Charlie Kirk: Faithful, fearless father

Throughout the years, I have become less vocal about my political beliefs. Though I have no problem with disagreeing with others, I’ve found that this often seems to cause uncivil behavior, and so I tend to avoid speaking out.

However, with the recent and unfortunate passing of American conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, I refuse to continue to stay quiet and would like to make this a rare exception.

Kirk was many things: an expert-level debater, an inspiration to many right-leaning youth, a Christian, and a loving husband and father. 

I received the sad news of Kirk’s death after celebrating my youngest daughter’s 12th birthday with our family. Later, I unexpectedly shed some tears and mourned after seeing a picture of Kirk with his wife and two young children.

Just like many others, I did not personally agree with everything Kirk has said. For example, he said that college is a scam. I don’t believe that because many well-paid careers require people to have specific degrees for certain knowledge and skill sets. 

However, is there anyone in the world that any of us fully agrees with on everything? The answer is probably no. 

Kirk said some things that resonated with me regardless.

In his final interview, which took place on The Ingraham Angle, he said that “having children is way more important than having a good career” as he reflected upon what his two young children meant to him.

It seems that family was the one of the most important things to Kirk, and he even said throughout his career that family restoration should always be an important topic in America. 

While I don’t believe that everyone needs to have kids or start a family, I do agree that my own family and kids are the most important things in my life. 

From a place of empathy, I don’t feel as if any child deserves to have their father murdered.

Kirk also reiterated many times that everyone is created in the divine image of God, even his opposers. I am also a firm believer in God, and I admired Kirk for following Christianity, something in which he wholeheartedly believed.

He was not quiet, no matter where he was or who he was with, but was always unapologetically himself. He lived by the Hebrew “hineni” — “Here I am.”

Sure, Kirk was blunt at times, but to have known that so many people would disagree with him and to still have put himself out there speaking his opinion was rather admirable and brave.

He was honest despite backlash, which is a dwindling characteristic in modern society that is now so artificial.

I didn’t worship the guy. I just don’t like violence, and I was shocked by his death. It was sickening, cowardly and incomprehensible.

Everyone needs to remember that though it is always alright to disagree — as many did with Kirk — political violence is never acceptable. 

It is never okay to treat people with disrespect, hate or violence just because you do not agree with them.

While I am an advocate for freedom of speech, I am never in favor of rudeness or hate speech. Many ignorant words are casually thrown around today, often in absurd contexts.

Regardless of being afforded the privileges of the First Amendment in the United States, we all still need to consider how what we say reflects upon us or what we represent.

Even though I’m not a big fan of ideological labels, I’m not afraid to admit that I lean more right politically. As we learned during last year’s election polls, the Augustana student body tends to lean more left. Due to this, I’m often quiet and reserved depending on what fellow students are talking about. 

I’m fine with campus disagreements because even though I know that my opinions will differ on certain topics, that does not mean that those around me are not good-hearted people. I actually appreciate our diversity very much.

I don’t like to focus on differences. I enjoy peace and common ground. It’s important to remember that we all have completely individual lives and experiences that shape all of our unique beliefs and opinions. 

Political ideologies are not important. What is important is that we are all human beings, and that’s all that matters. 

We need to make a collective effort to simply be decent and respectful to each other. We are supposed to be going forward together, not backwards.

I will be praying for peace, unity and civility so that we might have disagreements today without worrying about the possibility of atrocious acts of violence tomorrow. 

If prayers aren’t your thing, then please just open your minds and hearts. Let’s all put our differences aside, and be nice to each other.