The conservative activist Charlie Kirk wasn’t just murdered on Wednesday. He was killed for engaging in a fundamentally American activity—public debate. America’s future depends on all of us rejecting such violence and recommitting ourselves to reasoned discourse.
It’s tough to overstate the significance of where Charlie Kirk was, what he was doing, and why the killer’s actions represent a danger to us all. To my knowledge, Mr. Kirk is the first American public figure to be assassinated literally in the act of public dialogue, and this is a key to understanding the cultural meaning of the attack. Kirk did not deliver speeches and denunciations when he visited campuses. On Wednesday, he was taking questions from students, as was his practice. Under the banner “Prove Me Wrong,” he vigorously yet respectfully stated his political views in give-and-take exchanges with all-comers. Such vibrant discussion once defined the campus experience, where the pursuit of truth depends on the free exchange of ideas.
The setting of Kirk’s murder reminds us of an old truth: the dark alternative to persuasion is force. Where discourse breaks down, violence often follows. The alternative to dialogue is not merely quiet retreat into our private lives; it is often war.
In the wake of this horrific assassination, Americans must reclaim our tradition of open, honest, and vigorous debate among those with different views.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member