The Death of Charlie Kirk Was More Than a Murder, It Was a Message

It goes without saying that there are unspeakable, unimaginable evils in this world. They happen on all ends of the spectrum, in different countries and cultures. But as a lifelong American, this is not supposed to happen here. America is the home of the brave, and the birthplace of freedoms humans around the world both covet and aspire to. People give up everything and risk it all for the chance of a life for themselves and their families in the United States, and that's how most of us are here today. That same energy and courage that this country was built on, has now become bastardized, polarized, and largely dismantled. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, any decent human condemns acts of violence, and believes in a system of justice. Free speech is something enjoyed by everyone here (sometimes too much). An attempt to limit that is criminal, and I think we could all agree that there has been a calculated effort to silence dissenting opinions on a variety of platforms in recent years.

I remember a time where I could have polite disagreements with friends, family, and neighbors. It didn't make me hate them, it didn't mean I couldn't spend time with them anymore. It just meant we felt differently on some sensitive topics. To this day, I enjoy very meaningful relationships with people on the traditional left, right, and everything in between. (Though it does seem to get harder and harder to understand how the values come into play with people you love and respect - and I'm sure that goes for both sides.)

But this isn't about that. When we now live in a "free country" where a dissenting opinion (even if it's not as "dissenting" as some people might think) spoken aloud means the risk of MURDER... we have officially descended into a world of madness and evil most of us can barely conceptualize.

ICYMI: Up until today, Charlie Kirk was an American right-wing political activist, author, and media personality. He was the co-founder of Turning Point USA, where he dedicated much of his life to touring school campuses, inviting conversations and open dialogues on a variety of polarizing subjects. Today, he was murdered doing just that. He leaves behind his wife, his 3-year-old daughter, and 16-month-old son. This poor woman will go to sleep as a widow tonight because of a senseless murder against her husband at Utah Valley University, where he sat as he always did, in a tent calmly speaking to students. It has been reported that he was shot with a long gun from a nearby rooftop as he began answering a question about transgender gun violence. He was struck directly in the neck, and died at the hospital shortly after arriving. The video of the shooting has gone completely viral on the internet, marking some of the most tragic commentary I never thought I'd live to see. He was only 31 years old.

Only a monster could celebrate the murder of an innocent man, leaving behind two small children who will never have the opportunity to enjoy life with their only father. I have 3 children in the same age range as his, and my eyes are filling with tears as I write this, envisioning the unthinkable suffering his family is going through right now, for no reason whatsoever.

I am shocked that I have old friends from school delighting in someone's assassination on social media. On the other side, I have plenty of friends, family, and public figures mourning it. But most of all, I see hundreds of acquaintances staying completely silent. I feel like I am in the twilight zone. All I know is that for all those too afraid to speak up on the evil we witnessed today, this is not the time to hide in the shadows. I do not (maybe ever?) get heavy into politics online, but this is not that. This is respect for human life, and worse, this is a message being sent.

That message is clear: if you have a conservative opinion, and you are not afraid to voice it, it can get you killed. And worse, if you have the courage to share ideas that others agree with, even if they're afraid to say it themselves in their own circles, you will be a target above all others. Charlie made a few things very clear: he loved conservatism, traditional family values, God, and believed in the principles that the United States of America was founded upon. It is apparent that these things are problematic to the powers that be. I do not believe for a second that this was a rogue lunatic with a gun on a college campus. I do believe that this was a calculated, intentional attack. And therefore, even if you don't believe in everything Charlie thought (as even I did not), I challenge you to ask why Charlie's beliefs earned him a death sentence. The answers, if you really let yourself go that deep, should concern you and rock you to your core. Think of the implications. Extract them, if you will. If these ideologies are not acceptable for a Christian American husband and father to hold, then what exactly is the desired alternative? Because if"they" wanted to make an example out of Charlie Kirk, and his life was the cost, what does that mean for you? What was the purpose of all this? Well I can tell you with confidence: to instill fear into the very souls of everyone who hears about what happened to him today. This is pure evil; it is quite literally demonic. These people want to shame you and silence you. And I don't care who the "you" is that is reading this, because it is not left or right or independent or anything like that. And it should scare the shit out of you. What happened today means that if you are on the "wrong side" of your viewpoints, you are at risk of murder in broad daylight, and there's nothing you're going to do about it. That's the message.

Do you know how many times in my life I've changed my mind about things? That's called growing, evolving, and having a human experience. Do I deserve to be shot because of that? Do you?

So here's my message to all reading this: do not let the loss of life be in vain. I know there are senseless murders, tragedies, and violence in places every day. But let's focus on the issue at hand here: this is not okay. This person was not committing a crime. This person was not violent. This person was not armed. This person was not a danger to himself or others. This person was doing his job, and having "hard talks" with anyone who wanted to step up to the microphone and engage in a dialogue, for the purpose of learning, for all parties involved.

So if you are one of the people taking joy in this man's murder today, in no uncertain terms: you are sick, you are demented, and you should really take some time to decide what kind of person you want to be in this life. I am tired of pretending this behavior is okay, because it's not. If you are complicit in the most evil and heinous acts of this world, you do not have a place in polite society. I will no longer participate in those relationships, and you shouldn't either.

If you are someone mourning what has happened, I stand with you, and it's time to really think long and hard about what the future will look like for our children if we don't contribute to making a change bigger than ourselves. The unity of good people to create a country (and world) where we can speak freely to one another, learn from each other, grow, change, and respectfully disagree is worth fighting for. The cost should not be with your life.

I will leave you with this final thought:

Your inaction enables evil to breed.

I, like many other people I know, have stayed quiet for too long. I feel guilty, because I wonder if the effort to "go along to get along" in many environments in my real life has somehow contributed to what has happened today. I am not a coward by any stretch, but I am guilty of keeping my mouth shut and my thoughts to myself from time to time when it suited my paycheck, opportunities, and even some relationships. I am disgusted with myself for how long it took me to realize it's not just about me. I say this with an honest heart, and because I believe in being held accountable. In recent years, I've become more confident about who I am, what I believe in, and how important my values are. I am steadfast in that now. I am no longer afraid. And you shouldn't be either.

What happens in a world where we band together and say, I love my neighbor, I condemn evil, and enough is enough? Darkness will not win. It will not divide us. It will not conquer us. We will rise above this.

It is your job to be an example to others around you. Show them you are strong, take pride in what you believe, and most of all, display respect for your fellow Americans and human beings. Teach them by showing them that the way you choose to live is the right way. Pray for those who do not see things clearly right now, that they will have the opportunity to soon understand. Create a space where they can join you when they're ready. Together, we cannot be manipulated and conditioned to hate ourselves, each other and our great country.

"Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints." - Ephesians 6:10-18

May Charlie rest in peace, and may his legacy live on. May his wife be supported and surrounded with love and light during this trying time, and may his children grow up to know the sacrifices their father made in his life's work to leave this world a better place than he found it, the best way he knew how. Your life is measured by the impact you have, and the outpouring of love and respect from all walks of life today shows just what kind of man he truly was. I pray for his family and their journey ahead. You should, too.