The recent events surrounding the tragic loss of Turning Point USA President and Founder Charlie Kirk have brought to light the profound impact of individual lives. It is essential to understand that behind every headline is a story filled with heartache: it was a wife who would never again get to say “I love you …” to her husband. It was two beautiful children who would never get to have their dad say he was proud of them on their graduation day. A brother in Christ has gone to Heaven to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ.
In the aftermath of this tragic assassination, social media erupted with a barrage of posts, comments, and retweets. What began as a moment of deep sorrow unfortunately evolved into polarizing political discourse. Some, like an Arkansas law professor quoted by Reuters, made hurtful remarks— “posts on her Facebook account likening people mourning Kirk to members of the Ku Klux Klan and suggesting people should not be criticized for celebrating that ‘an evil person is no longer on this earth causing immense suffering.””
It’s worth reflecting: when did reactions to such devastation become only a muse to perpetuate more division and hate? There was a time, not long ago, when tragedy struck, our nation came together in unity regardless of political party and beliefs. We saw this in the aftermath of 9/11, where, through our pain, hurt, and confusion, this country held itself together through community and love for one another. In those moments, political affiliations mattered little; we shared a fundamental respect for human life. We called our parents, checked in on our friends, and asked how we could help our hurting nation.
In the last month, we have seen evil strike multiple times—tragic shootings at Annunciation Catholic School and Evergreen High School, the heartbreaking murder of a Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the second anniversary of October 7th. Lives were stolen, and instead of coming together to grieve such injustices, many used it as fuel for hatred of one another. Our nation is undeniably in pain. As believers, we must ask these questions: Are we bringing hope and the good news of Jesus Christ to a shattered society? What is our role both in times of pain and times of joy? It has been and always will be this: to proclaim and live out the Gospel boldly.
If someone whose purpose was to seek mediation and communication between those who disagree gets assassinated, where does that leave us? As a country, we need to recognize what we once considered common sense. We need to return to the values we once held dear—of loving our neighbors and uplifting one another, regardless of our political differences, and who they voted for, as we are instructed in Leviticus 19:18b: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” In times of need, we must prioritize our shared humanity over partisan debate. Our nation was founded on the principles of freedom—it was written into our founding documents to ensure it was always upheld. No one should have to fear for or lose their life at the hands of another person in this country for saying what they believe.
Let us not overlook the fruit of the spirit—“love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) —values that have appeared to be overshadowed in recent discourse. So, if you cannot find the love in your heart for those who disagree with you, be reminded of this verse, because hate should have no place in our hearts or in this country. Often, we forget that, despite our differences, we share a common humanity, and as image bearers of Christ, it is essential that we be kind, gentle, and gracious to one another.
There is no justification for violence against the innocent, and the very need to stress this point raises an important question: where have our hearts gone? Instead of letting anger simmer and rise in this country, let us have the courage to speak what is true. We must maintain the resilience to stay strong in the face of adversity and the compassion to keep love and kindness in our hearts for those with whom we disagree. Let us not forget what Charlie did —faithfully engaging those who thought differently with a sincere desire for them to come to the knowledge of the truth. May we, as believers, seek to do the same for the restoration of the land we love.
*Amalie Comiskey is a YWA Ambassador at the University of Nebraska in Omaha.
