I’ll also add that him being a husband and father means he was capable of giving and receiving love. He has shown some redeeming qualities. His heart was not completely inpenetratable. But he actively chose not to lean into those qualities. He believed that many were not worthy of that from him or this nation. I think we conflate being redeemable with actually being good. The former speaks to potential. The latter speaks to actually fulfilling that potential.
Thanks for this comment, @Johanna, this is a really good point. Everyone is redeemable, but you have to be willing to make a choice to change, he didn't seem to make that choice. I wish we could have a conversation where we were able to discuss this honestly more broadley. Instead what I have seen is a flat argument, one side lionizing someone who stood for horrible things, and another side gloating at a tragic murder.
Yes our refusal to dig deep is problematic. It requires a collective maturity that we simply do not have or do not want to engage because it is not popular nor is it financially profitable.
I think this is the first assassination for Gen Z. Younger Gen X and Millennials haven’t experienced one that I can readily recall. But we are older and closer to people who lived through the harrowing 50s and 60s. Not that we are used to it, but we aren’t as blown over by it. But younger people right now are shocked and troubled, as they should be. However, I’m not understanding where the struggle lies. Bestowing honor onto the dishonorable is not something we have to reconcile. Morally, I believe it all to be in error. But this is their shtick. No need to make sense of it. You don’t have to turn your disapproval into approval because of his demise. Per usual the national discourse remains superficial and ultimately dishonest. We’re not having the conversation we should be having. The underlying truth goes unaddressed because it is buried underneath the sensationalism and the shock value of this moment.
"I’ll be honest, I’m struggling, Charlie’s death is a tragedy, and nothing good ever comes from violence, but I have deep issues with what he stood for."
I don't understand the struggle. Murder is unacceptable. Political murder is particularly unacceptable. Whether the shooter had "leftist tendencies" or is part of the Groyper Army, the killing of Charlie Kirk has to be seen a political murder.
It is not a struggle to condemn such a murder. It should be condemned whether you are a follower of Charlie Kirk's views or an opponent. I am an opponent. I believe Charlie Kirk was wrong on many issues and careless with the truth on some issues.
It does not matter. Love has nothing to do with it. There is no need to struggle. The murder of Charlie Kirk was wrong, evil, and terrible for our country,
My father used to say something that made no sense to me as a kid, but which I understand so profoundly in the wake of this shooting. "You don't have to like everyone, but you do have to love them." It's herculean, as you say, but the alternative is so much harder.
I’ll also add that him being a husband and father means he was capable of giving and receiving love. He has shown some redeeming qualities. His heart was not completely inpenetratable. But he actively chose not to lean into those qualities. He believed that many were not worthy of that from him or this nation. I think we conflate being redeemable with actually being good. The former speaks to potential. The latter speaks to actually fulfilling that potential.
Thanks for this comment, @Johanna, this is a really good point. Everyone is redeemable, but you have to be willing to make a choice to change, he didn't seem to make that choice. I wish we could have a conversation where we were able to discuss this honestly more broadley. Instead what I have seen is a flat argument, one side lionizing someone who stood for horrible things, and another side gloating at a tragic murder.
Yes our refusal to dig deep is problematic. It requires a collective maturity that we simply do not have or do not want to engage because it is not popular nor is it financially profitable.
Stanley, you are one of the people that consistently gives me hope. I know we will land in a better world because of people like you.
I think this is the first assassination for Gen Z. Younger Gen X and Millennials haven’t experienced one that I can readily recall. But we are older and closer to people who lived through the harrowing 50s and 60s. Not that we are used to it, but we aren’t as blown over by it. But younger people right now are shocked and troubled, as they should be. However, I’m not understanding where the struggle lies. Bestowing honor onto the dishonorable is not something we have to reconcile. Morally, I believe it all to be in error. But this is their shtick. No need to make sense of it. You don’t have to turn your disapproval into approval because of his demise. Per usual the national discourse remains superficial and ultimately dishonest. We’re not having the conversation we should be having. The underlying truth goes unaddressed because it is buried underneath the sensationalism and the shock value of this moment.
I wish I could love this post.
Thank you for making time to read this post.
"I’ll be honest, I’m struggling, Charlie’s death is a tragedy, and nothing good ever comes from violence, but I have deep issues with what he stood for."
I don't understand the struggle. Murder is unacceptable. Political murder is particularly unacceptable. Whether the shooter had "leftist tendencies" or is part of the Groyper Army, the killing of Charlie Kirk has to be seen a political murder.
It is not a struggle to condemn such a murder. It should be condemned whether you are a follower of Charlie Kirk's views or an opponent. I am an opponent. I believe Charlie Kirk was wrong on many issues and careless with the truth on some issues.
It does not matter. Love has nothing to do with it. There is no need to struggle. The murder of Charlie Kirk was wrong, evil, and terrible for our country,
I’m not struggling with the murder, I’m struggling with the way he is being lionized despite what he actually stood for.
I hear you fr
My father used to say something that made no sense to me as a kid, but which I understand so profoundly in the wake of this shooting. "You don't have to like everyone, but you do have to love them." It's herculean, as you say, but the alternative is so much harder.