Where Do We Go From Here?

Most folks seem to be of two types, these days. Those who ingest too much from a 24 hour news cycle, and those who’ve cut most of it from their life. My better half tends to compartmentalize her intake, which is likely a far better way, it allows you to measure and direct your interests and grievances into places where you might make a difference. Others, like myself, process too much and this leads to odd conflicts with yourself. 

Events such as yesterday tend to live outside the usual outlets, and grow a life of their own. I got the news quickly. I generally do. My phone and laptop blow up from news agencies and a couple of subscriber services that get on top of developing stories with hyper speed. A lot of competition out there for your attention and dollar. I was conflicted then. A night’s sleep later, I remain so. 

I cannot say I’ve sorrowed over Charlie Kirk’s fate. The circumstances, I do. I feel badly for his children, who were evidently in attendance and no child should ever see such as that. It’s a type of trauma they will carry for a lifetime. A wife deprived of a husband, children, their father. And this form of political violence accomplishes nothing. We’ve watched this play out time and again, played out in our own nation and abroad. It’s older than any of us, and history shows it rarely plays out for the betterment of anyone. 

As I thought about that, I also watched as the beginnings of a narrative and spin began to develop. A fine friend. A godly, soft-spoken man who harmed no one and worked with all. As I watched this news cycle, I wondered for a moment if this were a different Charlie Kirk than the one I’d seen and head so much about? 

Was this the same man who insisted some deaths were necessary to an armed society to maintain our Second Amendment rights? The same who demonized anyone different or outside the mainstream idea of the norm? The same who insisted King was an “awful person” who cared nothing for peace? Who declared women who choose career over a family “angry and bitter”? Who declared any civil rights legislation a failure? 

How were these values working for us and with us? How will such statements appeal to our better selves and make us a better nation? 

So today, I remain conflicted and not a little troubled. Our lives have once again been affected by political violence played out on the public stage. A naked, brutal set of images adding compound interest to our national horror account. We are no better for it. I doubt we, as a nation, will ever get past it. It is now who we are as a people. This is no moment for celebration. 

Selling division and hate always seem to have a price, one way or another. Charlie Kirk paid it in an all too familiar and ugly way.