The thing is: Murder is murder and never right. This Kirk character was vile, hateful, racist, sexist and a shit stirring punk. I only saw, by accident, quotes by him. I have no empathy for his demise. I had empathy for friends, family and community when George Floyd was murdered just a few miles from my home. I have empathy for all those murdered school children and their families. I was horrified by the murders and shootings of the Democratic politicians here in Minnesota. Their dog was even murdered. In my life, I am surrounded by affirming love of every kind. (And great music.) We have a gun violence issue that requires someone’s courage to create law changes. And behind that courage is love.
"Hate can never stop hate; only love stops hate." - "I don't wanna study war no more." - I did enough of that in Vietnam. It is not only easier to love but also much more practical. We can all become family, or we can surrender to hate and see the pain for everyone get much more intense than it has been recently. How about a little Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" and a little quote from our nation's greatest First Lady and Soul-Sister speaking truth to black-hearted white-power and telling how when they (the haters) go low, we (the lovers of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all without exception) go high.
This is as beautifully insightful as it is beautifully written. Thank you. One of the people I think of as a true model of seeing all human beings as human beings is Shirley Chisholm. So, I wrote a short Substack entitled, "Charlie Kirk, George Wallace, & Shirley Chisholm." I ended it with more questions than answers about what lies ahead.
I was just listening to We Are Family this morning! Sister Sledge is from my hometown. One of my own sisters saw them going into the pizza place in our neighborhood years ago, and I think of that every time I hear them.
Thank you. I think you have a bit of a poet in you. I do feel sympathy for Charlie Kirk's family. And though I really hate the things he said, I don't like that he was killed for it. A couple days ago I saw a video of some street artists in France singing Bohemian Rhapsody (they were very good.) I keep repeating those lyrics in my head (and they always make me cry). "Mama, just killed a man ... Mama, life had just begun and now I've gone and thrown it all away". I can't help but feel that this is such a tragedy on so many levels. This young man, obviously raised (perhaps even saturated) in gun culture, destroying a man's family as well as his own. Killing a man (who also believed strongly in gun culture) as well as possibly ending his own life (with the death penalty or prison). And in the end raising up this dead man as a Martyr to the Right and giving him more attention than he probably deserved in life. That's the irony.
That piece sounds like gospel set to vinyl. You turned love from a feeling into a civic practice. The kind that steadies a country on the edge of tearing itself apart.
Blessed be the ones who keep the B-side spinning when everyone else wants war on repeat.
You make it Xplicitly clear why music and love are the universal language. All the rest is fear. Thank you.
The thing is: Murder is murder and never right. This Kirk character was vile, hateful, racist, sexist and a shit stirring punk. I only saw, by accident, quotes by him. I have no empathy for his demise. I had empathy for friends, family and community when George Floyd was murdered just a few miles from my home. I have empathy for all those murdered school children and their families. I was horrified by the murders and shootings of the Democratic politicians here in Minnesota. Their dog was even murdered. In my life, I am surrounded by affirming love of every kind. (And great music.) We have a gun violence issue that requires someone’s courage to create law changes. And behind that courage is love.
"Hate can never stop hate; only love stops hate." - "I don't wanna study war no more." - I did enough of that in Vietnam. It is not only easier to love but also much more practical. We can all become family, or we can surrender to hate and see the pain for everyone get much more intense than it has been recently. How about a little Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" and a little quote from our nation's greatest First Lady and Soul-Sister speaking truth to black-hearted white-power and telling how when they (the haters) go low, we (the lovers of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all without exception) go high.
You are so very right. It's my favorite thing about my own youthful era: peace and love.
Many (sadly not all) of us Wonder-bread 50s white kids were starting to get it.
It's hard to remember it sometimes.
I'm grateful for the reminder.
Thank you, Karen. Peace and love was the A side; now we practice the B side.
This is as beautifully insightful as it is beautifully written. Thank you. One of the people I think of as a true model of seeing all human beings as human beings is Shirley Chisholm. So, I wrote a short Substack entitled, "Charlie Kirk, George Wallace, & Shirley Chisholm." I ended it with more questions than answers about what lies ahead.
Very well written piece. I left a comment. Well worth a read for anyone reading this.
Thank you so much for reading my work and for the recommendation. Both are deeply appreciated.
Thank you for this incredibly thoughtful post.
As a retired police officer it especially resonated with me.
🫶🏼
I was just listening to We Are Family this morning! Sister Sledge is from my hometown. One of my own sisters saw them going into the pizza place in our neighborhood years ago, and I think of that every time I hear them.
Thank you. I think you have a bit of a poet in you. I do feel sympathy for Charlie Kirk's family. And though I really hate the things he said, I don't like that he was killed for it. A couple days ago I saw a video of some street artists in France singing Bohemian Rhapsody (they were very good.) I keep repeating those lyrics in my head (and they always make me cry). "Mama, just killed a man ... Mama, life had just begun and now I've gone and thrown it all away". I can't help but feel that this is such a tragedy on so many levels. This young man, obviously raised (perhaps even saturated) in gun culture, destroying a man's family as well as his own. Killing a man (who also believed strongly in gun culture) as well as possibly ending his own life (with the death penalty or prison). And in the end raising up this dead man as a Martyr to the Right and giving him more attention than he probably deserved in life. That's the irony.
Well said X thanks for the post. Love conquers hate.
Really fantastic essay. Thank you so much for putting your thoughts out here.
That piece sounds like gospel set to vinyl. You turned love from a feeling into a civic practice. The kind that steadies a country on the edge of tearing itself apart.
Blessed be the ones who keep the B-side spinning when everyone else wants war on repeat.
Thank you. These stories need to be told and retold.