I didn’t really follow Charlie Kirk; I was aware of who he is and his general activities, but didn’t listen to or read his work. He was clearly a very decent person with a lovely family, and once again I am shattered to imagine what his wife and children are going through. He was an exceptionally patient and non-confrontational person, attempting to engage in calm and rational debate with those holding opposing views, a tactic which I find of dubious utility, but which is admirable and would be preferable, if only the left0-wing whackos were willing to take the same approach. And no, I am not ashamed of my name-calling; most of the people who hold those dangerously harmful views cannot be reached by calm and rational discussion and debate. Polls have shown that frighteningly large percentages of Democrats believe that using violence to silence and defeat your political opponents, including killing them, is acceptable.
And that is the crux of our current political situation, while the misconduct isn’t exclusively on one side, it is grossly tilted to the left. Routinely calling conservatives Nazis, facists, racists, homophobes, etc. and suggesting that whatever it takes to shut them up is justified, is exactly why Charlie Kirk was killed. The shooters often are mentally ill, but the environment created by leftists in the traditional and social media is what leads them to turn to violence against conservatives. The “therapy” community that might help reduce the threats from these mentally ill people is itself deeply ideological and incapable of providing true assistance to those who need it.
Our very own Star Tribune contributes to this environment of permissive violence against conservatives. The paper, as with almost all traditional media, completely fails to investigate and report on the left-wing descent into violent rhetoric and actions, since it favors that political ideology. Its silence and the op-eds and stories it publishes highlighting resistance to Trump and conservatives and amplifying the notion that conservatives are facists and Nazis directly support the lunatics on the left. The Strib has failed to denounce Tim Walz for his not-so-subtle calls for violence against Trump and his supporters.
I am deeply saddened and dismayed by where we are as a country. Not just the political rhetoric and violence, but I watch the people on the train in Charlotte who just ignored the unprovoked slaughter of another human, did nothing to stop it or to help her, and I know we are truly done.
Well-written and on point. Thank you.
Johnathan Turley has an insightful column on this matter, and he labels our current political climate an “age of rage.” The very core of “political rage” is on college campuses, the very venue Charlie Kirk spent much of his time and effort. It is a sad day, compounded by the memory of 9/11, to witness the continual descent of our society to the brink of social, political, and financial chaos. Despite the superficial statements of Democrat leaders to oppose political violence, it appears 25-30% of our population, and the majority of Democrat voters, would approve of such actions as advancing their cause…..as you point out in your post.