Charlie Kirk, Violence, and Polarization
Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk has been murdered. This act of violence has shocked many. Even if Kirk was controversial, to be killed in such a public way looks more like a television plot than reality.
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder, I have seen two main reactions. Both concern me.
There are those who have actually celebrated his murder. I can understand disagreeing with Kirk. There was much about Kirk’s statements that concerned me. I was no follower of his and yet as a Christian and even just a human being, I cannot celebrate the murder of anyone.
There are others who are claiming that Charlie Kirk is a Christian martyr. I don’t get that. I can see him as a martyr for a certain brand of conservatism but he was not killed for his Christian faith. I do not doubt that Kirk was a Christian, but it was his conservative political views that made people angry.
I see two stories emerging from this horrible incident.
The first is the wrongful death of a husband and father. No matter what one thinks of Kirk’s politics, there has been a great loss to his family and friends. Let’s be compassionate enough to acknowledge that.
The other story is about the systemic reasons for such violence.
I have seen many conservatives use Kirk’s death as a rallying cry concerning the dangers of liberalism. Some see left-leaning people as holding to a “cultural Marxism” that naturally leads to violence.
I have seen liberals in the past accusing conservatives of something similar. Basically, conservatives accuse liberals of being Stalins and liberals accuse conservatives of being Hitlers.
The real issue is the extreme polarization of our society. This is especially true in the United States, but I am increasingly seeing it in my own Canada. I am hearing of such things taking place in Europe as well.
Instead of seeing people with different views as being conversation partners, they are seen as a danger. When there is an act of violence, people rush to see if the person is transgender or a MAGA supporter. The hope is that the tragedy can be weaponized for the culture wars.
I certainly have seen this with the killing of Charlie Kirk. People are looking at this not as the death of an innocent man but an opportunity to lay blame on a certain category of people.
Sadly, Christians are right in the midst of this. Conservative and progressive Christians are as deep into the culture wars as anyone.
I am saddened by the death of Charlie Kirk. But I am also saddened by the polarization of our society. This violence will beget more violence. Blaming will beget more blaming.
Christians need to choose a better way.
