When a tragedy occurs in the magnitude of the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk one should take pause and remind themselves of the reality of what occurred; a sole heinous act of violence committed by a mentally disturbed individual.
However, apparently our society has moved beyond such logic, for instead of using such an event as a time for healing and bringing folks together, it leaders have chosen to politicize it and create yet more animosity and divisiveness among us as a nation.
Here is what President Trump said after the shooting: “For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the worst mass murders and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now.” He then promised to find “each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone who brings order to our country.” Trump cited the attacks on Rep. Steve Scalise, in 2017, and the attack on himself as examples of what he termed the Left radicalization against Republicans.
However, what he conveniently failed to mention were any attacks against Democrats, the most recent being the murders of Melissa Hortman, her husband, and dog.
Additionally, many conservatives have also inferred that there has been a nationwide war declared on the Republican Party, and blame Democrats for Kirk's death. Fox News host Jesse Watters called the death a "turning point," and MAGA architect Steve Bannon saying on his War Room podcast, "Charlie Kirk is a casualty of war. We are at war in this country."
Several other political commentators have echoed similar rhetoric. For example Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, said on X: "The Left (Democrats) owns what happened yesterday." Elon Musk wrote on X: "The Left is the party of murder." Actor and conservative activist James Woods wrote on X: "It's not gun violence, it's Democrat violence."
For the record, the shooter had no declared political party affiliation, but did come from a family of Republicans, and the Trump shooter was a registered Republican. All of which further illustrates the foolishness and intentional divisiveness fueled by these radical comments trying to link this shooting to a political ideology.
Former President Barack Obama said on X: "We don't yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie's family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children."
Now, of all the responses I have cited, which one is the only one that promotes a healing and bringing together of our country rather than polarizing and dividing it further? And which one doesn’t serve as a violent call to arms?
Obviously some folks just need to get a grip and stop the political grandstanding foolishness, before it’s too late to bring our country back from more violence, more divisiveness and more hatred of one another.
Charlie Kirk was a son, a husband, and a father who was senselessly killed by a mentally disturbed individual who apparently felt distain and animosity for his political agenda. And sadly, we now have leaders who want to further sow more distain and animosity.
