Charlie Kirk has never received a warm welcome in the pages of this magazine. It doesn’t matter now. The assassination of Kirk is a tragedy. Morally, it is unjustifiable. Politically, it is cause for serious alarm. A larger spiral into political violence would be a catastrophe for the Left.

As of the time of this writing, no one knows the shooter’s ideology or motivations. But some key points are clear enough.

No one should be killed as punishment for political expression, no matter how objectionable. In addition to our basic abhorrence of violence, we are also proponents of democracy, which depends on free speech and open inquiry. Without them, collective self-governance is impossible and tyranny becomes inevitable. Imposing silence on political opponents by brute force, whether in the form of state crackdowns on dissent or lone-wolf assassinations of leaders, undermines a principle that democratic socialists have always held dear.

also we suck shit

  • plinky [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
    32·
    4 days ago

    As I look at the life of Kirk, he was a husband, a father, and what else I do not know. He had friends, I am sure. He played a significant role in his connection with the community, which was personal and also collective. But the problem I would have in affirming this life at an end-of-life ceremony is that he evidently did not care in his living about the security and comfort of others. He did not show empathy. Whether he believed what he espoused, or it was simply a marketing ploy for influence and money, I don’t know, and no one will ever know for sure. But Charlie Kirk expanded hatred, marketed the vile speech of old racism in new wineskins, and further jeopardized the lives and security of others.

    Graylan Scott Hagler is an advisor with FOR-USA and the founder and president of Faith Strategies USA. Until retiring from his position in 2022, Hagler was Senior Minister at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C.

    compare and contrast

    • MiraculousMM [he/him, undecided]@hexbear.netEnglish
      23·
      4 days ago

      Whether he believed what he espoused, or it was simply a marketing ploy for influence and money, I don’t know

      Imagine believing there’s any material difference between these. If you act exactly like a nazi people are going to rightfully call you a fucking nazi, who cares what you “truly believe”