Posted on 09/17/2025 7:11:11 AM PDT by Heartlander
Like almost everyone in my circle, I have spent the better part of the last week in a stupor. The news of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination has left all of us who counted him as a friend or colleague in a state of shock and sadness.
I did not know Charlie Kirk well. But I had met him in various green rooms, appeared on his radio program, and worked with him to find capable staffers for the Department of Education. He was always genuine, idealistic, and dedicated to the cause. I’m still astonished by all that he accomplished in such a short period of time. He built an enormous organization, turned himself into a media star, advised the president of the United States, and built a beautiful family—all by age 31.
When we are in the fray of day-to-day politics, it is easy to get consumed by each new headline and triviality. But Kirk’s death marks a pivotal moment, requiring deeper reflection. His life, and tragically his death, reveal some profound truths about the man and about America.
First and foremost, Charlie Kirk did it all the right way. He was a conservative willing to wade into controversial territory. But he was always guided by the idea that debate is the great clarifier and that, in a democratic society, persuasion is the primary means of political change. He set up tables on campus. He debated his opponents. And he believed he could win through the ballot box.
Kirk’s death, and the subsequent reaction to it by the radical Left, underscored the arguments he had made during his time on the stage. For nearly ten years, Kirk had argued that transgender ideology, especially when paired with experimental medical procedures, would result in disaster. From the reports now emerging, it appears likely that the alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, was radicalized online into anti-fascist and transgender politics. In their most extreme forms, both lines of thinking advocate a nihilistic embrace of violence—the antithesis of Kirk’s approach.
In fact, when he was murdered, Kirk was answering a question about the relationship between transgenderism and mass shootings, a phenomenon that seems to have accelerated in recent years. Kirk sought to engage his opponents in debate; his killer, quite possibly inspired by the trans-radical movement, sought to end that debate with a bullet.
The reaction to Kirk’s death by the mainstream Left has been equally troubling. Thousands of Americans, including students, professors, and even active-duty military members, have publicly cheered his assassination. Some have called for further violence against conservatives. Though I have covered left-wing radical movements for years, I was surprised by the number of people in the “helping professions,” including teachers and doctors, who embraced violent rhetoric.
How should conservatives respond? First, by drawing a line that Kirk himself exemplified: debate is healthy; violence is unacceptable. I’m glad to see that some institutions have terminated the employment of those who cheered on Kirk’s murder.
Contrary to the criticism that this represents a form of right-wing “cancel culture,” these firings were warranted. During the “woke” era, left-wing social media mobs sought the social annihilation of teenagers who sang rap lyrics and a Latino utility worker who cracked his knuckles the wrong way—examples of extreme and unjustified social policing. By contrast, a public school dismissing a teacher for applauding political assassination is a fair consequence.
All societies require boundaries. If there is no social sanction for celebrating violence, America will become a more dangerous place. Social trust, already fragile, will collapse.
On the question of transgender ideology, more information will emerge about Kirk’s alleged killer. But more than enough evidence already exists for federal law enforcement to consider radical transgender ideologues a threat to the civil order of the United States—much like white nationalists, neo-Nazis, militant “anti-fascists,” and other hateful groups. Some figures in the Trump administration, such as policy adviser Stephen Miller and Vice President J. D. Vance, have already indicated that they are ready to take action to enforce the law against violent movements.
Charlie Kirk sacrificed his life for truth. We should honor his legacy by standing firmly on principle, engaging in political debate, and, when necessary, enforcing the law against those who would organize violence in the name of politics.
{Chorus}
Fight the good fight every moment
Every minute, every day
Fight the good fight every moment
Make it worth the price we pay
Every moment of your lifetime
Every minute and every day
Fight the good fight every moment
Make it worth the price we pay
Triumph - Never Surrender
{Chorus}
Never surrender, keep your dreams alive
Never surrender, hold your head up high
Never surrender, it cannot be denied
Never surrender, spread your wings and fly
Kirk’s assassination hits very hard, but I am surprised that I am seeing how this has reached far outside of political spheres.
How Charlie Kirk lived his life proves what I have been saying for years now:
We cannot vote our way out of these problems. The only way out is to activist our way out.
He demonstrated that things haven’t improved since Jesus’ days. Believing in God and saying what you believe will make you very infamous among a certain large group of people in this world.
Yes. Kirk was the nice guy. They shot him. Now the not-so-nice need to step forward.
Everything changed - everything.
This is what has hit me the most...that Charlie’s statement about how he would want to be remembered, that he had the courage to stand up for his faith. I wish I had the kind of courage Charlie had. And it makes me really wonder why it takes the kind of courage Charlie had in this country today to not be afraid to speak our faith and act our faith. I have no real problem with showing my belief in God but I’m living in an area that’s mainly a faith based part of our country as is my family. But the rest of the country?? It just shouldn’t be this way!
It is very unfortunate that there is a gigantic dustup going on before he is even buried.
https://x.com/mattgaetz/status/1968158805742776548
and the comments..WOW
https://x.com/Dan_Brisbois/status/1968161511748124784
I know this must be very painful for his family to witness on top of the pain from what a nutjob took away from them.. It would be for me.
But to his family I say this. The man held his integrity until the end just as Tucker said to JD Vance. Very very few in this world would take the heat and the torment Kirk did in the name of honest debate.
So don’t try to shut down the debate through Loomer. Remember that Loomer said this:
“I don’t ever want to hear
@charliekirk11
claim he is pro-Trump ever again. After this weekend, I’d say he has revealed himself as political opportunist and I have had a front row seat to witness the mental gymnastics these last 10 years.
Lately, Charlie has decided to behave like a charlatan, claiming to be pro-Trump one day while he stabs Trump in the back the next.
TPUSA was only able to thrive thanks to the generosity of President Trump. “
Yes, it’s one thing to speak your faith among fellow believers, but Charlie was on the front lines, so to speak. Even in enemy territory, as it were. The universities. Buzzing hives of secularism.
“The only way out is to activist our way out.”
That’s how the other side got its power. They’ve had armies of activists, whereas we had armies of passivists.
Hopefully this tragic even will turn the tables.
This is a very good essay.
Thank you for posting.
I believe it God is watching and someday He will decide things have gone on too long. Come Lord Jesus. 🙏
I believe it God is watching and someday He will decide things have gone on too long. Come Lord Jesus. 🙏
Yes, America was founded on the concept of Freedom of Religion so that we could speak our faith in public freely. It’s devastating how far America has fallen in this regard, both from fear of government retaliation AND personal loss from today’s cancel culture.
Charlie Kirk was both strategic and genius in his plan to change minds on two levels: one-at-a-time in debate and, in the activist’s sense, by group events and social media dissemination of these debates.
Kirk was fearless - and yes, he knew the risks. The reason all the pictures of his children don't show their faces is Charlie feared if some evil democrat knew what his kids looked like they might try to kill them when he wasn't there to protect them. Charlie knew the evil that slithers in the darkness of the democrat soul.
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