A week ago, as we all so painfully know, Charlie Kirk was murdered. Since then, what might have been a moment of reflection and confession for America has turned into a ramping up of vitriol and division. I wrote one of these thoughts about him over a year ago, and it is still my most read post. I will repost it eventually. The conversation around Kirk – his life, his message, and his legacy – has ranged from adoration – some of his devotees comparing him to M.L. King, Jr. (who he hated) and Jesus (which is blasphemy) to hatred, comparing him to Hitler and Stalin. Kirk was none of these people. So, who was he? I did not know him – I only knew his words, which he used a lot of. His presence on college campuses drew large crowds, and he, at a very young age, had a lot of influence.
Was Kirk a racist? I don’t know his heart, but I know he said a lot of racist things. Was Kirk a misogynist? Again, his words indicate that he believed a woman’s place was at home, making babies and keeping the house clean. Was Kirk anti-Semitic? That is a bit murky – there are many instances of him saying he loved Israel, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he didn’t say some things that were anti-Jewish. Was Kirk a Christian? While he claimed to be, he also said and did things that indicate his faith was akin to the false faith of Christian Nationalists who loved his message. Was Kirk about free speech? Yes – unless you were a professor teaching “liberal” values. Did Kirk love his family? It is obvious, from the outside, that he did. What does all of this mean? I think it shows that Charlie Kirk was like most Americans, and they loved his ability to explain and defend their points of view.
I disagreed with almost everything Kirk said, and it frustrated me to no end that he was able to convince others he was right. I am disgusted with the millions of people who celebrated his death – what the hell is wrong with them? I am also disgusted by flags being raised to half-mast – he wasn’t a hero. His death is another symptom of how sick we are as a nation. Loving that he died or speaking of him as a demi-god are both signs of our dysfunction as a people. Charlie was not an angel, nor was he a demon – he was a flawed human being who didn’t deserve what happened to him. If we, as Americans, were grown-ups, we would get that.
Prayer – Holy God, be with Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones as they mourn their loss and help our nation to grow up. Amen.
Today’s art is “Grief” by Ash Miller.