What a tragic day to watch with millions of others the coverage of the domestic terrorist attack on Charlie Kirk. We watched. We prayed. We cried as President Donald Trump announced to the world that this young beacon of hope and force of nature for American values was dead.
At that event, he was not haranguing or attacking those who disagreed with him. He invited people to come to the stage to challenge him and to dialogue. He challenged them to prove him wrong, but with the love of God in his heart, he did not demean any challenger. He showed them respect. He listened, and he took time to dialogue. That morning, some would estimate that two thousand listened with rapt attention.
There will be many tributes and endless descriptions about what happened, who shot him, and why. I will leave that to others as more become known.
I met Charlie many years ago at a presentation to a Jewish Republican group in Thousand Oaks, CA. I had previously presented to the group and was invited to see this dynamic young speaker. He was so knowledgeable, so committed, so focused on taking conservative principles to the young men and women who will define America’s future. At that time, he was just starting, but his efforts obviously has made a difference. The young voters he influenced helped put Donald Trump back in office. His victory could be attributed to this amazing man.
Yes, since the assassination attempts on Trump, there have been a series of attacks on political figures, corporate leaders, and innocent citizens. Charlie would suggest that this must stop. We must make America civil again. We must trade attacks and name-calling for a shared commitment to dialogue about our differences.
Only through dialogue across our divide to fully clarify your position and understand heart-felt differences. We may even find that there are many areas we agree on. We need to talk more, ask questions that matter, listen across our partisan divide, risk sitting down with people we disagree with in meaningful dialogue.
Charlie Kirk was a man of faith with a love for family and country. He would be the first to say that in Christ his future is secure. He rests in the arms of Jesus. He is probably asking questions, learning, laughing, loving and finding a way to make a difference in the Kingdom of God.
But for now, we mourn, we cry, we support his family and friends, and we take care of the country he so loved. This is not a time to attack or blame. Yes, find the people responsible and make them accountable for this attack. But know that the vast majority of those who disagreed with Charlie politically would never have confirmed such an act.
Some will call for us all to come together…to be more united. I do not think that matches the man. He would want us all to strongly express our diverse opinions, defend our positions, and risk sharing our thought with conviction and clarity in meaningful dialogue.
What can we do? Stop the name-calling. Trade hatred for the other side for a commitment to show respect for differences and a willingness to seek first to understand each other. Vote our differences with passion but shame any talk of violence.
Are you willing to commit to help anyone who is attacked instead of looking away? Are you ready to hold people accountable for such violent acts? Are you ready to make America civil again? Do your part in honor of Charlie Kirk to dialogue across our dangerous divide.
Terry Paulson is PhD psychologist, professional speaker, and author of The Optimism Advantage and his new political novel, The Summit. Contact him at terry@terrypaulson.com.
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