On Charlie Kirk and this Defining Moment
I am a husband, father to a young daughter, and someone who deeply loves this country. What happened to Charlie, his family, and to the fabric of our ever politicized and fractured society, is a tragedy. It hit me in personal and profound ways, and as a moment to seize, act on, get involved, and help figure out…
Where the hell do we go from here?
My personal background gives me some unique experience and perspective into how I analyze recent events, reflect on them, and propose strategies for us all to move forward and reconcile with this. I grew up evangelical Christian in Lynchburg, VA (yes, home of Liberty University and Jerry Falwell’s politically energized evangelical movement). But for the past 15 years of my life I’ve lived in liberal Massachusetts, and I myself am a liberal (perhaps recovering progressive) and no longer religious (say agnostic if you must). I have a deep familiarity with Charlie Kirk’s world of evangelical Christianity, his appeal, the connection to politics and movements, while at the same time having deep familiarity and understanding of the modern progressive movement and the air I breathe here in Massachusetts.
These two worlds - the MAGA right (which also includes Kirk’s movement, evangelical Christians, and growing numbers of conservatives and newcomers to the right), and the progressive left (including what many may consider “woke”, democratic socialist, etc.) are defining our cultural and political moment as a nation, particularly post 2020/Covid.
Understanding both these worlds, and having strong conviction that it’s well past time a new center-left, moderate majority reemerge in American society and politics, I’m creating this publication - Liberal Ground. It will hopefully appeal to what I truly believe is actually the majority of Americans, those not on the fringe hogging the airwaves, but those that deep down know and feel America is special, unique and only America because we all have shared ideals in our liberal system - life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, the bill of rights, constitution, rule of law, free speech, these incredible ideals worth fighting for. This will continue to crumble, and fast, if we don’t all agree on these ideals.
Now, for a word on what I’ve seen in terms of response to Charlie’s assassination and legacy.
His death was an horrific tragedy and attack on free speech. Regardless of what comes to fruition in terms of investigation regarding his assassin, clearly this individual was unwell, violent and seeking chaos and havoc. As a father, and someone known to have passionate and outspoken views and convictions I’m not afraid to share, I couldn’t help but think - if it can happen to Charlie, it can happen to me.
Now, as a liberal and agnostic Charlie and I disagreed on a ton. I don’t share his personal beliefs and Christian worldview on a range of issues. But Charlie was not a fascist, or a Nazi - he was an American that believed in liberal democracy, and on multiple occasions professed his faith and views but repudiated and never advocated for theocracy. He deeply understand our liberal, democratic roots and pluralism, while holding firm to his convictions.
I have been so disappointed in the segment of the left, including some friends, who posted on social media cheerful posts of his murder. “What goes around comes around!” “Today is a great day!” “Well he asked for it!” The numbers of these I saw were not just a tiny minority…it was unfortunately a decent amount, enough to warrant us calling it out. And by us, I mean all Americans and in particular political leaders and those who would consider themselves on the left. Our liberal democracy requires a respect and appreciation for free speech rights. Not just speech you agree with, but even (and especially) speech you disagree with.
This isn’t a post to get into the merits of what he talked about. That’s besides the point right now. This post is to articulate that gleeful response to political violence is wrong, and we must course correct, look deep withing (not just point fingers) to move forward and heal our country. And this needs to be said - it’s not just enough for us on the left, and political leaders - to put out one tweet denouncing all political violence. In reality, the leftists, and those applauding Charlie’s death, are not just a minority voice on the left/democratic side. They have been growing, and recruiting. They also openly, consistently profess their hate for America and fellow Americans. When do we on the center left say enough is enough?
It is not too late to combat this, deescalate, and pull back to the sane, center left position. We need to stop being complacent and captured by this segment of the extreme left (who many don’t even vote democrat anyway because no one passes their purity test). This is not the time to whataboutism with the right. It’s time to be morally courageous and say the extreme views and violence performed and applauded by the left needs to stop, now. It is not welcome, and there is no place for it in American society. And the democratic party, media, American society needs to stop bending to its pressures.
This moment has mobilized folks on the right and even politically disconnected conservatives like I’ve never seen in my lifetime. They are angry, scared and motivated - and I totally get why. And unfortunately, many political leaders on the right are calling for further state action and infringement on free speech from this event — something Charlie would be vehemently against.
It is time for the sane, center left majority to take control of the movement and politics from the left. I am answering this call, and I hope you’ll join me. A return, or an evolution to, the center for the left is not a return to establishment, neo-con, corporate, do nothing the system’s not broken policies and candidates. It’s the admission that America is a liberal democracy, we can be the big tent that welcomes everyone, and no longer will we prioritize front and center issues and policies that are 90/10 (90% unfavorable 10% favorable) on the national stage. We will not be held hostage by the radical left. It’s a return to common sense, get shit done, listen to and don’t talk down to Americans. No purity contests, no woke litmus tests. Real authenticity and care for our country and its people.
If not us, then who? I believe this is a defining moment. Let’s heed the warning and call - to unite, move forward, and work together where we can all live in peace and harmony, while of course veraciously debating and fighting for our causes and beliefs without resorting to consistent cancel culture, or even worse - violence.