Fites

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It is not hard to understand why the big companies will not relocate to Oklahoma.

— kay_b.

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(In reply to kay_b.)

No sidewalks, lack of adequate public transportation, so many remaining deficiencies in Oklahoma. Mostly rural, lots of interpersonal crime, lack of a core public social life.

OK though Stitt refused to even commit to sidewalks and sewer projects, a denial of development for the new 'battery factory' manufacturing offer by a major corporation. Giving the corporate welfare check deal made Stitt happy, but requiring the $200 million in small city development was too much for Stitt.

We have a glaring sold-out-to-business neo-conservative movement still trying to form in OK, hostile to humane and safe living conditions.

Until I arrived in Oklahoma, I was never attacked physically by crime violence. Once here I found no police follow-ups, no prosecutions by Republicans when crimes happen, and general creation of a scene supporting lifelong exclusion of many, causing an elbow to elbow crime standard. The solutions are education, safety resolutions for those excluded, and the allowance of work or money for those needing help such as work. MAPS helped some, but the job is less than half done in 2023.

— Dana_J.

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DEI programs are an attempt at a workaround for existing civil rights laws. Shouldn’t exist in the first place.

— Terry_J.

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This is just another white christian nationalist effort to try to cancel out other people in the state. If you are brown, black or gay person living in this state, the right wing nuts will use mind over matter. They don't mind, cause you don't matter.

— Wayne_P.

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(In response to Terry_J.) Amen. Let the whiners whine: DEI programs are racist, sexist, and bigoted.

— James_E.

Comments from Facebook

The hate flows strong in Oklahoma. Voters get what they vote for.

— Logan Hinch

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A photo of a group of white men in the photo? I guess I'm comfortably set in Oklahoma. But how about Oklahomans who are not as old and white as I am?

— Jerry Stephens

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Readers respond to Gov. Stitt's order to remove funding for college DEI