We do not know what to say. The death of Charlie Kirk, killed while speaking to college students, leaves us with sorrow and questions. A man lost his life for using words, and that should never happen.
This moment reminds us of moral absolutism: The belief that some things are always right and others are always wrong. Murder is always wrong. No cause, no anger, no disagreement can ever excuse it.
Kirk’s life was built on debate and discussion. Some admired him, others strongly opposed him, but he believed in speaking only. In a democracy, free speech is meant to protect that space, so we can disagree without fear.
YET TODAY, our common values feel fragile. Too often, disagreement leads to insults, division, or worse. When respect disappears, violence can take its place. That should trouble us all.
It’s not just about Charlie Kirk. Violence is spreading across the nation.
• In Minnesota, House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were murdered in a targeted shooting at their home. That same night, State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Y’vette, were shot and injured in a related attack.
• In Colorado, children were gunned down at their school on the very day Kirk was assassinated in Utah.
• In Minneapolis, innocent children were slaughtered during a Catholic Mass.
• In Charlotte, North Carolina, a Ukrainian woman was stabbed to death on the subway.
The list doesn’t stop there.
• Former President Donald Trump has faced repeated attempts on his life. In 2023, a bullet narrowly missed him during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A local firefighter, Corey Comperatore, was killed while shielding his family. The attack bears eerie similarities to Wednesday’s shooting in Utah with both unfolding before outdoor crowds.
• In 2022, a hammer-wielding intruder broke into then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home, leaving her husband Paul with severe injuries.
• And in 2017, gunfire erupted on a Virginia baseball diamond where Republican lawmakers were practicing.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, from churches to schools, from homes to public rallies, the violence is relentless and it is escalating.
So what should we do? We cannot just hope things get better. Here are some steps everyone can try:
• Speak up for peace. Do not let friends celebrate violence, even if they share your views.
• Be slow to get angry. Listen first, even before sharing your opinions.
• Respect differences. In a free society, disagreement is part of what makes us strong.
• Remember the victim. Never reduce a tragedy to a talking point or meme.
• Support those who are hurting. Sometimes, just being present or offering a kind word matters more than advice.
• Keep the circle wide. Welcome people of every background, belief, and experience to speak and be heard.
• Refuse to accept violence as normal. Always seek justice and truth in peaceful ways.
IN THE END, it takes courage to be kind, to listen, and to keep talking respectfully even when the world feels on fire. “I do not know what to say” is honest, and sometimes it is enough when the wounds are fresh. But after the silence, let’s make sure our next words, and our actions, help us remember who we are meant to be: a people committed to peaceful disagreement, shared moral values, and a better world for everyone.
We cannot undo these acts of violence, but we can reflect on what it means. To honor Charlie Kirk, and every victim of violence, we must refuse to accept hatred as common. The Bible commands us: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21). This is not a suggestion. It is a call to action. If we lose the courage to stand for truth, civility, and peace, we risk losing the very soul of our democracy.
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