The assassination of Charlie Kirk has left a wound in our nation, one made even more painful by the immediate aftermath.
Within minutes of the news breaking, social media platforms were flooded with posts and comments cheering his death, proclaiming “he deserved it,” or worse, calling for more violence. These reactions are not just shocking—they are deeply revolting and disturbing, a gut-punch to the values of compassion and empathy that should define us. If even a flicker of satisfaction crossed your mind upon hearing this news, I urge you to pause and search your soul: Is this who we are? Is this where we want to be?
Celebrating the death of a fellow human, regardless of their views, signals a profound loss of our shared humanity.
This moment forces us to confront the erosion of civil discourse, the cornerstone of American democracy. Free speech—the right to voice a different perspective without fear of violence—is under siege when disagreement escalates to bloodshed. We’ve watched public discourse devolve into a battlefield where winning isn’t enough; the “loser” must be humiliated, labeled as evil—a supremacist, a Nazi, a racist, or any number of dehumanizing terms.
These labels don’t clarify; they divide, reducing complex individuals to caricatures. The killing of Kirk, like the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is a chilling MLK moment: a warning that speaking one’s mind can now carry a death sentence. Political violence, or any violence, is never the answer—it only deepens the fractures in our society.
So how do we reclaim the soul of our nation and restore respect across our differences? It starts with us, individually and collectively, committing to a better way. Begin by listening—not to rebut, but to understand. Engage with perspectives that challenge you, whether through community discussions, diverse media, or even a conversation with someone unlike you. Empathy is our antidote to hate: Behind every opinion is a person shaped by their own struggles and dreams. When we see their humanity, labels lose their sting.
Compromise isn’t weakness; it’s strength. History proves this—from bipartisan civil rights victories to environmental reforms, collaboration has moved us forward. Support initiatives that foster dialogue, like civic education in schools or local interfaith events. On social media, choose words that uplift rather than destroy, and call out those who celebrate harm. If you’re tempted to cheer someone’s downfall, ask yourself: What does this say about me? Vote for leaders who model respect, and hold them accountable when they falter.
America’s soul shines brightest in its diversity—of thought, identity, and experience. As a transgender person, I know the sting of being misunderstood, yet I believe we can rise above division. Let’s reject the glee over violence and choose compassion instead. The path to healing begins with each of us.
What step will you take today to rebuild our shared humanity?
Dr. Gwen Patrone
We do not do politics here, but this is not political. One cannot expect someone to respect us for being trans if we don’t also respect anyone for being something else, gay, conservative, religious, etc. People are people and if we could ever get to that (yes, I know, a pipe dream anymore), then life will function as it should.
One Response
Well said, Gwen. The only thing I would challenge is that this is not just an American issue. Here in the UK, we see intolerance to those who have the ‘wrong’ views.
Charlie Kirk was well known on this side of The Atlantic, too and I personally found what happened deeply upsetting on several levels – the brutality of his killing, the silencing of someone who genuinely believed in the importance of listening to dissenting views and, above all, that a wife has lost her husband and two young kids have lost their father. If anything good can come of what has happened, it’s that his calls for decency are far louder in death than they were in life.
I believe that things can be healed if only because for every ‘hater’ determined to celebrate what has happened, there are many more who are denouncing it. We don’t have to subscribe to all of Kirk’s views (and some were questionable even though I broadly agreed with much of what he said) but, more than anything, in his tragically short life he demonstrated the power of listening to those he disagreed with rather than trying to silence them, something that those who purport to support trans rights would be well advised to take note of.