‘He left behind a massive legacy with many elements of his faith, character and integrity for us to emulate. I pray we all try to walk in Charlie’s shoes going forward.’ – Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance

Ken Vance, editor
Clark County Today

“You are commanded to go do something productive with your life. To go give, and to produce, and to risk and then to go sow into other people. That is a Biblical idea that has made the world a profoundly better place.’’ – Charlie Kirk

Like many of you, I am devastated by the unimaginable tragedy that took place at Utah Valley State University in Orem, Utah Wednesday. One of America’s greatest patriots, most devout Christians, and brightest human beings was assassinated in broad daylight before our very eyes.

I didn’t know Charlie Kirk, but I felt like I did. My experience with him was limited to watching video clips of his interactions with students on college campuses and his other media appearances. The 31-year-old Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, grew in considerable prominence and notoriety during the last presidential election, with many insiders giving him credit for energizing younger voters to support President Donald Trump and pushing him over the finish line and into a second term in the Oval Office.

Kirk was a husband to wife Erika and father to two young children. He was a devout Christian, opening each of his appearances on college campuses by professing his faith and service to our Lord Jesus Christ. He had an amazing ability to engage with young people, and those of all ages. I’ve never seen a video of him getting angry, or being unkind to someone who disagreed with him. Like our local radio personality Lars Larson, Kirk always gave those who disagreed with him a free pass to the front of the line to the microphone to allow them to express their opinions and he was always more than capable of providing his views in a polite, kind and thoughtful manner. I marveled at his mind. At his young age, he had an amazing grasp of the issues we face in our society today, as well as the ability to quote Scripture, the Constitution or whatever else was pertinent to the conversation.

Like many conservatives, I share a very similar conservative ideology with Donald Trump but wish our president could deliver his message in a little more congenial manner at times. No conservative ever had to experience that sentiment with Kirk. He was always thoughtful, kind and respectful. 

That’s why I am deeply saddened, and even outraged, that after his death yesterday, some from the left began celebrating that one of our country’s great conservatives had been silenced. MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd for suggesting “hateful” rhetoric from Kirk led to his own assassination. After Kirk was shot Wednesday afternoon, Dowd suggested it was caused by a chain reaction from his “hateful words” against various groups.

Before the news that Kirk had died, Dowd told MSNBC host Katy Tur, “We don’t know any of the full details of this yet. We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.”

Dowd said Kirk has been “one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”

There was nothing hateful about Charlie Kirk or his beliefs and it’s well past time in this country for us to not tolerate others labeling beliefs like those Kirk fought for as hateful. 

• It’s not hateful to fight for the rights of a child still in a mother’s womb. 

• It’s not hateful to state that there are only two genders, or to try to prevent a child from facing indoctrination into a trans lifestyle or to be allowed hormonal therapy or gender mutilation surgery. 

• It’s not hateful to suggest those who enter this country illegally should be deported.

• It’s not hateful to fight for a smaller, less intrusive government that takes less from our paychecks and resources.

I obviously have many conservative friends and family members. I don’t know a single one of them who is hateful, who discriminates against those who choose to live an alternative lifestyle, who doesn’t want the best for others and for our country. I am sick and tired of conservatives being labeled as racists, bigots, homophobes, misogynists, fascists or even Nazis. I’ve often said, “the most intolerant people I know are those who preach tolerance.” For far too long, the liberal left and the mainstream media have repeated that kind of narrative with such success that many conservatives stayed silent rather than face the scrutiny and hate that goes with standing up for our beliefs, for what we believe and know in our hearts is best for our country.

Charlie Kirk didn’t allow the angry, hateful and violent members of the left to silence him. He left behind a massive legacy with many elements of his faith, character, and integrity for us to emulate. I pray we all try to walk in Charlie’s shoes going forward.

“RIP Charlie Kirk. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is of Charlie or his politics. If you don’t view this as one of the darkest days in American history then you are part of the problem.” – Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports

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