I write this post with a heavy heart. I was in South Florida for a business trip when I learned of the news of Charlie’s assassination. It landed on my phone in a text thread from some buddies. “Whatever you do….don’t watch the Charlie Kirk Shooting” message.

Regrettably, I did watch it, and was sick to my stomach most of the rest of the night. I barely slept. I watched a man murdered. I watched a father and a husband take a bullet to the neck. I was angry, sad, disappointed, patriotic, resentful, and many more feels. How? Why? Did they have the shooter?

I tell my team often at work, “when emotion is high, intelligence is low.” So I wanted to sit with these feelings for a few days and let them separate from the peak feelings shortly thereafter the event. Flying home solo Friday and facing a few flight delays, I had plenty of time to sit by myself and think. Here is where I landed.

Let’s start with the shooter.

I think it’s easy to understand why so many felt anger and rage upon hearing the news of Charlie’s assassination. But that’s not the answer. It can’t be the answer. Going from 0 to 100, and only seeing retribution with eyes red with rage, can’t be the answer.

That’s the exact emotion which drove a troubled young man in his twenties to bring a rifle to a rally and end a father/husband’s life. I can be upset, but can I also engage curiosity? I’d like to better understand what caused this rage to develop in such a young man?

• What does he believe in?
• What is this young man so afraid of?
• Why did he see Charlie or his discourse as such a threat to society?
• How did he see this intolerable action, as the only answer?
• What was he consuming/watching/viewing participating in to become so radical?

Conversely, with all this curiosity, I have complete conviction celebrating the murder is disgusting. It’s shameful and I pray this hate doesn’t amplify and spread.

Party Lines

“They” Killed Charlie. I read these words everywhere and I think it’s incredibly dangerous. A lone, mentally unwell, young man pulled the trigger and ended Charlie’s life with a singular bullet. Using the words “they killed Charlie”, got us to where we are…which is further and further apart. The political left, the left-of-center and every registered democrat didn’t kill Charlie. (I’ll receive plenty of pushback on those words). “They” killed Charlie. Nothing is more divisive than [Us vs. Them] and we must be careful. I personally know many who might disagree with Charlie’s views, but they’re not lining up to harm another human being.

I do hope the “Charlie Conservative Movement” continues to grow, but it hope the growth comes in the form of believing in something, vs. choosing to be against or hating the opposition. I hope others get curious about Christianity and understanding conservative values. Tell me what you’re for, and what you support. Don’t tell me we must rage war against the other side. Only more blood will be spilled and everyone knows this doesn’t pencil long term. Families can’t handle much more.

Standing with Courage

I deeply admire Charlie’s courage for continuing to show up and sharing his beliefs sooooo deeply. Sadly, this conviction would lead to him being a martyr. He received countless death threats. His family was receiving death threats. I can’t imagine the conviction to continue to press on and put yourself in harms way for the benefit of spreading the message and having tolerant conversations. I thought of the trials Jesus Christ (33), Martin Luther King (39), and John F. Kennedy (46) suffered. These thought leaders were struck down for their convictions, for being different, and for practicing patience and continued discourse. Each taken too young by evil walking among us.

Sept. 12th

I don’t remember much from Sept. 11 2001, other than exactly where I was when I heard the news of the day’s grave beginning. I was a Sophomore in my college dorm in a newly started fall semester. What I do vividly remember, was what happened immediately after the terrorist attack. People were immediately more kind to one another. Patriotism was at an all-time high. Americans put down our differences, locked arms and stood together against evil. Can that happen again?

Making an Argument

There is a scene I love in A Few Good Men where Tom Cruise’s character asks his legal partner Sam, “Is your father proud of you?” Cruise goes on to say, “I’ll bet he is. I’ll bet he bores the shit out of neighbors and relatives. Sam’s made law review. He’s got a big case he’s making. He’s arguing. He’s making an argument.“

The stoics and great philosophers made arguments. They battled with thought and words. Charlie loved debate and made many peaceful arguments.

So what does making an argument mean?

Making an argument means presenting a claim (an assertion about what is true or should be done) supported by reasons and evidence to persuade an audience to accept your point of view. It’s a constructive process of reasoning and persuasion, distinct from a heated disagreement, where you build a case to make your position understandable and credible to others

No where above does it state, I disagree, and therefore…I hate you! Or because I have a differing view point I must turn up the volume and instead of engaging in civil debate, yelling and rage ensues. We must continue to make an argument. Make good arguments. If disagreement is where it all lands, understand we’re both still human beings.

Humanity and Community Over All.

We need help and the answer lies in the middle, in compassion, in community and understanding. Bill Clinton used the words “Triangulation/Centrism” as a third way to find progress.

In my adult life, I’ve seen the political left and right grow further apart. What used to be, “left of center” or “right of center” has been sensationalized into Right vs. Left. Republican or Democrat. Liberal vs. Conservative. More [Us vs. Them] because it drives social algorithms and TV ratings. The old newspaper adage, “If it bleeds it leads” determined front page news and captures our attention. Attention = ratings and ratings = money. But at what cost?

Consistently consuming in this type of media, over and over again with tremendous volume, in isolation is proven to be incredibly dangerous.

So what can we do? I won’t pretend to have all the answers. I can only tell you what I’m going to try and do.

• Turn off the news…all of it. I can tell you I think it’s corrupted anyway, but you decide how you feel when you watch less of it. My argument is there is a good chance you’re less enraged, less anxious and more patient.
• Engage in more community. For me that’s going to church. Participating in small groups and trying to bring others along with me. Having more conversations with human beings, face to face.
• I’m going to really try and put the phone down more. The answers to the riddle society seeks don’t live in a profit driven echo chamber of seeing more of the same and inciting my blood to boil in disagreement.
• I’m going to try and understand more about what we have in common vs. what must separate us. On my way home I listened to a multitude of what can best be described as LEFT & RIGHT podcasts. I listened to hear and digest and understand. I agreed with some. I disagreed with some. But I landed with more informed reason than I had a few days ago.

Getting Home

I got home just after midnight on Saturday morning Sept 13th. It was 12:10am when I entered my house, suitcase and backpack in hand. I was tired but oh so happy to be home. I instantly thought of Charlie. He’d never experience the relief of coming home after a long day of travel. I checked on my two kids, both sound asleep, dreaming in their beds. I Imagined them never seeing their Dad again, because I told them on FaceTime Friday night I’d be home after they were asleep and I’d see them in the morning. What if I never made it home because of my beliefs?

I sat in the living room in the dark, in silence. I was thinking:

• It needs to be better. How can I make it better for my kids?
• We need to be better.
• What can I control?
• I need to be better. Start with setting the example.
• I prayed for Erika Kirk and their two young children. Make this make sense.