This morning, I watched the sun come up over New York City. Twenty-four years ago, we were attacked. Today, we attack each other.

“Where’s Dad?”

To tell you the truth, I don’t know much about Charlie Kirk. But I do know that his wife and two small children are now alone.

When a tragedy strikes a family, that family is never the same again.

How is his wife Erika supposed to tell those two children that dad isn’t coming home?

Violent Speech Leads to Violent Actions

Charlie’s murder is the predictable consequence of violent rhetoric. For 10 years, the media has been screaming that conservatives are fascists and Nazis.

Most people ignore them. But a few radicals actually believe it.

Those radicals tend to be of low intelligence. They also tend to be mentally ill and struggling in life.

They don’t have much to lose anyway. 

“This is my chance to stop the next Hitler,” they probably think. If you truly believe that, violent actions are the logical next step.

Stop and Think

Of course, believing that Charlie Kirk or Donald Trump is Hitler is ridiculous.

Hitler murdered millions of people. Charlie and Donald represent a moderately right leaning political movement in a democratic nation.

But some people will adopt illogical, absurd beliefs. And they will act on them.

So remember, the next time you’re tempted to say that Republicans are fascists or Democrats are traitors…

Your violent speech may result in someone else’s violent actions. Even if you did not intend that, it can happen anyway.

Think of Charlie’s little kids. Think of the next Charlie.

FInal Thoughts

A few nights after 9/11, we all walked out onto our sidewalks. As far as I could see, neighbors held candles.

No one spoke.

No one needed to.

I will never forget that moment. And I hope that we Americans can remember how much we love our nation, and each other.

“Charlie Kirk” by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.