Disagreements between friends or foes always carry the risk of injury to the ego, but it should never result in moral injury to those merely expressing a difference of political opinion. While the ego and sense of reality may be shattered by popular, conservative voices like the late Charlie Kirk’s, his tragic death teaches us all that we must practice the art of feeling offended.
Kirk visited hundreds of campuses in America and spoke to thousands of students with whom he had fundamental political disagreements. At times, debates were hostile; at other times, they were civil and respectful. And, while the senselessness of the motives is hard to grasp, in a text message exchange with a roommate, Tyler Robinson wrote of Kirk. When asked about his feelings of Kirk only hours before the shooting, Robinson wrote, “I had enough of his hatred…” I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.”
It was no secret that Kirk was a pro-Trump conservative who laid the foundation for a new kind of conservative movement. It was one that promoted an America first, small government and Christianity. Some of Kirk’s views opposed abortion and gun control. He was also opposed to same-sex marriage and gender transition surgery, citing his deeply held Christian convictions.
The great irony is that in the many viral debates between Kirk and liberal college students, Kirk was often confronted in an insulting and condescending manner. But rather than biting back with an equally demeaning rebuttal, Kirk remained calm and debated on the grounds of facts, logic and argumentation.
At a TUPSA event in 2024, Kirk was once asked by an audience member, “Do you hate the LGBT community? Kirk responded, “How could I hate that which I have a heart for? But if you ask me, do I have hate in my heart for a lifestyle that God does not lay out in the scriptures, of course not”
Never did Kirk express hateful speech towards the LGBT community or any other groups. And yet, because of Kirk’s own views about these issues, Robinson could justify murdering Kirk during an open TPUSA debate.
In a video message following Kirk’s assassination, Trump posted
“I ask all Americans to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived & died. The values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law & the patriotic devotion & love of God.”
Part of the freedom of speech depends on our ability to accept, tolerate and withstand those with whom we disagree. At an extreme level, it means tolerating offence caused by opposing political views.
The second we refuse to be resilient in the face of political disagreement, we leave the door open to justifying woeful acts of violence. Leaving aside the argument of psychological instability, Robison could justify the murder of Charlie Kirk because of a plain lack of resilience. The inability to cope with a perceived ‘moral injury’ led Robinson down a path of revenge, and society is worse for it.
It is a sad indictment of where society has come, and while the conservative in me wants to lay all blame on the left, resilience is an essential trait that both sides of politics need.
After all, didn’t Socrates remind us that, “when the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of losers”? Kirk was a proud Christian conservative who stood for his values in the spirit of open dialogue and debate and frequently accepted the difference of opinion of those with whom he debated.
Free speech can only be free if the cost of speech does not lead to brutal acts of violence. There is never a justification for the murder of an innocent person who is expressing his political and religious beliefs.
The next time we disagree and are tempted by vengeance, we all ought to remember that the road of hatred lends itself to the justification of reckless acts of violence. Under Kirk, Turning Point USA stood for support for President Trump, limited government, free markets and traditional Judeo Conservative values. While you may agree or disagree with these principles, we have the right to be offended and even though words may wound us, we all need to remember the stark warning given us by Euripides “hate is a bottomless cup”.
