Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.— John Donne
If you didn’t know how you felt about the cold-blooded murder of a man who was speaking in a public forum Wednesday in Orem until you found out the political affiliation of the victim — or the shooter — then you are part of the problem.
Violence targeting people for their political views or activism is never acceptable. Yet, in America, it is becoming all too common. So much so that the politically motivated murder of a Democratic state lawmaker recently in Minnesota has already faded into memory.
Charlie Kirk was a well-known political activist credited with promoting right-wing views among America’s younger generations. He was a good friend of Donald Trump and did a lot to help Trump grow his youth vote and win the 2024 election. So a lot of people liked him a lot, and a lot of people really, really didn’t.
That shouldn’t be a death sentence for anyone of any political stance. And it is sickening that that even has to be said. But, these days, in our broken society, it does.
Politics is important. Who wins elections is important. Americans are correct to feel strongly about all that. But our system is supposed to encourage us to settle our differences with open and free speech and elections.
Whatever one may feel about Kirk’s politics — hailed by some as returning America to its roots, reviled by others as sexist, racist and homophobic — his appearance Wednesday at Utah Valley University was in no way a clear and present danger to anyone.
All Kirk was doing in Orem was exercising his First Amendment rights to free speech and free assembly, taking questions and inviting people who may disagree to, as he always said, “prove me wrong.”
That’s exactly what any person engaged in public life is supposed to be doing. Even if you really, really don’t like what he is saying.
The idea that someone can be silenced for his political views is against every strand of America’s political heritage. (Not that we have always lived up to that legacy.)
Whether that’s a petition trying to force UVU and Utah State University to cancel Kirk’s planned events or acts of murderous violence, the counter to speech you find objectionable, even harmful, is more speech. Not censorship. Not a high-powered rifle at 200 yards.
Political leaders along the spectrum, from Trump to Bernie Sanders and in between, have condemned this act of political violence, as they should. Others are using social media to fan the flames of hatred. They should stop.
Clearly, guns are a problem. The fact that Utah law does not allow public universities to ban firearms on their campuses has to be reconsidered in light of this tragedy.
And our national failure to find and assist the mentally ill has to be pondered as well. For even the most small-government conservative, it should be clear that providing mental health treatment is a job for government, given that the private sector has no profit motive to take on the problem.
But the core of the problem that killed Charlie Kirk, that killed Democratic Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband in June, and threatens us all, is that instead of disagreeing with our political rivals, we dehumanize them, portray them as evil, deserving of the worst fate.
Even if basic human decency doesn’t convince some of us, we should face the fact that violence of this kind solves nothing and convinces no one. Those struck down become martyrs to their cause, rallying points for the very political ideology some deluded soul was trying to snuff out.
Meanwhile, good and decent people are discouraged from speaking up, from participating in politics or public events, surrendering the field to extremists of all stripes.
The many people, fans and foes, who were listening to Kirk as he was struck down, and those placed on lockdown and hurriedly evacuated from the UVU campus, will likely be traumatized for life. Even peaceful political gatherings may, to them, become something to be avoided.
And that diminishes us all.
The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at voices@sltrib.com.
Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible