The assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk yesterday sent a wave of shock and grief through the country, particularly among his many listeners and supporters. While the details of the assassination are still emerging, what was immediately clear was the painful divide in our country. I saw a level of callousness I never wish to see again, with some people celebrating this act. It left me heartbroken and asking, ‘How did we get here?’
To my friends, family, and acquaintances on all sides of the political spectrum, I am not suggesting that you are personally responsible for this. But as someone who cares about you, I urge you to consider the role that dehumanizing rhetoric plays. We must hold our political leaders accountable for lowering the temperature and ending the practice of labeling opponents with inflammatory terms.
This is not about defending or debating any specific political figure or event. It is about recognizing a dangerous pattern: when we label people with terms like ‘Nazi’ or ‘fascist,’ we strip them of their humanity. This kind of language makes it easier to justify violence like what we saw yesterday. Even with January 6th, regardless of your opinion on the events of that day, what is undeniable is that the people who were there believed they were protesting what they saw as a stolen election. They may have been mistaken in that belief, but to call them all ‘Nazis’ or ‘insurrectionists’ is not just inaccurate—it’s dangerous.
Our nation has always relied on rational discussion to navigate disagreements. Charlie Kirk was known for seeking out debate and engaging with people who disagreed with him, even on college campuses. He believed that the best way to change minds was through dialogue, not through violence. In his death, we may have lost a voice for civil discourse, and we risk losing that essential tradition entirely.
Before yesterday, I had hope that we might get through this period okay. Today, I think we might be on the verge of something extremely bad. The only way we can avoid the worst is turning off the news and stop listening to the extreme voices. Let them wither away by ignoring them.
Finally, here is my call to action: Is there someone you’ve stopped talking to because of politics? What would happen if you reached out to them and just said, ‘Let’s talk. I want to be your friend again’? Be brave and see what happens. This might be the building blocks to a better future.