Listen to the Trump Administration and MAGA talking heads, and you might conclude that Charlie Kirk was a “good man.” President Trump would have us believe that leftists are to blame for Kirk’s murder, but extant evidence suggests that Kirk’s rhetoric and bigotry likely played a big part in his death. After carefully examining what Kirk said and did, it is hard not to conclude that he was a Christian Nationalist; a man willing to say anything — even if it is a lie — to advance his agenda. A good man, he is not.
Podcaster Stephen Woodford recently released a video detailing Charlie Kirk’s character and beliefs:
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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Excellent video by Stephen, and captures my own thoughts on the assassination of Charlie Kirk. I especially appreciate that he begins with a condemnation of political violence and murder, specifically Charlie Kirk’s. Any violence, particularly for political reasons, is abhorrent. The murder of the Democratic politicians in Minnesota. January 6th. And yes, Charlie Kirk.
That said, I agree with you Bruce that Kirk’s rhetoric cannot be divorced from his tragic end. I wholeheartedly believe in free speech, especially when it comes to an individual’s right to express and hold to their personal viewpoints. At the same time, this freedom needs reasonable guardrails. Preachers showing up to a gay pride event to hector the participants, for example. Not appropriate, any more than anti-theists showing up to someone’s church in order to disrupt the service. Both groups of folks should be able to participate in their activity with a reasonable sense of peace and tranquillity.
Kirk created an atmosphere of performance and specialized in making folks uncomfortable. I certainly do not feel he is a hero. At the same time, I don’t believe his or any else’s tragic death should ever be celebrated.
My wife had a good take on this- he lived by the sword, and ended up dying by it.