WORDS AND ACTIONS MAKE SAINTS OR SINNERS

Ever since Charlie Kirk was shot I have been in that state of “what do I really think about this?” As usual putting it down on paper helps me sort through the phases of

• Killing someone should never be an option
• I didn’t agree with him on most things
• Freedom of Speech is the right of every American even hurtful and offensive speech.
• Inflammatory speech such as threats of physical violence, harassment, defamation and certainly speech that incites imminent violence are not protected; but as we all know this is a cloudy concept and has been debated throughout our history.

Charlie Kirk believed in the right of free speech for his ilk, but he denied others that right. He spent his time at universities in open dialogue but his actions targeting professors with a “Professor Watchlist” belied his own belief. When a woman came to the microphone, he would often cut them off with scripture or patronize them. He was a Christian nationalist and believed that liberty was only possible with a Christian population. He also thought women should not look for careers but should look to have children.

Charlie Kirk aligned himself with Nick Fuentes who is characterized as a white supremacist who holds misogynistic, homophobic, antisemitic and other hate ideologies near and dear. You can tell a lot about a person by who they align themselves with.

He denied systemic racism but consistently made racist comments. His views on the Civil Rights Act, Martin Luther King and DEI policies are abhorrent to me. Kirk’s agenda was attached to whiteness in all cases.

Charlie Kirk was a master manipulator of words. If someone quoted the passages of the Bible that urge compassion and aid for the poor, homeless, and immigrants, he would insist that he loved America so much that he didn’t want anyone who hated it to come here. I am sure Kirk was aware that the vast majority of immigrants who wish to enter the country, come here for a better life.

Charlie would cherry pick and recite passages of the Bible to agree with his opinion of the LGBTQ community but scoffed or passed over passages that preach love of others. While he quoted passages about “stoning” he failed or refused to be wise enough to know that if you are an influencer you influence people. Some people take things literally. Charlie Kirk was absolutely wise enough and understood exactly that his speech spoken in the most flowery manner targeted the most vulnerable of our society. He preached consistenly against the gay community and put many transgender people in physical danger by his rhetoric. As a wordsmith he was always able to parse his words to eliminate any directives.

Charlie Kirk believed that people will be assassinated and no matter how many, we should never abandon the Second Amendment.

This man was not a saint and I will not judge whether he was a sinner. He preached hate and division in various ways and his organization Turning Point USA consistently told their followers that they were under attack. Charlie Kirk was a man who had a large following and could have made the world a better place if he showed compassion for others and valued the truth. He did not.

BTW I am free to say anything I want about Charlie Kirk and I will continue to do so. After all I live in a free country [though not sure Kimmel will agree with me today].